Well, I think I might be reaching the end of my sailing days on my boat in the UK. Firstly the weather here has been awful for the past two years specially around Ullswater, Cumbria where I've had my 26X moored for the last few years at Ullswater Marina. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of wet...

Thanks guys for all replies, quite a mix of opinions especially on the question of sailing without ballast. I'll be leaving my ballast in when sailing but the results of this thread convinced me its worth trying out powering without ballast whilst keeping in mind all safety aspects pointed out. This...

I have never sailed or powered my X with an empty ballast tank however, curiosity is getting the better of me despite my normally 'safety first' attitude on the water. I'm certainly not experienced enough to try sailing without ballast but I'm thinking about trying a power run on an empty ballast ta...

Anybody had any experience of using a parachute type drouge off the stern to slow the boat down in windy conditions ? The reason I ask is because now and again I like to have a rest whilst sailing, make a cup of tea etc. My Mac X doesn't seem to respond very well to 'hoving to' or I'm not very good ...

I'm 67, bought my X when I was 63, first boat and never sailed before. The good weather windows in the UK are limited so I don't get to use it half as much as you lake sailors in the USA, it costs me a chunk of my income to keep it moored and stored every year now I'm retired but this is one of the ...

Does anybody have any idea just how much extra ballast we could add without seriously diminishing the main feature that attracted us towards a Macgregor - IE it's unsinkability ?

Auto release cam cleat to hold it down, jamming cleat for the pull up line ( saves wrapping the line round a horn cleat to hold the rudders up )
Works fine on my X ( boat that is, not wife )

26s must be different to the X ?

I've used it, it's not really slippery you know

How's about 'Macgregor Beach Club'

Welcome Jim and well done, I learned everything I know about my 26x from this forum ( plus ongoing experience)
Phil, UK.

Wherabouts in Cumbria are you, I'm on Ullswater.
Phil.

There's a joke in there somewhere

I thought lazy jacks were for guiding the mainsail down and the mainsail cover is as it suggests-to cover the sail when moored up,or do you mean a stackpack type system?

Went down to the marina today,the Mac M sat on it;s trailer with 2 inches of water on the cabin floor, on investigation found the batteries in the usual place ( I think ) under a cover below the steps down---yes you've guessed it--- batteries screwed into the ballast tank ! not only that they had be...