We sail in water with a strong tide. We have found that if we are facing across the tide (as we often are because the boat tends to point into the wind, rather than the tide) the centreboard won't go down. I suppose it's because the sideways pressure of the tide stops it falling. We have found that ...

We took our courage in our hands and went out past the point and trundled half way to Wells. Had a great week, my brother looking after the kids, and me and 'er indoors sleeping on the boat and seeing how the sails worked. Had a few good sails, the wind getting a little stronger each day. Coming bac...

Thanks for the tips. So far, I've only tried to sort it out while it's still got water in (which means it's a bit tricky to see what's going on when it's open, what with all that water spewing out), but I guess I'll have to empty it all out and see what I see. Jock, I've stayed onboard most of this ...

Help! My Mac sits on a mooring that dries out. This means that I can see and hear (which I wouldn't otherwise) water coming out of the ballast tank gate on the transom. It's not gushing, but if left for a week, I'd be surprised if much was left in there. Has anyone had this problem, and found a way ...

By the way, had an interesting problem of how to screw the nut onto the end of the bolt (inside the boat), whilst holding the other end of the bolt still with a screw-driver (outside the boat). Tried various useless methods first, before settling on attaching an adjustable wrench to the (inside) nut...

Thanks, all. Went out this morning (beautiful, silent, calm as a mill-pond) and fixed it: Great big washers inside and out, and generous application of silicone sealant seem to have done the job for now. A more professional repair can wait!
No water at all in the bilges, thank goodness.

Trip (n.): A journey or voyage. Ginger (adj.): Careful, cautious, nervous or generally a bit big-girl's-blousish. Of course, in cockney rhyming slang, "ginger" has a different meaning entirely (deriving from "ginger beer"), relating more to sexual preference than to the perfectly...

Thanks for the reassuring words!

Went for my first very ginger trip on my nice new (used) Mac the other day, and found that the boarding ladder had been pulled out of its fitting on the side nearest the engine. No idea how it happened - maybe I left it down when I first put the boat on the mooring, and the boat grounded out - maybe...

I should be around for B.H. weekend, taking it gingerly . I'll keep an eye out for you.

Now you see, this is the problem. When I say "head left to Blakeney", what I obviously mean is "head right to Blakeney". Clearly the trauma of it all has addled my already feeble brain!

I'm between Blakeney and Morston. Come out of Morston channel, and head left (towards Blakeney). You'll see a nice clean "Merrimac" with the mast still down, waiting for me to get back and sort her out. Currently having sleepless nights about whether I've got her moored right. What do you ...

I've just left my Mac on a mooring ball, for the first time. Haven't spent any time on it yet. Had a look at some of the threads on this. Where I sail is heavily tidal, and the tide is usually a stronger force than the wind. Does Frank C's cunning bridle arrangement work when tide is the issue? Or d...

After a couple of years of dithering, and reading this site (many thanks for all the great advice), I've got my :macx: in the water, on a mooring. The trip from the dingy park to the mooring was interesting: left the boarding ladder down, so could only turn one way. Kids on board asking innocent and...

Hi Bastonjock, I'm based at Morston (just west of Wells). I've seen all the Macs at Wells. One of them was at Morston last year, but was sold after one season. No idea why, although it was noticeable that it swung and rolled a lot on its mooring. Wonder if he left the ballast empty? Thanks to everyo...