Finally raised the sails on our M this weekend + drama

[Paul S]

We went out this weekend with the New England Trailor Sailors (http://www.ne-ts.com). Put the new (unnamed M) through the paces...Pretty cool. Don't have a clue what I am doing. But had fun. Weather was a bit rougher than the forecast predicted. Of course.

I re-routed the roller fairlead from where the dealer installed it (on rail) to the deck. Huge difference. nice and smooth now.

On the way back ...sailed nice...then we decided to finish up with the motor. Motored OK. Until...the steering linkage broke. You have got to be kidding me..was my first thought. The nut fell off the bolt attached to the motor. Now the waves are getting rougher.. I did find the nut in the transom area. Started to rain....big ass powerboats blowing by at WOT. Nice! got the anchor down. fun fun fun. Got the tools out. got the nut back on. trying not to fall out of the boat in the meantime. . Powered back...rain was so hard...could barely see New England weather ..got to love it.

funny thing is the bolt on connecting the motor to the linkage was not long enough. it doesn't go far enough to engage the nylock feature on the nut...so it just worked its way off.

Just gets better and better ... got to roll with it..

Hope we are getting to the end of the gremlins.

Paul

[KRV]

Mine did it too in the Puget sound (Deception Pass). Thank God I saw the nut laying on the bed spread. I hand tightened it and got back above deck in time to get the hull out of there. I then tightened it pretty tight and have not had a problem since. I think Roger needs to talk to the guy that deals with that part of the assembly.

[Chip Hindes]

I think Roger needs to talk to the guy that deals with that part of the assembly.

Unless you have a different problem than that described by Paul, one more time, with feeling: Neither Roger nor the Macgregor factory have anything to do with installing the motor. It's the dealer.

Based on Paul's earlier posts on all the problems he's had, there's no doubt there are many items the factory needs to work on. The motor installation isn't one of them.

[Paul S]

I think Roger needs to talk to the guy that deals with that part of the assembly.

Unless you have a different problem than that described by Paul, one more time, with feeling: Neither Roger nor the Macgregor factory have anything to do with installing the motor. It's the dealer.

Based on Paul's earlier posts on all the problems he's had, there's no doubt there are many items the factory needs to work on. The motor installation isn't one of them.

The linkage was made and provided by Macgregor. The bolt on the engine for the linkage is too short. Unless the bolt was dealer provided, or Honda provided, it is a design flaw, IMO. The nylon in the nylock nut never reaches the threads. Unless you torqure the heck out of it , then it can rotate and it binds.


Paul

[Chip Hindes]

The linkage was made and provided by Macgregor. The bolt on the engine for the linkage is too short. Unless the bolt was dealer provided, or Honda provided, it is a design flaw, IMO.

Macgregor sells the motor linkage bar, but they have nothing to do with motor installation. They have no way of guessing which motor might eventually be at the other end of their linkage bar, nor how any particular motor manufacturer chooses for his motor to be attached to the steering link, nor how the linkage bar is installed on the motor end by the dealer.

As I recall, my own installation to the motor (two stroke Tohatsu 50) is not just a bolt, but a nicely done, fairly complex bracket with two bolt holes for the motor end and a stud for the link end. My guess is that it's a Tohatsu item; I'm about 99% sure it didn't come from Macgregor.

I submit it's about the same 99% likely your problem is an installation screwup by the dealer.

[Paul S]

The linkage was made and provided by Macgregor. The bolt on the engine for the linkage is too short. Unless the bolt was dealer provided, or Honda provided, it is a design flaw, IMO.

Macgregor sells the motor linkage bar, but they have nothing to do with motor installation. They have no way of guessing which motor might eventually be at the other end of their linkage bar, nor how any particular motor manufacturer chooses for his motor to be attached to the steering link, nor how the linkage bar is installed on the motor end by the dealer.

As I recall, my own installation to the motor (two stroke Tohatsu 50) is not just a bolt, but a nicely done, fairly complex bracket with two bolt holes for the motor end and a stud for the link end. My guess is that it's a Tohatsu item; I'm about 99% sure it didn't come from Macgregor.

I submit it's about the same 99% likely your problem is an installation screwup by the dealer.

I agree...it was the dealers fault. But was not sure who actually provided the bolt and nut that connects the linkage to the motor (honda/dealer/macgregor).

The dealer's installer should have noticed it. I did, and I don't have a clue. Regarless who made/provided the part...the installer should have noticed it was way too short and corrected it.

Certainly there is a disconnect between Macgregor/dealer/honda somewhere...

Paul

[greybird-M]

to the club. . .

[Mark Prouty]

I hope you let the dealer know. It is a cavalier act by who ever installed the motor - a glaringly obvious inconsiderate decision. An innocent mistake? I don't think so. Of course you have to turn the nut to the nylock. This just screams of forget the longer bolt. Just get the damn thing out the door especially with the history of this dealer. They should be made aware of kind of trouble and potential danger it causes people. Imagine a situation with rocks looming, waves and no steering.

The only excuse I could see for this is if the mecanic had never turned a nylock nut before. A situation that is practically impossible. Even a novice back yard mecanic knows about them.

I like to talk mean on occasion (like that word cavalier). Am I being to hard in my assesment? (I'm really humble and loveable)

[Paul S]

Emailed the dealer and his reply was he was aware some boats (apparently ours was one) had the linkage installed incorrectly. He gave me directions on how to redo it. It was not even close to the way it was done.

Paul

[Paul S]

Looked at the linkage setup earlier today. It is not even close to the way it should be, according to the email from the dealer. The way he says to set it up seems a lot better. Going to have to take a closer look. I'll take before/after pics (as usual).

Paul