Notes to Self - New Owner Things to Remember

[daydreamerbob]

1) The Forestay Holds the Mast up. The first step to lowering the mast is attach the mast raising gear - not decouple the forestay.

2) Placing a 26X8 vessel in a 26X10 area with wind wake and wave results in scratches and frustration. Sailers drink rum for a reason.

3) Driving around a lake for the first time with no understanding of lights and buoys and rights of way is scary

4) Assembly of anything underway is foolish and will result in lost parts and tools.

[MARK PASSMORE]

[Loefflerh]

that list can go on, I bet everybody can conribute!

5. testing the speed of your new suzuki 70 with the daggerboard full down wakes you up quickly....

[pokerrick1]

6. The genoa ALSO HOLDS THE MAST UP AND KEEPS IT FROM FALLING BACKWARDS Trust me (I used to not know this 2 1/2 years ago) Fortunately I was at the dock when it happened and MANY came to my rescue and we had no damage, The reason it happened is that the idiiot boat hauler and bottom painter (who SHOULD have known better) put the furler on BACKWARDS so that the slot was facing forward.

I, of course, being the astute sailing observer I was at the time, saw this and disconnected the genoa at the furler to turn the furler around, and the rest, as they say, is history

Rick

[bubba]

On a new lake with a sail boat you really need a map of the lake so you will keep your dagger board safe.

[dennisneal]

These are my contributions:

Do not arrive at an unfamiliar marina after dark, and after all of the staff have gone home, and expect to easily find your guest slip.

Do not forget to take out the steel bolts that lock the rudders upright before putting the boat in the water.

[pokerrick1]

Do not forget to take out the steel bolts that lock the rudders upright before putting the boat in the water.

That's a good one Dennis - - - did you really forget to do that - - - was hard to lower the rudders - - Huh

Rick

[dennisneal]

Yeah, I must admit, we were running late and were exhausted. By the time we got to the marina it was well past dark. And, it was windy to boot!

Fortunately, we did not put a hole, or scratch, in our boat. Nor, did we put a hole, or scratch, in anyone else's boat!

We can laugh about it now. HA! HA!

[dennisneal]

Oh, yes. One thing I learned:

The MAC steers like a Sherman tank on glare ice without the rudders being in the "Down Position!"

Otherwise, it turns on a dime!

[Boblee]

Connect the motor to the steering linkage before launching on windy days with lots of dead trees around as they damage the rub rail (first launch).
Don't rely on wind or currents staying the same right through the night when anchored.
Don't think the Mac will swing (on anchor) the same as other nearby boats or even other Macs.
Don't rely on other boats being securely anchored.

[bubba]

Stearing in marinas I usually let the dagger board down 2 ft at least and have the motor and rutters connected with the stearing. Remember when you bring the motor up to disconnect it from the stearing first or you will scratch the motor and the stearing is very difficult, the motor wants to fall to one side or the other. When you need to motor with sails up keep the motor disclnnected from stearing, the boat will stear with a little foward motion. Carry no less than 3 anchors for safety.

[daydreamerbob]

More notes to self -
Read the manual. Bilges get wet when the vent valve does not fit the hole. Instead of complaining about poor workmanship - reading the manual would result in properly sized gear.

[Boblee]

Bob you must be nose heavy as our ballast bowl gets no more than a third full, that adjustable vent stopper is a great idea but first you have to adjust it

[TAW02]

Oh yeah Bob,

Had the same thing happen here with the stopper plug. Seemed it was too small for the hole too. Even after snapping the lever down it could easily be lifted out of the hole.

Discovered that the plug was adjustable in its static position (open(lever-UP)). Mine could be adjusted by twisting the metal top or hood where the latch is while gripping the rubber part. Some require a small wrench or pliers to hold a small nut on the bottom-side of the plug while you twist.

Ah, so much to learn.

Big T

[tangentair]

If you can see the bottom of the lake 10 feet out from the water's edge, you probably can't launch there. A corollary, if a launch is not being used on a busy day, there probably is a reason you should not use it.