Anyone ever capsized an M or an X?
Anyone ever capsized an M or an X?
..trying to find the sweet spot in heavy winds. Has anyone ever capsized a M or a X. How was the recovery?
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
- Posts: 1315
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:40 am
- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
- tangentair
- Admiral
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:59 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Highland Park, IL ...07M...Merc 50 BF...Mila K
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Hardcrab
- Captain
- Posts: 868
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:25 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: "Cease-fire", White 05 M, 90hp, Boggy Bayou, Niceville, FL
empret,
Install one of those "incline meters". A search will find all you will need.
The best $25 mod for "creature comfort" out there.
You can peg the meter at 45 degrees of heel with out any fear of going over.
The Admiral was fine once she accepted the real heel angle versus what it felt like to her. She only glances at it when we exceed 35-40 now.
As tangentair mentions, the boat will round up well before you get anywhere close to going over.
Install one of those "incline meters". A search will find all you will need.
The best $25 mod for "creature comfort" out there.
You can peg the meter at 45 degrees of heel with out any fear of going over.
The Admiral was fine once she accepted the real heel angle versus what it felt like to her. She only glances at it when we exceed 35-40 now.
As tangentair mentions, the boat will round up well before you get anywhere close to going over.
- Lobo de Mar
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:06 am
- Location: Santa Rosa, CA (Sail out of Loch Lomond Marina, San Rafael)
40 degrees
Had my M at about 40 degrees in the San Francisco Bay with full sails at about 28 mile an hour winds....I know...way too much sail up...but we unexpectedly came from California City and crossed into the shoot! The M handled great and righted soon after we decreased the sail... 
- Tony D-26X_SusieQ
- First Officer
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:20 am
- Location: Mayo, Maryland
If you heel over more than 55* she will lay down. The hard part is getting that much heel without rounding up.
Should you mannage to lay her down just grab a line and tie it to the winch then lower yourself down onto the end of the centerboard and walk towards the boat and back into the cockpit as she slowly comes back up.

Should you mannage to lay her down just grab a line and tie it to the winch then lower yourself down onto the end of the centerboard and walk towards the boat and back into the cockpit as she slowly comes back up.
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
- Posts: 1315
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:40 am
- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
I hope never to experience a capsize, or "knock down" - but your solution good to know just in case.Tony D-26X_SusieQ wrote:If you heel over more than 55* she will lay down. The hard part is getting that much heel without rounding up.![]()
Should you mannage to lay her down just grab a line and tie it to the winch then lower yourself down onto the end of the centerboard and walk towards the boat and back into the cockpit as she slowly comes back up.![]()
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But, I thought the Mac would simply "upright" on its own--just loosen the boom so the sail will empty the water. Im wondering, is this another possible option, especially if or when the water is rough ?
- Duane Dunn, Allegro
- Admiral
- Posts: 2459
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:41 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Bellevue, Wa '96 26x, Tohatsu 90 TLDI and Plug In Hybrid Electric drive
- Contact:
Remember, the rounding up is only a behavior that happens if you have maintained the standard factory mast rake. If you have adjusted your rig to a more vertical position the boat will not round up. Go to far forward and you r boat will actually turn away from the wind in a puf rather than into the wind.
It's just like steering a windsurfer which has no rudder. Instead you steer by shifting the center of effort in the sail. Tilt the mast forward to turn away from the wind and tilt the mast aft to turn into the wind.
It's just like steering a windsurfer which has no rudder. Instead you steer by shifting the center of effort in the sail. Tilt the mast forward to turn away from the wind and tilt the mast aft to turn into the wind.
I will testify to that. I tried one day to show Barb it would round up if it got too far over. It did not. Instead we chugged merrily across the lake holding 45º+ and I felt like I could take it over a little further, but didn't.Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote:Remember, the rounding up is only a behavior that happens if you have maintained the standard factory mast rake. If you have adjusted your rig to a more vertical position the boat will not round up.
- Tony D-26X_SusieQ
- First Officer
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:20 am
- Location: Mayo, Maryland
I admit that I have not tried it. The technique is outlined in Jeff Stag's videos and he quotes Captain Jim of A-1 Sailboats in Mayo, MD. I personaly know Capt. Jim and if he says it can be done then it can be done. You need to go out onto the centerboard to overcome the weight of the water on the sails.RickJ wrote:So you've done this then (in a Mac I mean, not a dinghy)
- Trouts Dream
- Captain
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:10 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Calgary, Alberta--1997 26X--Yamaha 90HP 2 Stroke....grunt, grunt
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zuma hans 1
- Engineer
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:29 pm
