Noob: Any North/central Puget Sound Winter sailors?

[Paul L]

Well, here we are: Newbs cubed! New to sailing, new to Macs and new to Washington!
But things are happening quickly. After years of planning (and reading about Macs), we took early retirement and arrived 3 weeks ago on Camano Island to begin househunting.... and Mac hunting. We just found the Mac, an unsailed (new) 2005 It's now in our rented driveway.
I've got an exciting but steep learning curve since we took our ASA basic Keelboat course 8 years ago (yes...two back to back Republican administrations ago!)

There's:
Figuring out the roller furler...it's not connected, and needs (I'm told) 20 spring-loaded turns.
Ramp launching...none of the ramps have docks here (man, this boat is MUCH bigger in person!)
Ramp recovery...yikes
Care of a 70hp Suzuki 4 stroke
operating a Garmin charter plotter
etc etc...in other words, lots of "Driveway sailing" to begin with.

My future first mate, the mother of my children, and bride of 30 years says I need to "slow down and take a deep breath". But what does she know? She's not a boy with a new toy! This is more fun than work ever was!!

So, we'd love to meet any local Mac sailors (especially if they're not waiting til next Spring to sail). I know there are some famous ones further away in Seattle (the Dunns, the BWY crowd).

[bubba]

I was just on Camano Island 2 weekends ago and at the State park there is a newer boat launch with walkways on either side of the concrete launch, at least at higher tides it looks great and only a $5.00 launch fee. The launch faces the northwest but the fetch is not that big so the wave action should not be too bad. I am told there are bouy's to hook up to near by for $5.00 a night or a season pass from Wa state parks for $50.00 a year ( includes launch fee and long tearm parking. I live on the east side of the Mt's by the Columbia River but enjoy the bigger waters of the Pudget Sound and SanJuan Islands. Another great way to access the SanJuans is in Bellingham bay at Fairhaven boat launch $5.00 launch fee and 7 days free parking and longer by telling the Alaska Ferry folks. I saw 3 Mac's in there dry dock there. The only problem is when there is a north breeze it is a little rough at there dock but ok.

[Paul L]

Hi Bubba,
Thanks for that feedback. I see it's going to rain now for the next 10 days, so that should cool off my excitement for now.

But, you can answer another question I had. Having seen all the Mac advertising about the light duty tow vehicles (like the brochure pictured in the mountains!), I was surprised at how my Jeep Cherokee struggled up hills to get this boat home (down to second gear!). It's an inline 6, push-rod 4.0 liter engine. My gosh I thought, how will I ever get over Stevens pass to sail in some mountain lakes?!

So what did you use, towing over the pass?

[Don T]

Hello & Welcome to Macdom,
Just reading your post reminds me of Lynn and I back in 95 with our brand new Mac. The cool thing is, every time we arrive at a ramp and smell that salt air, I feel the same excitement I felt back then (on our honeymoon for the maiden voyage). YOWSERS, I can feel it now just thinking about it. Just relax and enjoy, it's a great ride!

PS I use a 3/4 ton full sized van for the tow rig.

Congrats on the retirement and the boat!!!!!!

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

If you want a totally safe first launching experience, drive just down the road to the Everett launch. It has 14 lanes, long docks on every lane, is good at even the lowest tides, and is completely protected from all wind and waves in any conditions. There is a huge parking lot and it costs only $5 to launch. It's so big you never feel pressured to rush from others in line even on a busy summer day. It's also completely wire and tree free with ton's of space for mast setup. There is no better launch anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, we've tried them all.

Sink the trailer until the fenders just disappear under the surface. Float the boat off and on the trailer with lines, no motor is required if you are at a launch with a dock. If you load with ballast still in, open the valve and vent before you load, then pull up just a few feet and let it drain a bit. After a few minutes pull up until the transom is at the water line and wait for the rest to empty. Flush your motor after each dunk in the Sound and rinse the trailer good.

Leave the 3500# rated tow vehicles at home, it's all marketing. Use a real truck to tow a Mac. I wouldn't use my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited even though it meets the minimum specs. All my towing, particularly any highway and mountain towing, is done with the Suburban.

[bubba]

I use a ford F150 with a 351 motor long box and extended cab that was left over from my contractor days it has over 200,000 miles and pulls the passes with our M at 60 mph but with the overdrive off, I really want a full size van next. You may have to use your low gear at a slower speed to pull hills. You may want to drive down to the state park and scout the boat launch it can be a pull to get back up the hill. Check if your jeep has a towing cooler before you use it in the summer.

[mallardjusted]

I concur with Duane about the Everett boat launch .... none better that I know of. If you want to do some boating north, you've got slings at La Conner and Anacortes, there's a decent boat launch in Bellingham, etc. You might do a quick search, there were some good threads a while back on this.

matt

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Slings are a great thing. LaConner will give you the line that they do not launch sailboats. Tell them you know of Mac's they have launched before (like mine a few times). They usually want a signed waiver of any responsibility for damages. I have one I print out and sign ahead of time. Most of the operators there will be familiar with launching a mac. Our crosswise trailer bunks make it super simple.

The Anacortes sling is a bit pricey, but very nice and close to the San Juans. It's not much of a drive from where you are. When using Anacortes we'll arrive mid afternoon and launch in the sling then get a slip for the night. Motor to the slip with the mast down and then put it up at your leisure. Go out for a nice dinner, watch a movie on the dvd player and get a good nights rest. The next morning you can time your departure for the best current help on your way to the islands.

Make sure you are comfortable putting the mast up and down with the boat floating in the water as you have to do this when using a sling. The process is a bit different and you might want spares for things you could drop in the process.

Another nice sling that does Macs is Des Moines. From there you can cruise south through the Tacoma Narrows and explore Case and Carr inlet. These area's are very nice with good parks and marinas and even at the peak of the summer season they are not crowded. For some reason most boaters feel they have to go north and they miss a lot of beautiful area's.



http://home.comcast.net/~duane.dunn/Boating.htm

[phil0044]

Welcome to the NorthWest sailing. Here is some additional information if you want to play with the boat in the driveway.
Things you can do in the driveway:
1. Make sure the water ballast is empty. Use a stick to check and see if any water is in the ballast tank. Check under the forward sleeping area for the plug hole. The water ballast must be empty before trailering the boat with any vehicle.
2. If you have good clearance you can raise the mast and check all the rigging. On a calm day you could attach the roller reefing sail and see how it works and raise the main making sure the sails are clear to flap into the wind..
3. Connect a hose to the engine and check how it works. (You might want to remove the prop before doing this)
4. If you don’t plan to sail much during the winter you might want to consider winterization of the boat and engine.

[bubba]

I am always looking for places to park my truck and trailor for a week or 2 at a time, other than Fairhaven is there other boat launches??

[Paul L]

Wow, thanks for the feedback and tips guys.
Yes Duane, I've seen from some of your other posts that you are sold on the sling launch now. The day we were looking at this boat, we watched a 30' keelboat get slinged in. Looked real straightforward. Actually, I don't know if you've seen it, but the Camano Island Yacht club in Madrona (here on Camano) has a sling. I'll have to check on that. Since I only have this little 4l Cherokee, I'm not too keen on driving too far if I can avoid it. Once I do enough "driveway sailing" to be comfortable with the rigging, my plan is to just putt around locally in Port Susan, until Ann & I feel like we know how to sail. There's a small (no dock) launch real close here on the East side at the Camano country club area. Quiet this time of year.

Thanks for those great tips Phil on things I can do meantime in the driveway. I've read the other threads about kinks in the furler. Ours has been stored with I mild bend at each end. So I have to sort that out.

Meanwhile rain is forecast for the next 10 days. Not to worry, my other project is installing longtube headers on my Z28 Camaro THAT at least I can do in my cold but dry garage! AHHH retirement is great!

btw Duane: I just want you to know what an inspiration your Mac website/journal has been to us now for several years as we've looked forward to this moment. I know something like (journaling) takes a huge effort, and your kids are the greatest beneficiaries. But a big THANK YOU from us too!

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

http://www.rco.wa.gov/maps/boat.htm

[waternwaves]

Welcome from Camano Island!!

covering your points in order.....

Furling.... make sure the line is 3/16 r smaller........ and decore the first 5 feet or so.......and you will not have problems with a full furler drum. The number of turns is dependent on the genny size........ 20 sounds like a 150 not a 165

Launching......... well the jeep can fit even the smaller launches like cavalero and rocky point on the island...... but why bother? join the Camano Island Yacht club and use the sling/launch........ private message me for mor info. launch can be used easily if the waves are less than 2 ft from the west and winds less than 15........... NOTE: YOU WILL NEED QTY,=2, of 4 ft long chains to hook onto the lift to position an X or an M boat properly on the yacht club lift... these will be looped to about 2 ft. to extend the back sling. keep them with your vehicle. you can find out more about the yacht club by attending their public breakfasts on the second sunday of the month...... They are located on Sunset drive at madrona beach.....

ramp recovery...... same...... Tho I am spoiled and only use slings now...... (still looking for a nice aluminum or fully glalvanized trailer)

Suzuki....... just my opinion........ Change the oil more often than you would like......

Good luck with the garmin.

I also strongly recommend the laconner sling boat lauch..... professional, fast, protected, easy 25 round trip or so well worth the wear and tear on the trailer.

Saratoga passage (west side of the island) has better winds.......I live on the east side of Camano now....... (have to keep the admiral happy) but I sure miss those sunsets...... but I have the sunrises now.......so it is a tradeoff.

Others have told you about the state park launch....... but I never use it anymore for the mac.


Give me a private message if you want a hand rigging or setting up.........This week I am moving and a little busy.......but after the 15th or so the schedule clears up.

good luck.........the wind is here.......enjoy



Water.......

[Paul L]

Water...
PM sent

[bubba]

Duane thanks for the web site of boat launches.