Strength of McGregor 26

[Ioan]

Hi!

I was riding Aegean See once at 6 at Beaufort scale and once again at 7 Beaufort scale.
Till I was sailing it was ok, but when I need to go directly against the wind I've used only the engine.

My trouble is that every 2 or 3 waves (2-2,5-3 m high) the boat was falling down on the next wave with a big "thunder" and I didn't know if the boat will resist or not.

Does anybody know about any accident by destroying the boat in such conditions?

Anybody with the same feeling?

Regards,
Ioan

[bastonjock]

It is best to motor at speeds where there is no "Thunder",i have motored directly into the wind on Beaufort scale 6 and 7,i slow down so that the boat will not "thunder" into the waves

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Use full ballast and slow down as needed until the boat stays in the water. This may mean throttling back to 4 knots in some cases. Avoid launching the boat off the waves and causing 'Thunder'. I've not heard of a hull cracking in any case, the weaker joint is the hull to ballast tank seam.

[kmclemore]

I have yet to hear of a Mac breaking up on open water under *any* circumstances. Yes, I've heard of one or two getting bashed against a dock, but never in open water.

[delevi]

I wouldn't worry about the hull, but thundering through the waves puts a lot of shock load on the rig. As others have said, keep it slow. Also, try to hit the waves at an angle, maybe 25 degrees rather than straight on. This may not be the exact course you want but you'll notice a significant reduction in slamming, perhpas allowing for a bit more speed which should make up for the lost ground and be easier on the boat.

Leon

[Kelly Hanson East]

Ill add that if Leon cant break the boat, its pretty well made

[J.Teixeira]

Hi Ioam

I think you are talking about the Mediterranean short distance waves...

They can make the "thunder" because they are shorter or near the length of the boat...

Not because they are very high...

That creates a pendulum movement bad for the hull, very bad for the water ballast and very bad for the rig...

They are a problem for any small boat.

A good advise like Leon said is to approach those waves in a angle. Slow down like Duane said.

If you are going down with the weather in those waves you must be careful not to "dig" your bow to the bottom of the next wave. And control your speed to avoid surfing out of control...

In mi opinion one of the weakest point in any small sailboat are the rudders.

Best Regards

Jose

[Ioan]

It's true about the short distance between waves...it was almost impossible to go to an angle into the waves since any movement like this moved me at 90% angle.

The speed was 4-5-6 knots, not more and the ballast tank was full.

But I'm vey happy that nobody saw a damaged boat in open water...

Thanks for tips!

[J.Teixeira]

Ioan

GRP hulls specialy if build highly flexible like our Macs are almost impossible to damage only with water.

The reason is that they are made with large quantities of fiber and smaller quantities of resin.

Under those kind of waves what suffers a lot are the rudders.

Protect them bi using the engine to control your direction.

Go to the UK MOA web... look at the Media section pictures.

http://www.macgregorowners.org.uk

There is a impressive picture of a boat "Hogwash" under bad weather doing exactly what is necessary to survive...

It's an incredible picture that shows the endurance of a Mac...

Jose.

[Hamin' X]

Hogwash on the return:


~Rich

[delevi]

Love the picture! Looks like Hogwash had the right amount of sail up for the conditions

[Divecoz]

I feel I can attest to the boats physical characteristics and abilities. Hamin x cannot because he has NEVER OWNED ONE