Experimenter

[Metromate]

I have just joined the group and thought some may be interested in my approach to having fun.I love to 'fiddle' with things. I am a recently retired mech eng and have a Mac 26S and an older likely unknown Customflex Mallard.
The Mac is '96 and the Mallard is '68 - and weighs as much as the Mac although it is only 19' WL. This little gem taught me to sail, bail, and wail!
Some of the things I have/will do to the Mac include ...... split at the long seam and filling the space betwixt the liner and the hull with expanding foam. I have also added glass tape to the lower hull flange, added 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 3/16" angle and 1" x 3/16" flat (in a sandwich) to the top/bottom seam. These two items really stiffen the hull - and allow the inadvertent rough dockings to go by without fretting.......mighta been cheaper to learn how to dock 'softly'! But............I do like to mess with stuff.
What else? Ah yes, weight. The Mac's sail pretty well but I find that losing way in a tack is too often the case, and I suspect that their light weight is a major contributor. I think I will try adding some ballast (80lb bags of gravel) to see what effect that has. To those who are a bit squeamish about ensuring flotation capacity, I have a plan to add that too via foam.
I have also tossed the original keel and rudder (cheap at best) and replaced them with more efficient ones of my own design.
Soon I shall take my Sawzall to the pointy end interior and make room for a head that will be more pleasant for the ladies. I can pee over the side but the girls well, you know......and I do want to be a gent.
Fair winds.

[snotnosetommy]

Welcome, Metro
You've picked a good boat if you want to spend time doing mods. You'll find some pretty cool ones in the archives on this board.
Can you post a pic of that 'sandwich'?
tommy

[Metromate]

As soon as I get my camera fixed I will ad a picture. I agree this is a good boat to tinker with - can't do too much damage to it's value! I was staring at the pointy end again today figuring out how to crate anchor chain storage. I have the hull/topsides apart and I think I will bed-in a small pail (1 gal) with a thru-hull drain as far for'd as it'll go. I will change the tang for the forestay, install a small hatch, and put the nav light elsewhere.