Blue Water Mods?

[robbarnes1965]

I am not going to try to turn the Mac into something it's not but I have noticed over the years that a lot of Macs are based in places that are not necessarily protected water. Just today I noticed a member was from the Faulkland Islands which appears to have some good inland protected areas but it is in the middle of the Atlantic. I once met a couple from Brittany (France) where the waters are definitely not lake sailing. They were spending 3 months sailing the coast of Croatia which can be known for challenging weather. They said there were some dealer-made mods that helped.

If you regularly sail in waves that are over 1 meter or winds over 20kts with your Mac, what have you done to make this a comfortable experience.

[JohnCFI]

I got a gag for the admiral (who does not like heeling over)

Seriously though, we have been out in F7, its not nice but the boat will do it. as far as possible I sail in good weather (F5 or below).

[robbarnes1965]

I would not like being out in big water in a gale with the Mac either. I am always curious as to the choice of a Mac for people in more "ocean" settings.

I just returned from a sailing trip in Grenada and the Grenadines and saw conditions that I could easily handle in a Mac but they were much more comfortable on our friends' 43' Beneteau

I may even be getting the illusion(?) that, with plenty of time to wait for weather, one could hop from island to island all the way from Florida to Columbia. But I am more curious about how people equip their boats who regularly sail rougher places like the English Channel or exposed Atlantic spots like yours. Smaller sails, more ballast, etc?

[NiceAft]

Well Rob,

If you have the time, you might want to find some of the postings of Mad Mike. I remember a few years ago that he mentioned about thinking of sailing to Hawaii. If I remember correctly, he mentioned that original Mac rudders (and brackets) were not suitable for a long ocean trip.

Just an old guys recollection

Ray

[robbarnes1965]

Well Rob,

If you have the time, you might want to find some of the postings of Mad Mike. I remember a few years ago that he mentioned about thinking of sailing to Hawaii. If I remember correctly, he mentioned that original Mac rudders (and brackets) were not suitable for a long ocean trip.

Just an old guys recollection

Ray

Hawaii! That's more ambitious than I was thinking! Yes, the rudders do seem to be a bit flimsy for that. Although there is a bit of redundancy in having two on the Mac. I like the idea of being relatively in range of a fast motor to land (less than 8 hours or so). I Don't like the quality of the windows, rigging or even the daggerboard for weathering out a storm no matter what sails and drogue I might have. I have damaged my dagger several times am thinking a decent thrust of a wave in a storm could probably snap it right off. I only see heaving to in a big sea possible with a chute and a fully retracted dagger - but a large breaking wave would likely leave the boat without windows. I've been sailing in heavy winds but the waves don't build up very high on the lake I usually sail so I am not familiar with the Mac's capabilities that way. Any time I have been in more than 6ft seas it's been on a heavier keel boat.

[BOAT]

You also need one of those really powerful hand operated bilge pumps. They can throw a LOT of water real fast.

I like a drogue anchor in a following sea.
!

[robbarnes1965]

Your storm advice is good. I have read that anything left on deck is considered "expendable" in a storm. A Broken, twisted dodger can lock you inside the boat as well. I did find a previous link for MadMike that give some good points. http://www.macgregor26x.com/forum/viewt ... 28a7ec101c

MadMike has not posted in 3 years. Hopefully it was his new work rather than an unsuccessful trip that is the cause...

Again, I am more interested in mods that make choppier, windier seas more pleasant for rough areas than transpac type voyages. The mods involved in preparing a Mac for that seem more expensive than buying a good used PS20, Island Packet, bayfield 25, Contessa 26 or similar other blue water boats.

[Seapup]

Again, I am more interested in mods that make choppier, windier seas more pleasant for rough areas than transpac type voyages. The mods involved in preparing a Mac for that seem more expensive than buying a good used PS20, Island Packet, bayfield 25, Contessa 26 or similar other blue water boats.

Only so much you can do with a mac, she is what she is. If you just want a smoother ride (not ocean capability) add ballast weight? I notice a huge difference in the choppy chesapeake when we are loaded for a 2 month cruise vs empty.

Wakeboard boats run ballast bags sealed to a pump. Store it when not used and fill when needed.

Toss one on the cabin floor at the bottom of the stairs if it going to be a rough day? Plumb it to the existing ballast tank?





Two long skinny 300lbs on either side of the existing ballast under the floor?

[Crikey]

Two long skinny 300lbs on either side of the existing ballast under the floor?

Absolutely.

[BOAT]

Ballast will make the boat smoother in chop but it’s not really a huge factor in a storm unless you have a deep enough waterline. Boats that use ballast to ride out the storms are really submarining the waves. That makes heavy ocean cruising VERY comfortable, but it’s just not possible on a Mac, or too many other boats under 3500 pounds for that fact because you must displace enough water to enclose two people at a COG lower than the waterline to achieve it.

[NiceAft]

Interesting post.

Ray

[Ormonddude]

Honestly there is Times when the Atlantic is no worse than a pond the key to blue water operation is all in the weather watching and timing of your Voyage.

[NiceAft]

And when the unexpected happens. You don't want to be in Mac.

Ray

[BOAT]

I'm afraid of the Atlantic.

I expect everything.

[Ixneigh]

Ehhh blue water eh? K, here's what you can do go to (serious) sea in a Mac. If you must.

Step one. Glass the hull to deck joint together. Add some form of sheer clamp. A slab of foam an inch thick and twelve wide would do it. Glass that in Place with x3 biax strips, from bow to stern.

Step two. Custom weld double thick rudder brackets, and stronger-fy the steering linkage. Get Ida rudders. Have a dagger custom made for ocean duty.

Step three. Beef up the deck where stanchions are, as well as other wide flat surfaces. Three extra biax layers around bases of stanchions, two on the flat. Redo nonskid to something more aggressive. Add jack line fittings. Glass over deck skylights (m model) and make side ports out of 3/8 lexan. Add backing plates to stressed deck hardware. Not just nuts and washers.

Step four. Go though interior to make sure everything is ship shape. Make storage units. Shelves ect. Stock boat has none. All locker lids must be lockable. Remove dinette. You won't be using that at sea. Add handrails inside. Not sure where you will sleep. The motion will make all the existing sleeping areas almost unusable.

Step five. Kick yourself and realize you could have bought a used Etap for the money you have now spent. That boat was designed from the git to cross oceans and do it fast.

Step six. Replace large engine with 9.9. You won't be doing much motoring at sea unless you hold up an oil platform. Can't carry enough fuel. The 9.9 weighs less.

Step seven. Rig the boat with a conventional, carbon fiber mast. Double backstays, split. Headstay with redundant backup. Upsize all wire. Turnbuckles instead of punch plates. After market sails and furler. Storm jib and possibly staysail.

Step eight. Join the lost cause club. Commiserate. Update your will

Step nine. Plan trip and provision. Carefully layer heavy stuff towards the bottom of the boat for ballast. Consider doing my fresh water ballast tank mod or have two watermakers. Choose all down wind routes if possible. If you are not religious, consider becoming so.

Step ten. Sail off into Mac, and lost cause club, history!

This boat is not made for ocean work. There are plenty of used boats that are a far better choice. Leave the Mac on her trailer til you get back.

Ixneigh