Soon to be a new Macgregor owner

[kmclemore]

Any good ideas on a simple, cheap method to mount the spare?

Something like this would work:

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Acce ... /8112575.p

Yep, that's exactly what I have on my Mac trailer and it works just fine. Fits on the left side (looking forward) and tire does not at all get in the way of loading the boat.

[JohnWood]

Any good ideas on a simple, cheap method to mount the spare?

Something like this would work:

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Acce ... /8112575.p

I like that. Thanks. I was thinking of using a big U-bolt and maybe some rope, but it was looking kind of sketchy. This looks prefect, and it's cheap enough.

[Russ]

Disappointing to learn that I don't have a spare on my Sieena. Good to know though.
Although I'm sure it was equipped with run-flats when new, it isn't now. I do, however, always carry a plug kit and a little compressor. That should take care of 90% of the flats in an emergency.

When I bought the car, I read the manual and it discussed the spare. I went looking and got mad. Was ready to charge back to the dealer and ask where is my spare. Then I learned about the run flats.

I kept a can of fix-a-flat and a compressor. Never needed it. Like I said, that model year, the pressure was measured by tire rotation or something. No actual air sensors.

As Bob mentioned, sometimes cold or hot temps would trigger it as tires would not be even.
It was a great car and never gave us any trouble. Towed our runabout but not the Mac. Don't need it in FL, but that AWD and stability works so well.

--Russ

[kmclemore]

...the pressure was measured by tire rotation or something. No actual air sensors.

Correct, Russ. The 'pressure' is measured by the anti-lock brake sensors and the on-board computer... the sensors measure the rotation of the wheels. A deflated wheel is smaller than a fully inflated one and will therefore roll at a faster speed than if it were fully inflated. If one wheel begins to rotate faster than the others for an extended period of time it is assumed to be deflated and therefore triggers the 'low tire' lamp.

[Tomfoolery]

Any good ideas on a simple, cheap method to mount the spare?

Something like this would work:
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Acce ... /8112575.p

I like that. Thanks. I was thinking of using a big U-bolt and maybe some rope, but it was looking kind of sketchy. This looks prefect, and it's cheap enough.

Since Princess is a Canadian company with no stores in the US as far as I know, you can find the same thing at Harbor Freight, though the quality might be a bit sketchy. etrailer.com has a selection, as do other online sources.

I made my own twin carrier, but got the idea when I realized I could just bolt a pair of those linked to above to each other on either side of the pole tongue.

[Russ]

I'm an Amazon Prime fan.

I bought 2 spare tire mounts from them with free shipping.
1 for my Mac and another for my Seadoo trailer. Very easy to install and cheap enough.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... er%20mount

[jimbo]

With respect to the spare tyre carrier check the arm length first or buy same part as others already have. There are short and long arms and the short arm versions will not work well with the 15inch rims and tyres. With short arms, assuming you can even mount the tyre, the tyre will be too low and will drag if the car and trailer go through a dip or over a bump.

[JohnWood]

I got the same spare tire mount that taime1 posted, available at harbor freight for $22.49 with the coupon.

Jimbo was right though, that it sits low, and there's a chance the wheel could hit the ground while going over a bump or as I back it down the ramp. That would not be good. It's low at least if install as the instructions show. I took it off and modified it by drilling two new holes so that it is high as possible. That raise it about 2.5" and it looks a lot less likely to hit ground.

[andante]

Congrats on your boat....
I also have an old through hull knot meter and depth sounder I will likely remove and glass over. I need to add a depth sounder of sorts. Any recommendations out there for something cheap, simple and not requiring a through hull? I don't see it as worthy to measure hull speed. I also need to add a compass.

Man I have a lot of stuff to buy and a lot of work to do. I need to stop thinking about this.

Hopefully this will get to "JohnWood". I use a basic Hummingbird fish finder/depth sounder with the transponder hanging on the stern and the "thru-hull" ABOVE the water line. I've always felt better about not having any thru-hull openings below the waterline...but a lot of people do.

Glenn
http://ezrecord.com/Sailing/mods.htm

[JohnWood]

Hopefully this will get to "JohnWood". I use a basic Hummingbird fish finder/depth sounder with the transponder hanging on the stern and the "thru-hull" ABOVE the water line. I've always felt better about not having any thru-hull openings below the waterline...but a lot of people do.

Glenn
http://ezrecord.com/Sailing/mods.htm

Thanks. I like that. I think I will do something similar eventually, but hopefully sooner.
On the sails I've had so far on my new 26S, the water is a little murky in the intercostal. I just cannot guess the depth very well by sight like I normally can, even in Tampa bay. The centerboard doesn't seem to make any real noticeable sound it bumps the bottom either. So I just can't seem to tell. Right now, I'm very glad I got an S rather than a D. Fortunately, all I've done so far is drag a bit on soft sand, but it's only a matter of time before I hit a good rock or try to back up when I'm bumping bottom.

I think it may also be time to invest in some charts and or a charting phone app. My parents use some charting app that they are pretty happy with.

[Tomfoolery]

I think it may also be time to invest in some charts and or a charting phone app. My parents use some charting app that they are pretty happy with.

Get some paper charts and learn how to use them, if you don't already. Electronics are great 'till they stop working.

Knowing where you are, or how to figure out where you are, with nothing but a compass and a chart (hmmmm - that's a line from Captain Ron, right before they both blew overboard in a squall ) can be a life saver.

[JohnWood]

I think it may also be time to invest in some charts and or a charting phone app. My parents use some charting app that they are pretty happy with.

Get some paper charts and learn how to use them, if you don't already. Electronics are great 'till they stop working.

Knowing where you are, or how to figure out where you are, with nothing but a compass and a chart (hmmmm - that's a line from Captain Ron, right before they both blew overboard in a squall ) can be a life saver.

I would normally agree. I use paper charts primarily when I sail my parent's Pearson 35, even though they have both a plotting GPS and a phone ap. But I sail that boat just in and around Tampa Bay. The problem with using charts on a Mac26, other than much less of working area and storage, is that I intend to take this thing all over the place. Unlike my parent's P35, I can trailer my Mac to different lakes, bays in FL, GA, etc. Charts are expensive and I don't want to buy another one each time I want to check out a place.

I don't know if I really need any chart or GPS capability. I'm just exploring bays, intercoastals, lakes etc. So far, I've seemed to do alright with GPS or charts. I haven't really missed them either. If I get a depth sounder and use some common sense, I might just be fine. A lot of harbormasters post a chart up on the wall, so I can check it out for hazards before I launch.

[JohnWood]

My coworker just stumbled upon a site to download full sized PDFs of charts for free. It's from NOAA, so I'm sure it's legal, free from copyright infringement. I just downloaded our local waters. We have a large format printer here at work, and I'll ask, but I'd bet my boss will let me print them out. He's a boater as well.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/InteractiveC ... ?rnc=11416