Aft Berth area

[sailboatmike]

In reality the standard cabin door on the X is really only suitable for calm lake sailing with minimal chance of taking a wave over the transom even though Im sure some of the larger lakes can get extremely nasty.

The standard door is very heavy, hard to store and the either fully open or closed option isnt really safe.

Im amazed at the number of people that sail in conditions that are hardly optimal with their roof hatch all the way open and the door removed for ease of access, unless conditions are close to perfect IMHO the roof hatch should be closed at the minimum and maybe a 18 inch high storm board in place once it starts getting a bit nasty.

With the size of those openings one nasty bullet of wind could send a LOT of water down into the cabin in a very short period of time. This is a typical example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s--sDUnSC4

Of course the somewhat saving grace is it would take a lot to get her over that far to take a wave into the cabin, but its happened to much bigger blue water yachts

[dlandersson]

I'm sure you're right. Remember the Edmund Fitzgerald?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

In reality the standard cabin door on the X is really only suitable for calm lake sailing with minimal chance of taking a wave over the transom even though Im sure some of the larger lakes can get extremely nasty.

[Highlander]

Yep they say it was a 50ft wave or greater that broke her back & this is the great lakes not the ocean ?

J

[Phil M]

I'm sure you're right. Remember the Edmund Fitzgerald?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

You just don't mess with the large lakes in our MacGregors.

[sailboatmike]

From my experience the MAc will take best part on what nature can dish out,

As the old saying does, there is old sailors and bold sailors but you wont find a old bold sailor.

Simple precautionary things like closing hatches and using storm boards when the weather isnt as good as it could be go a long way to becoming an old sailor

[Catigale]

The open transom of a Mac precludes a significant amount of water coming into the boat from astern.

If the waves are that big, I've been taken off my Mac by helicopter long ago....

[Herschel]

if u use the open cell expanding foam with the moisture down there u r inviting mold to grow in there , where as if u leave it open u have access to the area & can spray bleach cleaners up in these area,s as I do every once in a while usually in the spring to keep mold at bay U could always fill it with closed cell foam blocks just stuffed in there , then its removeable for cleaning or other maintenance as Tom say,s if u r lookin for extra flotation in the aft birth a air mattress is one way to go I know some on here have gone that route
J

For what it is worth, I bought my '98 X used over 13 years ago. The PO had made a number of mods and had gone into the flotation containing areas to run wiring. So I got to wondering if I still had all the flotation the boat needed. Plus (correct me if I am wrong) the demo flooding of the hulls done by the MacGregor folks did not use a boat with an engine attached. I contacted the factory. It was still there back then. The rep that took my call assured me the standard floatation WAS sufficient to keep a mac WITH an engine afloat. Being a tad compulsive and belonging to the "its better to have too much of something than not enough" school of thought, I decided to add some flotation of my own. I accumulated four Styrofoam coolers which I tapped shut and placed them in the stern next to the back panel. I figured I more than made up for my 50 h.p. engine and anything the PO might have mislaid or taken out. Plus, I enjoy a little peace of mind that I have done all I could to stay afloat in the case of an emergency. I take my own grandkids, and other kids, out for sailing lessons from time to time, so it is especially nice for those situations.

[Highlander]

The open transom of a Mac precludes a significant amount of water coming into the boat from astern.

If the waves are that big, I've been taken off my Mac by helicopter long ago....

Yep that,s fine . but in the mean time while u r waiting for that chopper would it not b ur responsibility too make sure these hatches were in place prior to any type of breach !

Just sayin Thats All Cat

A storm coming on shore u have a better chance of out running unless u gamble too late & have to deal with a bad harbour entrance .

But Sudden off shore storm,s can b even more worse cause if u r caught off guard & a way off shore !

Never ever say that,ll never happen to U . Cause as they say Sh_t will happen whether u want it too or not & it has happened to me

Safety is the first & almost to all crew on board

OMG Guess I,m showin my age

J

[dlandersson]

I was born about 10,000 years a go.....there ani't nothin' in this world thet ah dunno...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGPkGuzmF9o

OMG Guess I,m showin my age

J

[beene]

I use the cedar scented moth balls

J

You have cedar scented balls?????!



G

[Highlander]

I use the cedar scented moth balls

J

You have cedar scented balls?????!



G

Yep avail @ crappy tire

J
Guess u could say I got pleasant scenting Moth B ,s that is !