When does it break ???

[Divecoz]

They locked the thread about "Too Much Heal" so may I ask here . . When will things begin to break?? Mast . . .Rigging etc.
During a microburst I healed over very close to bringing on water and the bow was driven in . . .deep IMHO
I had 1 reef in the main and a full 85% Jibe out when we got hit .. I let everything fly and she righted so fast . . . .I thought for a moment she might actually go over the other way from shear inertia. .though I suspect that in reality it's all but impossible . . . RIGHT tell its so. . .
Back to my questions . . .Can you break these boats ??? Has anyone ever done it ???

[richandlori]

damn good question, but other than operator error, like hitting a dock or such, I have yet to read a post of something just breaking from use. I looked into this quite a bit before buying a Mac after I read some threads on other sailing sites about the Mac being cheaply made.

Rich

[Zavala]

damn good question, but other than operator error, like hitting a dock or such, I have yet to read a post of something just breaking from use. I looked into this quite a bit before buying a Mac after I read some threads on other sailing sites about the Mac being cheaply made.

Rich

That's a good point. I've never heard of any Macs have their spreaders, shrouds, etc. fail just due to heavy use. Now trees, garages, and and occasional overpass may be a different story....

We had some friends a few years back who lost their mast while underway on their older Catalina. It sounded dreadfully scary when they told us the story -- especially since they had their two year old daughter on board at the time.

[Divecoz]

During my excitement, I was MUCH to busy to think of such things but I did wonder later . . hum there must be a point when the wind could snap this mast . . maybe pull the shrouds right out of the boat as well. . Yet I have never read a word about anyone doing such a thing or having it happen to them. . . I have broke a few expensive toys in my day and I was just wondering about this one ???? You read about some pretty big and expensive boats being di-masted quite often on the web in the papers and Mags and in books . .but that is part of what sells books

[Moe]

The Mac is a tender boat that doesn't try to keep the mast up in the wind fighting it like a keelboat, it just rolls over with the wind, and as it does, the effective area of the sail decreases. Its mast is also a lot shorter than most. As light as the rigging is, I don't think you'd break it just sailing. Maybe bend a spreader, but then I'd think the boat would have to be moving a pretty good clip when the spreader hit the water.

[Divecoz]

My sentiments as well but I. . . was just guessing. Makes sence thoughh

[Richard O'Brien]

Interesting topic! I discussed about a month ago how I was caught in a similar microburst, and The force of the wind broke all 18 of my sail slugs. I wonder if i'd had stainless loop slugs if the sail itself might have torn, but it was only about 25 bucks to replace them. I am glad therefore to have had the plastic ones. The force on the mast was enormous, but I don't think it would have broken, before she rounded up? I'm convinced the thing with Macs is to have your furling and reefing systems at hand, ready to release. I've also yet to see one horizontal, although I saw Flicka (yes, the tough little full keel 18 ) go past 45 degrees 3 years ago. It just bounced back, and kept going.

[Lorne Colish]

I was out in big winds last weekend,sailing with about 2/3 of my genoa out on a broad reach and my GPS reading 6 to 7 knots (8.4 in one of the gusts!), rounding up on several occassions.It was a great time out on the water but when I got back to dock,I noticed I had a bent spreader.
As I consider the reasons,I can only blame myself. My rigging was too loose and my jib sheet should have been positioned farther forward. The furled jib was flapping wildly a couple of times and I thought something had to give at that point. Luckily it wasn't the sail.
As it turns out, it was so windy that most of the sailboats decided to spend the Sunday safely tied up to the dock.These were +or - 30ft. keelboats. I had a great time and wouldn't have had a problem if I'd been smarter.
The boat is a pretty tough little vessel,IMHO.

[Jeff S]

The Mac impressed me during 4-6' swells that were spaced tightly in strong winds. The boat was cresting one wave and submarining through the next. The bow would literally rise up OUT of the water and climb the next wave as the water poured off the topside. The conditions were so rough that when I went to the mast I had my legs and arms wrapped around it completely as I was getting soaked that I decided to forego my efforts there and return to the cockpit- I didn't know how much longer I could hold on. I was nervous for the boat (myself a bit too) as the entire boat would shudder everytime it came down off a wave into the next one. No damage found at all, tough boat. I was pretty impressed. (Stainless rudder brackets) The only damage I have seen on my boat has been from me dropping things on it and chipping the gelcoat.

Jeff S

[Just a Friend]

You really shouldn't have much of an issue with rig failure on your boats. This is assuming that proper maintenance is done, i.e. rig tuned properly, corrosion prevention, etc. The reason race boats usually suffer rig failure is the loads are much more extreme. We'll pack people on the rail 'til they don't fit anymore to keep the boat flat. This increase in righting moment won't let the boat heel and spill off pressure. Most Mac sailing seems to be pleasure cruising, which means even in a big breeze, you won't see the same loads. And when in doubt, reduce sail.

[richandlori]

Divecoz,

As a FYI, old threads automatically lock themselves after several months (don't know the exact date). If you want to post to one of the locked threads, just start a new one like you did and you could also post the link to the old thread.

Rich

[Steve K]

Had my spreaders in the water. Have watched the fish swim by through the side windows. Been broadsided by a 65 foot houseboat (being pushed by a 70mph+ gust) while tied up at a dock, which I thought was the end for my Xboat, when it was compressed between the houseboat and dock. Didn't even scratch the gelcoat. Imagine..... this blew out one of my fenders and they were not the cheap ones either. Think of the force that took!
Had the boom go over so hard it shook my teeth (;see accidental jibe).
Had plastic sail slugs break also...... and the ones with stainless bales do hold up better.
In a hurry one morning, while backing out of a guest slip, I forgot two things.....
1. centerboard was down
2. marina manager warned me of the dock anchor cabling, running just behind this particular slip was only about three feet under the surface. Boat stopped like it had disk brakes.
Result.....
upon removal and very close inspection of trunk, centerboard and it's pinnings, no damage could be found.

Done some hard sailing and had some real mishaps with my Xboat. Never tore a sail.... never lost part of the rig....... never broke the fiberglass. Only thing damaged was those aluminum rudder brackets (early Xboats). Bent the crap out of those once. Forgot to put the rudders up before beaching once. They didn't kick up, but burried themselves in the mud. Guess I had the downhaul lines a little too tight.

Anyway, the Macs are tough little boats and darn forgiving, not to mention, if you do need some repair, parts are cheap