Ixneigh goes insane

[Ixneigh]

Hi everyone. Those who know me here know I put a high value on sailing. So it may come as surprise to hear that I’m recently contemplating going trawler mode for a while. The reason is our heat here in south Florida. The last four summers have sucked. Period. Little wind and really really hot. I still cruise the boat under power. Usually no more than 50-100 miles a trip. I love sailing and the Mac does fine if you’ve got your act together. But stepping the mast is a pain if there’s like almost zero wind. It’s so hot that I can’t be on the boat during the day now and do anything but sit in the shade. It’s literally 100+degrees inside with everything open. To that end: lose the spar, the bimini, the mast crutch etc. built a tubular aluminum solar panel rack for 1000 watts of dc power, and add a 5 foot high raised steering station with Bimini amidships. My question is: is this too much weight with the ballast out?

Thanks you, gentlemen.
Ix

[Gotro]

I used my Mac x 2weeks ago motor only for a 2 day outing. It was a real pain walking over the wires to anchor. I don’t like using the boat without ballast because it is so much more stable with it full. Other boat wakes just rocks this boat silly with and with out ballast. Next time I think I will disconnect the stays and tie them along the mast to get them out of the way. Taking the mast off is another pain , not doing that anymore as well plus it’s back up if motor kicks the bucket.

[WinSome]

Even if the weight is ok, sounds like a lots work. How easy to sail when wanted??? I suggest you’d never sail again??
Acquire a pontoon boat with full Bimini for lounging around under.

[Gotro]

[url=https://postimg.cc/BL7rZTkv][/url
My best buds pontoon he doesn’t miss sailing

[Russ]

I imagine that much heat and no wind makes a man go insane.

If you de-rig your boat and rig all that solar etc, I doubt you will go back easily. Still, hot is hot and it makes a man a bit crazy.

Without ballast? Can't you do both. Put it in and if you feel the need to lose an extra 6" of depth, dump it? I don't like the feel of the boat without ballast. But then again, I've always had her rigged while in the water.

[Herschel]

For what it's worth, we have a similar situation in Central Florida. The admiral and I have for the past decade or longer surrendered the summer as a rarely used season for boating, and we have the boat in a marina. We just consider the summer like folks up north consider the winter. We enjoy the fall, winter (most days), and spring. Then we just go up and fire up the engine, air her out, and do mold and dirt control, every couple of weeks through the summer. Why not do the same in South Florida?

[Russ]

For what it's worth, we have a similar situation in Central Florida. The admiral and I have for the past decade or longer surrendered the summer as a rarely used season for boating, and we have the boat in a marina. We just consider the summer like folks up north consider the winter. We enjoy the fall, winter (most days), and spring. Then we just go up and fire up the engine, air her out, and do mold and dirt control, every couple of weeks through the summer. Why not do the same in South Florida?

This is how I expect to live when we finally retire to a warmer State. Just reverse the Seasons and live indoors.

[NiceAft]

Russ said:

This is how I expect to live when we finally retire to a warmer State. Just reverse the Seasons and live indoors.

Russ, I suspect there are parts off Alaska warmer than Montana

[Be Free]

Ix,
That sounds like a lot of weight aloft to me but why not just try it and see? If it feels safe leave the ballast out. If it seems to be "tippy" put it in.

I grew up down there and know that the summers can be brutal. Stay safe.

[Be Free]

Russ said:

This is how I expect to live when we finally retire to a warmer State. Just reverse the Seasons and live indoors.

Russ, I suspect there are parts off Alaska warmer than Montana

I spent the summer of '69 traveling all over Alaska by car. The hottest day, by far, on the entire trip from Miami to Circle City was a stop in Anchorage to do laundry. Who'd a thunk?