Hi. I'm new.

[Ron Snyder]

I just bought a new 26M. I have never sailed before. My wife is only letting me go on Lake Mead until she thinks I'm a good sailor.

All I wanna do is go back and forth with the sails and anchor when I feel like going below to write some lines of code (software).

The boat is already titled, registered, and numbered. The trailer is titled and registered. Insurance papers are on the nightstand. I took the safe boater course. I have book; "Chapman's Piloting Seamanship and Small Boat Handling". Sailing lessons start next week in San Francisco. All seems to be in order except for one thing.....

I need to know what else should I buy when I pick up my boat?

In case it matters, I'm getting the 9.9HP Suzuki. I'm very happy with that. I've had a canoe forever and never had the need for speed.

[Maccpt]

ICE & BEER...

[Helaku]

If you have the money for a 50 or 60, you might want to look at them as a serious safety item. Being able to get in quick is a serious bonus. Lake sailing is statistically safer than open ocean. Sometimes what wind does to shallow water it can be worse. My wife and I got caught in a gale on Lake Monroe in Sanford Florida. The wind was lifting the water right off the lake. We had just enough time to get on our life jackets when it hit us. I could not tack through it.

Being able to run real fast for safe harbor is something that experienced sailors make good use of.

[Chinook]

[ I've had a canoe forever and never had the need for speed.[/quote]

I owned a canoe for 25 years before purchasing our Mac 26X in 2002. We have the 50 hp, but I understand how you feel about speed. We rarely run at full throttle. I found that, although quite different, my canoeing experience has proved valuable in many ways as I gained familiarity with the Mac. Reading water, handling swells, the bite of the paddle in the water, the importance of keeping weight in the bottom of the boat, trim, etc. Being close to the water, as in a canoe, yields respect for the water. You don't get far from shore in a canoe unless conditions are appropriate. The conservativism of canoeing is a useful teacher for operating the bigger boat.

Good luck with your M. After your canoe, I'm sure you'll love the greater range, comfort, and capability.

Happy sailing, Mike Cecka

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Hi Ron,

Welcome to the site. There have been a lot of good discussions lately about accessories. It's real easy to go overboard on this stuff but it sure is a fun way to spend too much money. Here are some good reading links to get you started:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4780

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4904

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2763

Its amazing how much more stuff you can get even when you think you already have most everything you could ever need!

[Catigale]

Welcome Ron - take her out on a nice fairly calm day and spend the first few times out just under power, mastering getting her off and back to the dock.

I think Rogers 'learn to sail' tutorial in the manual is a great way to start - pick a day of light wind though, when you will just get the boat to move. Light means 10 mph or less.

Youve got a number of people in Ohio I bet you could talk into going out with you too!!

[craiglaforce]

Well, some basics I would recommend are:


13# superhooker anchor, 100 or 150 ft of 1/2 inch 3 strand nylon line and 6 feet of chain.
install a PM windline anchor holder on the rail.

Cell phone with Coast guard and a tow service number stored on it.

Good straw hat from walmart with chin strap and sunglasses and SPF 15 sunscreen

couple gallons of bottled water and some snacks.

Portable radio for tunes
5 premade docklines

padlock for the cabin door

collapsible boat hook

Go to barnes and noble and buy a couple of basic sailing books or whatever else interests you. Buy a large cafe mocha

obviously get the required Coast guard stuff. lifejackets , tossable preserver, air horn,

maybe a cheap atlantic VHF handheld to start

flashlight or 2.

basic el cheapo tool kit with socket wrneches, screw drivers.

set of spark plugs and a spare primer bulb and hose.

extra gas tank and oil for the motor.

maybe a jump pack or 2nd battery.

a garden water hose and deck brush

lock for the trailer hitch.
grease gun for the trailer bearing buddies.
tie down straps or maybe use the docklines to secure the boat to the trailer.

Extra ring dings, some rope of various sizes, a good knife, flip flops,
basic first aid kit. granola bars, a few bolts and nuts, sail slugs and slug holder, bungee cords to secure the mainsail, sailcover.

[Sloop John B]

And a little something to pee in. Check out the shape on the new mayonnaise containers. Dont be caught hanging off the back stay because you dont got one.

[James V]

Go slow, Get handhelds and throwaways. Work out a list, go sailing/cruising, figure it out. Don't put in anything in that you cannot move easily until you have the entire package worked out. My complete list is over 500 items and it changes every time I go out. Keep it simple for the first season. You will be supprised what you can do with just camping gear, safety gear, 13 pound anchor with 25 feet of 5/16 chain, handbearing compass, Handheld GPS with chartplotter, handheld VHF, Porta pot and a few 50 foot lines.
Try the 1/2" lines as they are much easier on the hands.

Take it easy and don't try to go too far.

(search the forum and mod's)

[elcid79]

This might sound really stupid, but I would reccomend wearing deck shoes like spery's or a pair of non-marking tennis shoes until you get familiar with the boat. Nothing ruins a day on the water quicker than catching your pinky toe on some hardware. Just my 2 cents..

[jetta01]

Hey Ron,

As others have mentioned a 50 or 60 hp engine might be a consideration from a safety perspective...

Don't let your wife fool herself into thinking that a lake is the safest place to be. I have a 26M and one of the scariest outings we had was on Lake Mead. The wind was howling. Without the bigger engine, I am not sure if we could have made it back to the dock...

Other than that, keep the water ballast FULL and have fun!

Rick

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

And a little something to pee in. Check out the shape on the new mayonnaise containers. Dont be caught hanging off the back stay because you dont got one.

Yep....grabbing for a back stay on a Mac M would be a "wet" scene in more ways than one....during a bladder emergency...

[Ron Snyder]

Thankyou very much for your advice.

Thankyou Dimitri for the hyperlinks and Craig for the list.

I don't think I can do a mayonnaise jar. I'll get the porta-potty instead.

The 9.9HP engine has already been put on the boat. Hopefully it won't be too dangerous.

I noticed that some of you will be coming to Lake Mead soon. I will be there.

[Divecoz]

You'll be fine with your 9.9
Will you go fast under motor power with your 9.9 ? NO. Will you pull the kids on a tube or other toy? Most likely not. I would dare to make a guess that most sail boats this size or there about + or - . . . are powered with more 9.9 like yours, than 40 50 60 and 90 hp o.b.'s. like ours . But that ability to run fast (for a 26 ft. sail boat that can sleep 6 ) is a big drawing card for many of us . But there are as may reasons as there are owner's for selecting a MacGregor Sail Boat. So, like choosing an X or a M its owners choice .. You bought a great boat have fun teach yourself then your kids and then. . . who knows someday. . . . . . . teach your grandkids how to sail too...
Storms! You need to out smart them NOT try . . . . . . to out run them Under the best of conditions we run half as fast as a storm can run .

[Helaku]

Storms! You need to out smart them NOT try . . . . . . to out run them Under the best of conditions we run half as fast as a storm can run .

That advice depends on where you live, in Florida and Georgia it can be clam, clam, calm and then comes the afternoon thunderstorm. They are like a box of chocolates, you never know if they will come today and how severe they will be. The ability to punch it in is a beautiful thing. If you try to avoid summer thunderstorms you will never fill a sail.