Keeping Mac in a Slip

[c130king]

Fellow Mac'ers,

Did some searching, found some info, but I still have some questions:

Normally trailer and take my out of the water each time I use it (occasionally leave it in overnight if I plan to sail the next day as well). I always flush the engine every time it comes out.

But now I am going to Norfolk VA for two months (Apr - Jun) and plan to just rent a slip and leave it in the water the entire time. I hope to sail 4-5 times per week for those 2 months. I can't wait to get there.

EDIT: Leaving it in the water because the Marina does not have dry/mast up storage. And of course I hope to be able to take it out on the weekdays after class...prefer not to full around with the trailer.

I have a 40 HP Merc 2-stroke. Can I raise the motor out of the water and flush with the rabbit ears? Or leave it down and use the rabbit ears in the water? Didn't see anything on this topic in my Merc Manual.

I have a bottom coat. It was put on by the PO. Sort of a thick rough paint job. Not sure exactly what type it is. I presume it is about 2-3 years old. For the 8 weeks in the water should I worry about blisters or growth?

Any other thoughts for leaving the boat in the salt water at Norfolk for two months? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Thanks,
Jim

[James V]

Interesting. The waters should not be too warm and I think that you should be OK with your bottom paint.

The flushing of the motor sounds fine. Check with Your Mer dealier.

Before putting the boat in the water, Makes sure that the shrouds are adjusted right. Keep ballest full.

Get 1/2 lines and protect them. Loop at the dock and tie on the boat. Use spring lines.

[c130king]

James V,

Thanks. Don't have a Merc dealer...bought the boat used 4 months ago. But I guess I can try and find one.

Understand all the rest and can do that.

Get 1/2 lines and protect them

.

What do you mean by "1/2" and "protect"?

Thanks,
Jim

[paj637]

c130king,
Was that you I saw towing a Mac northbound on I-95 last Friday? Or are you still at homebase?

[Bawgy]

Hope you can trailer down to the Spring Fling May5-6 . We are at the NC/VA border just off I-95 www.geocities.com/kenny27870 Last year we had 3 Mac 26's out of 14 boats and this year I hope there will be more . I know I will be addding a07 one in a couple of weeks

[NautiMoments]

Jim, we leave our boat in the water for 6 months at a time up here in the PNW and you will love it.

You should flush the engine out each time it is used. I would do it with the engine down, rabbit ears on and run for about 3-5 min while flushing. Then I tip the motor up and keep it out of the water till the next time.

Check that the bottom cote of antifouling is not worn off anywhere. Most people sand the hull with 80 grit (or such) sand paper before applying the antifouling. This opens the pours to the fiberglass and makes it susceptible to water intrusion which will then cause blisters. With sliding the boat on and off the trailer it is likely that some of the antifouling is worn off. Since many people keep the boat out of the water the hull has time to dry off, but if you leave it in the water this could be a concern. Two months may not be an issue if you give it time to dry out after but for the cost of a gallon of antifouling and a bit of time IMHO I would give it a fresh coat. This was the message from a boatbuilder and many long time sailors.

I agree with James that you should keep the ballast full. This will keep the boat more steady if a blow comes up or in any wash. Put a bit of bleech in the tank will help keep it fresh. Having 1/2" lines is extra insurance, but mine are not. Just make sure they are in good shape. And as James said, you have to use spring lines. Some people loop to the dock and tie to the boat and some do it the other way, your preference.

Have fun having it at the dock. Even in those rainy days you can go down, sit on the boat and have a beer with the others.

[mallardjusted]

nautimoments, re: "you should flush the engine out each time it is used. I would do it with the engine down, rabbit ears on and run for about 3-5 min while flushing."

Isn't the only way this would work is if you are moored in fresh water, or am I not understanding? To flush the salt water out wouldn't you need to tilt it out of the water and put the "ears" on?

[Frank C]

James V,
What do you mean by "1/2" and "protect"?

He was suggesting 1/2 inch docklines, protected from chafing.

Full-time, 24/7 docklines take real UV beating. Here in CA, docks are predominantly floaters, so all 4 docklines can be adjusted to just hold the boat at center-slip. Lots of guys never even take them aboard ... leaving their full-time docklines right on the dock, always perfectly adjusted to drop their spliced loops over the hull's bow & stern cleats.

I like having nice double-braided docklines aboard my boat. For only a short 2-month season, you could get some basic twisted docklines at Boater's World, or just dedicate your current docklines to old Sol and get new lines for carrying aboard.

[c130king]

Guys,

Thanks for all the tips. I can do all of that. This weekend is my big "Boat Weekend". I have lots of little projects to do and I will add checking the bottom paint closely for any worn down/thin spots.

Phil, I towed my boat up from Jax last Tuesday but I left the NAS and went via I-295 to I-10. Wasn't on I-95, must have been somebody else. I will be going up I-95 to Norfolk exactly one month from today. Change of Command Ceremony in 19 days (but who's counting), then a week cruise with the family on Carnival down to Cozumel/Costa Maya and then drive to Norfolk.

Bawgy, I have NC sail website on my laptop...just not sure at this time if I will be able to make it over there.

If anyone will be sailing the James River/Southern Chesapeake between mid April and mid June let me know. I would really like to see somebody else's Mac just to see how others set them up and of course to swap sea stories (although I don't really have any yet... ).

Jim

[JJ]

I plan to be on the Chesapeake this spring. However, I am a first time Mac owner too so maybe we can learn together! The April time-frame sounds about right. I need to apply some anti fouling paint first.

I have the white hull..what color of antifouling paint do you guys use? Black? In anycase, this will be my first expaerience painting that stuff on. It will also be my first time to launch the boat!

Been working on my tow monster for the last 2 months..just about done. Now, I can get back to the boat.

[Mikebe]

I'm no expert on this, (still waiting to put my brand new 26M in the water) but from what I understand, on the Chesapeake, mid April is when the barnacle spats begin to appear...sounds like your boat has an ablative paint, designed to ablate away over time which is how it works to keep the bugs off your hull. Beneath your ablative paint should be (hopefully) a barrier coat. The Barrier coat protects against blistering. You don't want to sand away your barrier coat. If you have an ablative antifouling on top of a barrier coat, from what I understand you should be able to just clean up a bit and and add a new coat of antifouling right over what you have every two or three years as needed...