We played round with jacks etc, and Anita passed the comment we should get the crane in before anyone lost a finger or worse. Sounded like a good idea.
Used L shaped concrete blocks wth hardwood 8"x2" with car tyres on top. Nice and firm.....so far.
Next da, around came a elderly friend to show me how to rig a sail boat. Quite simple really. I re-pained the bottom coat. Look really good.
The workers cleaned up the trailer frame. Took a day, but it has come up really well. Needed re-wiring too as our lights are different.
I hope sailing is as much fun as working on the boat and trailer has been so far.
I hope sailing is as much fun as working on the boat and trailer has been so far.
Have you ever sailed a boat before?
If yes, then NEVERMIND If no, I would suggest a class. I'm sure there are just as many crazy people on the water down there as there are here Knowing the correct way to do things is an advantage.
Not sure what it is like down under, but my experience in a couple other European countries is that they take boating much more seriously (and safely) and it also requires a boat drivers license (age requirements too). They understand the rules better and don't speed by you in overpowered Donzies 10 feet away...so close that you can smell the alcohol. In the U.S., all it takes is money.
well.......... no, I havn't sailed before......
Me and the 12yr old son did a 2 day sailing course a yr back.
To hold a boat licience here (for any vessel with 9hp or more) you do a 2 day course and have to pass a set exam at the end, and i have that.
The friend that helped me rig the boat has sailed for probably 45yrs, or more. He assures me he will be available "anytime"
So I am going to flounder around a lot but hopefully gain a little experience and basic skills along the way. That is why this board is such an excellant resource.
(off the point a bit I know, but he (retired friend) has a 23' keel boat, moored on a bouy, about 1+ hrs drive from his home at Bribie Island. The marina at Bribie is restricted by a bridge, and for him, also cost. I will sail the Mac at Bribie Island as it is 20min from home, I can launch either side of the bridge, or leave it in the Marina. He had a good look over the Mac and reckons it is exactly what he would like at his age.....so to summarise.....I'm real short on sailing experience......but real long on experienced helpers........so hoping it will all equal out. That's not considering my mate Murphy tho.....he's known to make an occasional appearance).
Cheers
Phillip
Philip - make your first sailing day out one when the wind is under 10 kts or mph as you see fit....in this wind the boat will respond but still be easily overpowered by the motor if need be
Less wind and you cant really get the feel for getting the sails right...too much wind and...well you know....
Excellent advice from Catigale. I just sailed my 26M for the first time this past weekend. Winds were 8-12 and pretty steady. Actually got up to 5 knots SOG by my GPS against a 2 knot current. I was beaming. I only had to motor out a time or two as I got a little close to the river bank as I was navigating out our small city on the river. Took me a few anxious moments but luckily not much boat traffic to see me make my Mac debut. The most I heeled was about 20 degrees when I came about with the traveler locked down with sails hauled close. I guess that's the rightl nautical terms. Any how, just be ready to let out the boom and you'll straighten right up. I sailed around by myself for about four hours and felt so comfortable that I called my wife up to have her come down and watch me sail back to the landing. I whipped right past the dock, turned into the wind to drop the mainsail and eased pierside. Me and the wife went out the next day and she enjoyed the serenity. Looking forward to some extended weekend cruising in the not too distant future.
I thought about that Chip.
I have a concrete block that is like an L, or a step: 2 normal holes across the bottom, one on the top.
I laid them flat on the ground, single facing either stern of bow (so won't roll), put 8"x4" hardwood over them to distribute the load. Put 4 vertical stays in.
I am not real happy with it, and can understand what you are saying.
I am hoping I will get away with it.
I recal you or someone mentioning this before, and thought about it at the time.
If I get away with it this time, I will do it differently next time.
Really got my fingers crossed now.
Thanks.
Cheers
Phillip
I agree with Chip that one should never use concrete blocks for holding heavy things up, but I must say that I've done it in the past with no ill effects. The trick is to *never* use them standing on end... they are horribly unstable and prone to failure in that positon. But, laid on their side with the holes up (like you could drop something into them and the way you would normally lay them in constructing a wall) I've found the blocks to be very stable. YMMV & caveat emptor.
I dont much care for your tip protectors Philip, from a safety standpoint again.
Fourth picture down it looks like you have 2x4's caught under the lip of the hull to deck joint? A good wind would easily rock the boat and have these fail.
An alternative would be bringing down lines from the cleats and firmly anchoring them into the ground with stakes.
If no, I would suggest a class. I'm sure there are just as many crazy people on the water down there as there are here 
Knowing the correct way to do things is an advantage. 
