Zeno's Arrow

[Graham Carr]

You can find Frank's site "here".

[Richard O'Brien]

#2 There appears to be some differences in the 'M' model from year to year, where can I review them?

http://www.macgregorsailboats.com/sailb ... rison.html
http://www.sailboatowners.com/boats/mod ... o=80&bts=T

" Can't find a 2003-4 M drawing, but the differences are: Galley moved to port, and aft., from starboard by the daggerboard trunk. Benches were raised approx. 3" for better storage, and so you could see out the windows. faux wood trim added around windows, and improved mast raising. In 2004 an arch was added to support the Mast.

I have a 2004, and am quite happy with the present galley, but like the idea of raised benches.

MadMike, an Australian posted here once inquiring if Macs could power over the breakers there? Maybe he could with your pontoon mods?
maybe you could sell your X in Hawaii or ???Australia, and have enough left to fly back and buy an M?

[richandlori]

Me mine...that is the bozat layout that I have the 2003-2004. The 2005 is the sliding galley. Love the Boat!

[waternwaves]

For those looking at using aramid fibers below the waterline......

be extremely careful selecting the particular fiber you use for reinforcing any centerboard mod.

Kevlar would not be my first choice.....upon long term exposure to water... (which can be expected with a used centerboard) kevlar looses considerable strength. Below the strength of even E-glass...., so above the waterline it makes sense........

but below the waterline, you are going to have to work very hard to design it to never crack, rupture, stress or fail due to water absorption.

good luck.

|>

[maddmike]

I agree with the above; avoid using such material on any modified centerboard. Better to go with CBX or other less complex Carbon-Fiber stock. One cheap way to get some is to see if anyone in your area is using composit materials & try to buy 'tailings' from them. There is a lot of information out there on how to lay this material. I bought a trash bag full of Carbon-Fiber tailings from a local company for about $5.00 & stuck the small pieces together to make an overlayed 'patch quilt' layer for my centerboard. With a little practice, it is much like putting bown Fiberglass. (I did spent some time working for Southern Spars helping to build Volvo & IACC spars & booms, which was very helpful).MM

[maddmike]

The question came up on a couple of threads concerning how I deploy my Sea-Anchor. I've tried a number of techniques on the 26X but found the following to be most effective for this boat type (can't be done on most anything else).

First, I will describe what I believe to be the most common 'worst case' situation. One is running (motoring or sailing) downwind and the weather guy tells you the sea state will not get too bad, but he was wrong and you find yourself running with increasing and dangerous seas. Rounding up under power or sail, or even both and then going forward to layout a Sea-Anchor can quickly become a very scarry exercise. What I found works best is to deploy the Sea-Anchor from the cockpit, laying it out by hand behind the boat (with it attached to the bow on a good bridle system with the deployment line runing outside the rigging to the cockpit). Drop the sails, pull up the centerboard all the way & then kick up the rudders as the boat 'snap-slips around to windward'. Much faster than trying to motor around in big seas and much less risk of getting abeam something nasty. One note; never ever deploy a Sea-Anchor in a strong current that is running at a right angle to the prevailing conditions. MM

[Tom Root]

The question came up on a couple of threads concerning how I deploy my Sea-Anchor. I've tried a number of techniques on the 26X but found the following to be most effective for this boat type (can't be done on most anything else).

What I found works best is to deploy the Sea-Anchor from the cockpit, laying it out by hand behind the boat (with it attached to the bow on a good bridle system with the deployment line runing outside the rigging to the cockpit). MM

Excellent description Mike, thanks!

One more reason to have the 'Continuous' lines I already utilize that run from Bow Cleat to Stern cleat! I have two lines I keep attached there that are 40' long and use it for many purposes already stated in the past on here. I also have 2" SS rings attached on them as well, toward the stern portion.

This is another step that I wouldn't have to take as my 'bridle' is always in place!

[maddmike]

Tom,

Just a thought. My bridle & jackline both are secured at one additional point other than the cleat, just in case it lets go.

[maddmike]

For those thinking about taking their boat North to Great Slave Lake & the Mackenzie River:

The question was; "Would I suggest taking a MAC to Great Slave Lake & the Mackenzie River?"

I would have to say that out of all the 'Adventures' available in North America for a 'trailer-sailer', in my opinion this has to be one of the best & easiest to do. (Although it will require about two months & some planning).

The jump off point is Hay River on the south shore of Great Slave Lake. The road to Hay River is good (but, carry a spare tire for your trailer).
In Hay River you can make arrangements to have your vehicle & trailer carried down river on a barge (at least this was possible last time I was there). The Two options down river for delivery of your vehicle are Ft. Simpson (short river trip with easy access back down south-see map). For the 'real' Explorer you can have your tow vehicle & trailer delivered to Inuvik and return via the Dempster Hwy (600 mile dirt road to Dawson City, Yukon). Basically, this trip allows you to explore Great Slave Lake, follow the Mackenzie all the way down stream (no bridges, no dams, few towns, great fishing & wildlife) on the second largest river system in North America, with a marked channel all the way, + Coast Guard patrolled, and you will use little fuel. Lots of side channels & rivers to explore. The trip can take place from early July through early Sept. There are few trips that compare & this would be an excellent multi-boat excursion, where emergency supplies were shared between folks. Might even be interested in going along again myself. MM

[maddmike]

On the question of my next planned modification or option to add to Zeno's Arrow (for Christmas?);

I'm thinking of something along the lines of Blond, Red Head, or Dark Hair. The way I see it there are about 2 billion of these available options worldwide, of which maybe 500 million would meet my criteria (so I'm a little pickey), of those maybe 100 million might be available and say, 10 million might find me worth considering, and I might end up maybe #1 or 2 on a list of about 100,000. Of these maybe 10,000 would like to go sailing and 1000 or so, could deal with traveling on a 26' sailboat if a larger boat guy was unavailable. Then, of course there is where I tend to sail. Maybe 100 or so could deal with a trip through the Pacific. Now I figure about 90% of those would get seasick or jump ship in Hawaii (for a cute surfer type guy). That leaves about 10 ladies, of these 8 would bailout when they saw my bank account, one would likely smoke (which is not going to happen on my boat) and the one remaining would be of some concern because as Gracho Marks once said 'I would never join a club that would want me for a member'; ya gotta think any MS 'Maddmike' out there would have to be a bit 'unusual'. Oh well, maybe I'll settle for a nice houseplant for Christmas. Cheers & Merry Christmas to all, MM

[waternwaves]

Mike.......

hmmm......
Does she also have to mtn bike, scuba dive, climb, cycle, kayak, golf, fly, surf, run, have her own 4x4, waterski, snow ski, snoboard, cook and have a house on an island??? love german shepherds (the dogs), be smart, blond and beautiful???

I'll send you the address.....she's single again.........

[maddmike]

Well, that's not the whole list, but it's a good start.

You forgot; play the piano, sing, play chess, be able to do open heart surgery with a swiss army knife, understand and discuss the relation of 'M' theory to Superstring Theory, have been published, Olympic experience (but a medal is not important), spell better than I do (which is about everyone), speak several languages (hopefully not the same ones I do) & have placed somewhere in the top three in a local beauty contest.

Hummmm, except for the open heart surgery part, sounds a lot like my 'x', who is not available for a rematch, but might be open to a referal.

[maddmike]

I received a question on how I use my Vang on upwind runs.

Zeno's Arrow is set-up with a rotating mandrel boom set inside a 'V' channel that acts as a 'holding platform' for the main when it is reefed or rolled & reefed. Basically, this allows the boom to rotate so the main can be lowered to one of 3 reefing points manually (it does require feeding the batten cars back in the track when raising the main after being reefed in this manner-The Main can also be reefed in the standard manner). This system does not require the boat to roundup in order to be reefed when running downwind in strong conditions. Because of this set-up & the fact that I do not have a mainsheet track, I am able to employ a combination Vang/Jib Protection systems that uses climbing ascenders attached with carabeaners to lifeline padeyes. By setting the bitter end of a 'loose' line attached to the boomhousing I am able to Vang the boom all the way down to the forward cockpit lifelines and flatten the main more than most boats. By adjusting this system in conjunction with the leech line on the main, I am able to keep a well shaped & flattened (full battened) Mainsail while driving hard to windward. The boom 7 'V' can be seen in the first picture I posted at the MAC owners site. MM

[waternwaves]

Mike......she's starting to sound too good..

did she do 22 straight days on a winter sub zero mountain ski, shoe and climb and hike....,artist, sculptor, a voice to a melt souls, and torment Satan, a good mother, she spoke a little french. Dextrous naturally balanced and capable of balancing a port bottle on a kayak paddle in a tandem without spilling a drop in passing it back, and get this........WANTED TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD IN MAC (3 of them to be exact, one for NA, one for australia/tasmania/New Zealand ... Winter in the bay of isles...., and then finish with the one for the European and Med Travels from Greece to Sweden.) and still young enough to do all this in a 2 to 3 year period....

perhaps....(since mine is also not available for a rematch) we could trade X's and still make the trip....lol.... now that would be an adventure.....

Only two more macs for me to go purchase.

lets see......that would be six boats outfitted....owning no more than 2 at a time....each.....