MacGregorSailors.com

Sumner, do you still live in Utah?

And you're just traveling right now?

(Curious)

pokerrick1 wrote:I was boarded once

Rick

Call Gals or Dancing Daisies !!!!

J

Divecoz wrote:March: Do you know off hand the clearance under Collier Blvd Bridge???...

If you are talking about Collier in Marco the chart shows it at 55 feet.

We got the new solar panel today and it was another 80 watt, but a different physical size. I had to drill some hole, but it is on. It is narrower, but longer so it sticks out further than the old one, so will be doing all docking now on the port side. I modified the exhaust for the Gen-set that is on the port side so that it is off and only on if we have to run it. Just takes a second to connect it now.

Just a reminder they have the 80 watt on sale now for $159. That is a bargain. Hooked it up and our amps almost doubled. Hopefully no more running the gen-set for a while.

RickD wrote:Sumner, do you still live in Utah?

And you're just traveling right now?

(Curious)

Yep, when we are there Been on the road a lot since last November. We still have the itch for a bigger boat, but would still keep the Mac. We looked at a 32 ft. Endeavour on the way down here, but it was like a different boat in person compared to the Internet add. We looked at a Catalina 30 the other day and really like it and are also looking on the internet at Catalina 34's. Anyone have any experience with either.

Well moving on the the 10,000 Islands tomorrow, so maybe no Internet for a while. The long distance Bullet 2HP has been a great addition to the boat along with the low power 12 volt computer.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

I would suggest that all Mac owners request to be boarded.

Not by pirates, mind you, but by the US Coast Guard Auxillary.

They will perform a rather thorough, yet free, inspection of the boat's documentation and safety gear to determine if it is in compliance with USCG regulations. For example: Are Signalling Flares adequate and up-to-date? Or, are there enough Personal Flotation Devices, (PFD's), for all of the passengers?

If a boat fails, I don't think there is a bad consequence. On the other hand, if a boat passes inspection, it is awarded a sticker, (YAHOO!!!).

Here's a link:

http://www.cgaux.org/vsc/


Dennis

Sumner, were did you get the 80 watt solar panel from? Hope you and Ruth have a good trip.

Sugar Bear wrote:Sumner, were did you get the 80 watt solar panel from? Hope you and Ruth have a good trip.

Solar Blvd....

http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-& ... _info.html

We got all of our panels from them and also the MPPT charge controller....

http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-& ... _info.html

...good people to deal with. They rushed this one out the other day for us,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

Sumner wrote: We looked at a Catalina 30 the other day and really like it and are also looking on the internet at Catalina 34's. Anyone have any experience with either.

We had a Hunter 34. Totally different kind of boat. Catalina makes a nice boat. Of course it's hard to launch at the ramp

With all the mods you've done Sumner, your boat is perfect.


--Russ

dennisneal wrote:I would suggest that all Mac owners request to be boarded.

....by the US Coast Guard Auxillary.

... if a boat passes inspection, it is awarded a sticker, (YAHOO!!!).

Yes, and some feel that sticker might be a bit of insurance against being boarded for a spot inspection.
Some United States Power Squadrons will also do a courtesy inspection.

--Russ

The Catalina 30 is a nice boat for longer cruising. I've sailed on a friend's a half dozen or so times.
There is a "tall rig" version with more sail area and the taller sail makes it faster if you're into racing.
Nice sail controls, boom vang, traveller, etc. Loads of space below, built like a tank.
Windows often leak though. Not fond of the inboard either, an atomic 4 gas burner.
It's a durable boat and there are tons of 'em so parts are readily available. Sails nice, a pretty balanced boat.
Beneteaus hate losing to Cat 30s cause the Catalina was designed to be a family cruiser, but that tall rig is pretty quick.

The thing I don't like so much is that even though it's only 4 feet longer than the Mac, everything is larger scale and easier to get hurt.
Bigger sails, big heavy spars...in serious wind it's a handful. If you gybe it's shocking how much energy that sail has in it.

I have no problem handling the Mac26 solo even in 15-20 kts. Reefing is simple and I can stay in the cockpit.
On the Cat it's a job and a half to go forward, winch down the main leaning on the deck, etc. Have to use winch handles.
If you have a crew it's no more problem than any 30 footer. I just like the scale of the 26 for where I sail.
On lake Ontario the "big" Cat 30 doesn't feel so big, it's kind of reassuring. But I wouldn't solo sail that boat, (though I know a guy that does!)

They are different boats. In a blow on Ontario where storms roll in fast with the Mac I can stop fighting and drop sail and let the Yamaha help get me home quick.
The Cat is more comfortable, less like a cork in rough seas. But on the Mac I've got options and I like that.

We haven't been boarded on this cruise thus far, but it's not for a lack of law enforcement boats on the water. We set out at Fort Pierce 4 days ago, heading down the ICW. Lots of state and local police boats out there, as well as Coast Guard vessels. While none have boarded us yet, we have had 2 contacts. First time was on Lake Worth, where a State Enforcement boat slid up next to us. When I glanced over and saw him, he was just a few feet off our beam. He smiled and said he was using us to hide behind, while he scanned for boats exceeding the manatee speed limit or some other rules. Next incident occurred yesterday when we arrived in Miami. Sandy was at the wheel and I was trying to dial the phone number for Miami Beach Marina. I'd told her to head down Goverment Cut, which leads directly to the marina. One of those big Coast Guard RIB's closed on us. Sandy's eyes got as big as tennis balls as she stared at that big machine gun on the bow. The "Coastie" next to the gun just gave her a friendly grin, and then they told us that Government Cut was closed waters, because there were two cruise ships tied up there. We had to go around Dodge Island to get to the marina, but were glad that was all the Coast Guard had in mind.

Highlander wrote:

pokerrick1 wrote:I was boarded once

Rick

Call Gals or Dancing Daisies !!!!

J

I'll never tell

Rick

Chinook,
Once you leave the US..you are in Gods Country and all the US hastle on Boats are behind you.
You may want to extend your cruise and don't fret Island Cruise Isolation better known as Island Fever.
Have a great trip!
Dave, Safe Passage and Fair Winds

Chinook wrote:We haven't been boarded on this cruise thus far, but it's not for a lack of law enforcement boats on the water. We set out at Fort Pierce 4 days ago, heading down the ICW. Lots of state and local police boats out there, as well as Coast Guard vessels. While none have boarded us yet, we have had 2 contacts. First time was on Lake Worth, where a State Enforcement boat slid up next to us. When I glanced over and saw him, he was just a few feet off our beam. He smiled and said he was using us to hide behind, while he scanned for boats exceeding the manatee speed limit or some other rules. Next incident occurred yesterday when we arrived in Miami. Sandy was at the wheel and I was trying to dial the phone number for Miami Beach Marina. I'd told her to head down Goverment Cut, which leads directly to the marina. One of those big Coast Guard RIB's closed on us. Sandy's eyes got as big as tennis balls as she stared at that big machine gun on the bow. The "Coastie" next to the gun just gave her a friendly grin, and then they told us that Government Cut was closed waters, because there were two cruise ships tied up there. We had to go around Dodge Island to get to the marina, but were glad that was all the Coast Guard had in mind.

We were listening on the radio to the Coast Guard who was sitting 12 miles off Bimini and boarded a couple of boats heading there. We didn't see them though, and were happy to not have to deal with that.

Sumner wrote:A Sherriff's boat was boarding all the boats anchored out this morning. Then he checked out the powerboat near us and then came to us.

He was checking sanitation devices to make sure the overboard valves were turned off. I showed him our....

That's just absolutely TOO PURDY' to use. Good job !