I did it!! I bought the Mac 26X!

[Gazmn]

SCHWEET!

Congrats, Let the insanity begin

[Erik Hardtle]

You won't regret it! (unless you don't use it )

I was just out today! Feel free to check my website for my trips (ships log) and mods (of course... don't start on those yet! )

... and please ask questions! Happy Sails!
_________________________________________________________
Capt Erik, Admiral Jean, First Mate Christina & Swabbie Nicole
1999 MacGregor 26X, "KnotShore"
New Bern, NC

[Tomfoolery]

Shweeeeet! Nice shine. Original trailer, too.

Might want to think about supporting that furler, though.

Edit: Oh, and put some pvc pipe over those goal posts before you scratch that nice, shiny hull.

[Québec 1]

WOW, she looks new!
That is certainly a very good deal. Only thing you need now is a M mast raiser.
Q!

[Barnacle Jim]

Ahoy,

Jim, what a gem of a boat!
She looks pristine, very ship-shape.
Whoever had her before took excellent care of this ship.

Adventure lies ahead!
What are your plans and dreams?

We wish you the very best, and thanks for sharing the good news!

[mastreb]

Please do read through the experiences of other first-time launchers on this board! Your first launch and retrieval will take more time than you expect, and so will the retrieval.

Here's the typical progression:

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral.
2nd time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post.
3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy.
4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out.

I recommend doing your first outing with the motor only. It'll take you two hours to get the mast up and the boat rigged correctly and launched. Just take it out, motor around, and pay a LOT of attention to how the helm handles to port and starboard, motor up, motor down, and boards up, board down. You really need to test out the motor anyway--put it through it's paces. Do some low speed maneuvers in a safe place. Your first time out should be learning about how to get the boat on and off the trailer, and less about getting sails up. Raise and lower the mast, but don't bother will sails yet.

I also recommend avoiding powering onto the trailer for retrieval. Pick a ramp with a dock, tie off to the dock when you come in, and line-handle the boat onto the trailer. Everyone who attempts to motor onto the trailer on their first outing invariably puts a nasty gouge in their gel-kote, breaks off a goalpost, or worse bends a prop and looks like an idiot (I did all three on my first outing). These are THE BIGGEST boats at the ramp with the highest windage, and therefore the hardest to handle onto and off of a trailer. Line handling the boat on and off the trailer makes you look like a seasoned pro, and because it's a sailboat, it's kind of expected.

Search these forums and put the PVC rollers on the trailer goal posts before your first trip out. See above.

WORRY about the ballast tank. I leave my ballast tank vent and gate open when I'm out of the water. Better to forget to close it than to forget to open it. People worry about bugs or rodents in the tank, but every dunk takes care of that problem. Post a warning to close the ballast tank vent and gate on the helm so you don't forget.

On your second outing, it's time to raise the sails and go main only. If everything goes really well, rig the jib, otherwise don't worry about it. Get the Admiral used to the heeling--the boat will go WAY over very fast and this usually terrifies people. It's normal, the boat won't capsize if the ballast tank is handled correctly.

Learn how to search this board, and do search it a lot. It's kind of "clubby" here, but all the regulars are really good guys who have their opinions but respect those of others. Because there's a lot of safety related topics, people do get passionate about things they consider to be risk of life. That's a good thing, so be slow to take offense and presume that people mean well--everyone here does. It's a great place to air out ideas and to learn best practices. Participating actively on this board improved my Mac sailing immeasurably very quickly.

Fair winds, following seas, and good luck!

Matt

[ChuckieTodd]

Congratulations! Now go sailing!

[jassr4848]

Came with one, and tons of extras!
Jim

WOW, she looks new!
That is certainly a very good deal. Only thing you need now is a M mast raiser.
Q!

[jassr4848]

Lake Washington in the Seattle area its good lake to sail on.

Where do you plan to sail her first?

[Russ]

Congrats! I'm sure you will enjoy.

[Divecoz]

Welcome aboard.. She looks un-used ... Sweet!

[phoenixtoohot]

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post. 3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy. 4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out.Matt

I'm LMAOH because this is so true. I'm up to my 6th outing, and Mastreb has provided a good post here, with good humor and sound advice.

Good luck with your new Mac !

[opie]

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post. 3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy. 4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out. .....

OK, Matt, let's go the whole way into the future.... 40th time in the water 30 min in and 45 out, 80th time in the water 1 hour in and 1 hour out, 100th time in the water 2 hours in and 2 hours out...... I guess someone could graph this.

It has something to do with the aging of the skipper and the lack of need to rush anymore after retiring.

[dive4it]

Right on Jim!! I too just purchased a 26X two months ago and have been upgrading and modifying to the max (utilizing these seemingly endless winter days). Let me know if you have any questions on mods, upgrades, etc. I can't wait to get it on the water soon. I plan on doing some cruising of the San Jauns this summer if you want to join the flotilla.

JT

[Catigale]

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral.
2nd time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post.
3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy.
4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out.

NB - imho....by the time you get down to the 30 minute mark, the semantics of in/out begin to apply - are you motoring away ready for sea or just pushing off dock and prepping boat at sea?