MacGregorSailors.com

I must say it is encouraging to see so many people that do dumb things. Confession must be good for the soul, so I will tell you two years ago when I first bought my 26x, I hadn't gone more then three miles. I stopped at a gas station to refuel and darn near took out the pumps when I was leaving. That wasn't the worse part, I had jammed my boat on to the cement guard rail protecting the pumps from people like me. Ultimately, I had to unhook the trailer from the truck to get it unstuck. Where upon I noticed that I had caved in the hull a couple of inches.
This summer I am optimistic that I can actually get it out on the water "safely" and without anymore boneheaded moves.

Let's see? Bought my first yatch in 1970. In all those years I have NEVER done anything stupid! Unless you count anchoring at Catalina and coming back from dinner to discover boat had drifted out to sea.1972 Or leaving knotmeter transducer out and almost sinking at the dock. Will have to get out log book which unfortunately I have detailed every trip we have taken. Not enough space to recount over four decades of "adventures." As for other friends. We were at Sea Scout Symposium at Long Beach Naval Base and my buddy decided to drive under power line with mast up. Pulled V-21 off trailer and dragged it about six feet. Eight of us picked it up and put it back. From that day foreward his boat was known as the "DRAG QUEEN" If ya want to have a day of observation and education just go to Marina Del Rey or any other boat launch ramp on a busy weekend and watch and learn. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

Can we change the title of this thread to "Confessions of a Mac owner"

Great stuff guys ... you're all making me feel so much better

We have been trying to see what floats. Last year it was a 7/16" wrench (nope). So far we have tried the jib rail blocks (nope) and a ratchet with a 7/16" socket (nope).

Jeff

Let me see. There were not to many.
- Bringing the boat home for the first time, the trailer survived 400 Mi drive to brake the axle at the gate of The Yacht Club.
- Left the boat on slip without spring line, resulting in a nice beautifully carved V shape cut in the dock.
-Left the slip with the spring line still attached, that wondering why the boat goes forward when I want to go backwards.
-Had a nice light-show dropping the wrench on the 400 Ah battery connector, then very surprised when it burn my hand when I pull it out.
- I got out on the lake without looking on the sky (the net said partly cloudy, light winds), got a real adrenaline cocktail when a little summer storm said hi to me eeh 25 mi/hr winds or so.

Wow....a great new concept.....floating tools!

Baha wrote:Wow....a great new concept.....floating tools!

I'm thinking of putting a string with a clip on a magnetic tray. I can clip the tray to a stay or a mast bale or whatever and set my tools in the tray when I'm up on deck. Anyone try something similar?

Jeff

I have fitted a few of my tools that are dedicated to the boat with a lanyard that is a short piece of line with a loop that I put around my wrist. It is a bit more awkward than a tool without it, but I don't have to worry about it going in the drink. A small adjustable spanner is easy to do it with because there is always a hole in the end of the handle to pass the loop through.

C Buchs wrote:We have been trying to see what floats. Last year it was a 7/16" wrench (nope). So far we have tried the jib rail blocks (nope) and a ratchet with a 7/16" socket (nope).

Jeff

Its gut wrenching to drop tools, watch them sink, and knowing not only have you lost it forever, now you can't get done what needs to be done.

I don't get it.
If you arm your boat on the ramp, there's no danger of losing your tools. I managed to drop pins and rings and wrenches and screws, but find them on the pavement; sure, getting off the boat to hunt for a nut is annoying, but not as bad as dropping it into the water
And if there's something to be fixed under way, I usually work in the cockpit. The engine well and the cables usually stop the wayward droppings.

Catigale wrote:Its gut wrenching to drop tools, watch them sink, and knowing not only have you lost it forever, now you can't get done what needs to be done.

The worst was the jib block. I thought I would go to West Marine would have them. They could order them for $128 each! Luck for me Blue Water Yachts is in my home state and I got them for $44 each (I bought two) within a couple of days.

I never thought about it till now, but all the tools have been dropped by my oldest son! However, I'm happy to keep buying them as long as we are doing stuff together.

Jeff

Like "Confessions of a Mac Owner" (You're not the Father.) Almost forgot another Faux Pas. Sailing at Mission Bay CA. Forgot to stow anchor, 30 ft of chain and 300 ft of line which was sitting on the bow. Bye Bye ground tackle. $$$ Sometimes I wake up screaming Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

So far, I have only rigged on land. I shudder at all the tools and bits of boat I would have lost if on the water!

Anyone care to chime in on lost boat hooks? I'm averaging one per year....

Yup - or get the floating ones - and break one a season.

Baha wrote:So far, I have only rigged on land. I shudder at all the tools and bits of boat I would have lost if on the water!

Anyone care to chime in on lost boat hooks? I'm averaging one per year....

[quote="dlandersson"]Yup - or get the floating ones - and break one a season.



I have not lost or broker mine yet, was wondering about the floating one as a replacement for when mine goes for a swim.