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An extra 6 feet on the mast and another 3 feet on the boom would help light wind sailing, you would have to reef sooner.


Hiking boards and 5 men, 250 pounds each = no water ballest

Replace with a Gemini 105MC.

I think a spinnaker launch bag would be an ideal turbo modification. This would make it so you can launch and douse the spinnaker from the cockpit single handed. I saw the system on a Blade 16 catamaran last weekend. I have been researching designs to see if I can fit one on my X. I guess I want my Mac to sail like my Hobie.

Might not make the boat much faster absolutely, but easier/safer to sail faster:

Rigid Vang

Cunningham

Flattening Reef

Running Backstays

Self-Tailing Cockpit Winches

Windward Sheeting Car

--
Moe

Craig LaForce wrote:Mad Mike's amas

Billy's engine. 140 horses.

M rig on an X.

Water cannon, just cause it would be cool.

Maybe we should call pimp my ride and see if they will do an X?
52 inch plasma TV with .... fold out wet bar.. hot tub cockpit conversion... water faucet!

what ?? no SHOWER !!

I'm going to echo Moe's windward sheeting cars. Racing with Baldbaby this fall, we could not pull the traveller to windward in high winds, and we lost the ringding holding the shackle to the block. The wind pulled that ringding apart during a gybe like a lawnmower grabbing a shoelace.
The existing traveller is not really race ready.

In regard to a traveller, one of the mods that I will be doing shortly will be to attempt a temporary cable traveller for use whilst racing.

It will be strung from mounting saddles on the top of both coamings, right in front of the pedestal/binnacle.

I will also be shortly ordering a new main that will have a square top and very big roach. I'm quickly coming to the conclsuion that there is an imbalance in the drive, with too much of it being forward. I will be looking towards a much bigger main, and probably an 80% jib.

Sorry, I thought if you were serious, this thread would have appeared under performance and tuning. If one is reallly serious about speed under sail, then here's a start:
Remove any and all hardware not absolutely necessary for sailing...stanchions, lifelines, anchors, rodes, dock lines.
Replace main and forward hatch covers with canvas.
Replace standard running rigging with smaller diameter line, smaller lighterweight blocks.
Replace mast and boom with carbon fiber.
Below remove any and all furniture, cushions, doors, heads, water tanks, covers, etc.
Use manual start 5 hp engine, IF daylight racing only remove lights and battery. Night time, use motorcycle battery for nav lights.
Fair and sand slick to true NACA shape the rudders and centerboard. Add weight to the bottoms of the rudders and the center board.
Fair the stem to a point below the water line.

Sand the bottom slick and use speed wax.

Weighted Keel
IDA rudders
running backstays
High performance sails with loose-foot main
cunningham
single line reefing (reef faster i.e. will make better time) not to mention safety & convenience
dutchman sail handling/flaking/reefing system
Luff pad in jib for better sail shape when roller-reefed
A-Spin with choot scoop system
All lines led aft
Upgrade traveler to 4:1 purchase with wider track
E-Tec 90 engine to go 35 mph under power

I can proudly say that I made all these mods/upgrades with the exception of the E-Tec 90 and upgrading the traveler. I may just have one of the fastest Macs next to Zeno's Arrow and La Pearl Noir. Of course, my biggest speed limitation is the man at the helm

On Edit:
Almost forgot: Large Sanipotti gives a major boost in performance.

How did I just kill this thread?

Leon , this may be one of those threads that can't be killed? Lease's suggestion of more main is interesting. Daniel(baldbaby) and I were wondering why we never heard anything about Todd's "Perla Noir"? Were the results not as much as hoped for maybe? What happens with a fully roached and battened main? Can you sail to weather a bit more. because this was a major issue with me in light air. I wasn't allowed to race without ballast so a lot of weight and a wide deep stern wasn't a winning combination. Surprisingly we chased down some Catalinas and a Capri 26 from behind on a beam reach. About 15-20 degrees. Just enough heel to reduce the wetted surface. the 8' beam is too narrow to fight upwind close hauled, but favors a reach.

Rich,

If heavy air isn't a problem, you will probably do well with a larger roach. Full battens will actually impair your ability to control the lower portion of the sail, so if you want maximum depth, you probably won't get it with full battens. Two full on top and two standard are a good combination, especially with a loose foot. Gives you a lot of control over sail shape. Keep in mind that standard battens are not what we get with the stock Mac Sail. The Mac battens are really short. This info was compiled through conversations with several lofts during my search for new sails as well as what I read online.

Happy Sailing
Leon