Maddmike,
Hope you weren't put out months ago when I questioned you. I now apprecieate your experience and ingenuity.
I'm focused on your CB mod and was able to see 1 picture of it but now those seem gone. You made a comment that the surface area of the CB was small and could contribute to side-slip. Since the X is a poor pointing boat do you think part of the problem there is related to the surface area of the CB? Besides you I don't know of anyone that has increased surface area and you are the only one that has found improved pointing that seems significant. Besides improved pointing do you have any feel that your CB mod improved speed upwind?
Zeno's Arrow
No problem mate
No problem Newell,
I've gotten use to it over the years. If you think people have given me a bad time about the 'Waterway's' trip & Zeno's Arrow, I should pull out some of the stuff was said about the first North Pole skydive expedition or what was written when we first said we were going to design & use liquid oxygen systems for an alpine ascent on the North side of Everest; It makes what folks have said on occasion about Zeno's Arrow look down right tame. As for increased up-wind speed with the new centerboard, I do not think I have improved actual boat speed at all, I just get to places faster because I can point betterand have to tack less. Going to try and work on improved speed when I get home. MM
I've gotten use to it over the years. If you think people have given me a bad time about the 'Waterway's' trip & Zeno's Arrow, I should pull out some of the stuff was said about the first North Pole skydive expedition or what was written when we first said we were going to design & use liquid oxygen systems for an alpine ascent on the North side of Everest; It makes what folks have said on occasion about Zeno's Arrow look down right tame. As for increased up-wind speed with the new centerboard, I do not think I have improved actual boat speed at all, I just get to places faster because I can point betterand have to tack less. Going to try and work on improved speed when I get home. MM
Question on stove
There was a question on my stove setup from Greg that I didn't get a chance to go over;
I have the following 'cooking' systems on Zeno's Arrow. A Force 10 single burner gimbal stove mounted on the stern connected to the hinge that was designed to hold the rear seat (took the seat off some years ago & donated it to a fisherman in Haiti), It has a BBQ attachment that can be attached above the burner,. Also have a 1000W electric hot plate (for when 1 lb. propane bottles are unavailable-which is almost never as long as you have various thread adapters), a microwave with a plastic gimbal inside for holding 'cup-o-soup', and the 'Outback' 2 burner stove w/oven purchased from Cabalas which can be used with both 1 lb. propane or larger tanks. I mostly use 1 lb. bottles which are stored in the cockpit fuel locker when not in use (they fit the gimbal stove, outback over, coleman lamp and buddy heater). Think that is about it. MM
I have the following 'cooking' systems on Zeno's Arrow. A Force 10 single burner gimbal stove mounted on the stern connected to the hinge that was designed to hold the rear seat (took the seat off some years ago & donated it to a fisherman in Haiti), It has a BBQ attachment that can be attached above the burner,. Also have a 1000W electric hot plate (for when 1 lb. propane bottles are unavailable-which is almost never as long as you have various thread adapters), a microwave with a plastic gimbal inside for holding 'cup-o-soup', and the 'Outback' 2 burner stove w/oven purchased from Cabalas which can be used with both 1 lb. propane or larger tanks. I mostly use 1 lb. bottles which are stored in the cockpit fuel locker when not in use (they fit the gimbal stove, outback over, coleman lamp and buddy heater). Think that is about it. MM
Mike,
Appreciate you taking the time to answer all the questions. I'm quite impressed with your boat and what you have done with it! I just checked out the outback stove on the Cabela's site. That's a perfect fit for the Mac and good location. There has been a great deal of discussion here about propane leaks and proper installation to dump leaks overboard- do you do anything special for prevention or detection? I guess it's portable enough to take to the cockpit for cooking on hot days too.
Thanks,
Greg
Appreciate you taking the time to answer all the questions. I'm quite impressed with your boat and what you have done with it! I just checked out the outback stove on the Cabela's site. That's a perfect fit for the Mac and good location. There has been a great deal of discussion here about propane leaks and proper installation to dump leaks overboard- do you do anything special for prevention or detection? I guess it's portable enough to take to the cockpit for cooking on hot days too.
Thanks,
Greg
Sometimes adventuring is tough work
Actually Greg it is fun to take the 'outback' oven to shore along with an apple pie & ice cream in the engle freezer and bake a pie & make a smoothie in the hand crank blender while kicked back listening to tunes in a hamock thinking about how fast everyone is going on the LA freeways just then. 
I always disconnect the propane & store it after use. Also have a CO & smoke detector. MM
I always disconnect the propane & store it after use. Also have a CO & smoke detector. MM
Sailing buddies
Someone asked a bit ago (sorry don't remember who) if I was doing any sailing while here in Sri Lanka, and if so did I have anyone to go with me. Yes I do & please refer to my thread at macgregorowners.com for crew details (or use the link at the top of page 10 on this thread). 
MM
MMRudders CB
Eric,
I would do both; replace the rudder mounts & bolts (about the same as I actually did) and then buy a pair of the custom rudders now available that didn't exist when I modified mine by filling them with West System, carbon fiber & micro-bubbles. I would also put more weight down low in the CB & add a bit more foil shape. Otherwise I'm quite happy with the current outcome (may still spring for new rudders when I get back though). MM
I would do both; replace the rudder mounts & bolts (about the same as I actually did) and then buy a pair of the custom rudders now available that didn't exist when I modified mine by filling them with West System, carbon fiber & micro-bubbles. I would also put more weight down low in the CB & add a bit more foil shape. Otherwise I'm quite happy with the current outcome (may still spring for new rudders when I get back though). MM
Mike,
Which new rudders would you go for?
Besides the stock rudders the only replacements I'm aware of are those from IdaSailor which are cut from a solid piece of HD plastic. I believe I read some reports on this board of several of these having broken. So they don't sound any stronger than the stock rudders.
Which new rudders would you go for?
Besides the stock rudders the only replacements I'm aware of are those from IdaSailor which are cut from a solid piece of HD plastic. I believe I read some reports on this board of several of these having broken. So they don't sound any stronger than the stock rudders.
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Captain Kimo
- Engineer
- Posts: 138
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:03 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: 96'MacGregor 26X, Johnson 50HP O/B,"FOREVER",Callville Bay Marina, Lake Mead Nevada
- Contact:
Welcome aboard Mad Mike
Ahoy Mad Mike,
Glad to see you are not sleeping with the fishes. Last I heard (scuttle butt only) you and "Zeno's Arrow" suffered cruise ending damage from a hurricane that when thru the Bahama when you anchored there when heading South. That was the last report. Sounds like that rumor is like the one of Mark Twain's premature death, "It was exaggerated"
To follow up on Tom comment. In 1997, I sent a FAX to Roger MacGregor asking why he showed NO interest in sponsoring your sail from the Mackenzie River Delta to the tip of South America. I preface it with the fact that the MacGregor literature and Video were not the deciding factors in my purchase of a used 96 Mac26X, but it was your sailing efforts, Mike. Let me explain.
Having been up in the Northwest on a Naval Reserve Minesweeper as an OOD off the coast of the Strait of Juan de fu@. We hit one of the so call "will o be" (Sp?) with winds at gale force out of the NNW and we headed into it. The next morning the Quartermaster Chief calculated we had only travelled some 5 nautical miles from when the storm hit at sundown. Anyone sailing in the Northwest coast has my respect including the boat he is on.
My FAX was answered by a phone call from Roger MacGregor within 15 minutes of my sending the FAX. As Tom pointed out, Roger did not want to have any libility connected with sponsoring a MacGregor boat on such a venture. Even when pointing out the merits of publicity, Roger pointed out he is able to get all he needs, free from the various sailing magazines. I have since found out that Roger early on was burned with libility and as such no doubt has been advised to assume a more "protective" legal position on any action he takes.
Mike, when you are putting together your answers to the modifications, could you explain the reason for Teflon coating your bilges on "Zeno's Arrow".
Glad to see you are not sleeping with the fishes. Last I heard (scuttle butt only) you and "Zeno's Arrow" suffered cruise ending damage from a hurricane that when thru the Bahama when you anchored there when heading South. That was the last report. Sounds like that rumor is like the one of Mark Twain's premature death, "It was exaggerated"
To follow up on Tom comment. In 1997, I sent a FAX to Roger MacGregor asking why he showed NO interest in sponsoring your sail from the Mackenzie River Delta to the tip of South America. I preface it with the fact that the MacGregor literature and Video were not the deciding factors in my purchase of a used 96 Mac26X, but it was your sailing efforts, Mike. Let me explain.
Having been up in the Northwest on a Naval Reserve Minesweeper as an OOD off the coast of the Strait of Juan de fu@. We hit one of the so call "will o be" (Sp?) with winds at gale force out of the NNW and we headed into it. The next morning the Quartermaster Chief calculated we had only travelled some 5 nautical miles from when the storm hit at sundown. Anyone sailing in the Northwest coast has my respect including the boat he is on.
My FAX was answered by a phone call from Roger MacGregor within 15 minutes of my sending the FAX. As Tom pointed out, Roger did not want to have any libility connected with sponsoring a MacGregor boat on such a venture. Even when pointing out the merits of publicity, Roger pointed out he is able to get all he needs, free from the various sailing magazines. I have since found out that Roger early on was burned with libility and as such no doubt has been advised to assume a more "protective" legal position on any action he takes.
Mike, when you are putting together your answers to the modifications, could you explain the reason for Teflon coating your bilges on "Zeno's Arrow".
??
Kimo,
Didn't hear the one where I was lost in a Hurricane in the Bahamas. A lot of other rumors did get back to me; lost on the Amazon, shot on the Orinoco, boat came apart on a crossing, run over by an iceburg, in jail in Trinadad etc.,etc.
The interior of the boat has a carbon layer, not teflon & there is no modification to the interior of the water ballast tank.
On Roger Macgregor; Never met him, never talked to him, never asked for any backing. The only contact was when my website guy went down to try and get a job doing a website for him. I didn't expect or think about any assistance, mostly for the reasons listed above. The word I got back from various sources (indirect hearsay) was to not promote the boat. Along that line, I covered the Macgregor logos (they are still covered) and unless I was specifically asked about Macgregor I simply said my boat "was a modified comercially available waterballast boat", and left folks on their own to go from there; nothing more, nothing less. The only part I would have some disagreement with relates to R & D advice. If I had a boat out there doing what my boat did, I would be very interested in what the fellow on board had to say about things; especially if that person had a sailing, engineering, and product test background. Most of the folks who had products along for the ride did so; sail makers, autopilot makers, GPS makers, stove makers, clothing makers, etc. The only major product maker who never asked for my impressions (which I was happy to provide for free) was the boat maker. I'm sure they had their reasons, not my call, not how I would have used the opportunity.
MM
Didn't hear the one where I was lost in a Hurricane in the Bahamas. A lot of other rumors did get back to me; lost on the Amazon, shot on the Orinoco, boat came apart on a crossing, run over by an iceburg, in jail in Trinadad etc.,etc.
The interior of the boat has a carbon layer, not teflon & there is no modification to the interior of the water ballast tank.
On Roger Macgregor; Never met him, never talked to him, never asked for any backing. The only contact was when my website guy went down to try and get a job doing a website for him. I didn't expect or think about any assistance, mostly for the reasons listed above. The word I got back from various sources (indirect hearsay) was to not promote the boat. Along that line, I covered the Macgregor logos (they are still covered) and unless I was specifically asked about Macgregor I simply said my boat "was a modified comercially available waterballast boat", and left folks on their own to go from there; nothing more, nothing less. The only part I would have some disagreement with relates to R & D advice. If I had a boat out there doing what my boat did, I would be very interested in what the fellow on board had to say about things; especially if that person had a sailing, engineering, and product test background. Most of the folks who had products along for the ride did so; sail makers, autopilot makers, GPS makers, stove makers, clothing makers, etc. The only major product maker who never asked for my impressions (which I was happy to provide for free) was the boat maker. I'm sure they had their reasons, not my call, not how I would have used the opportunity.
MMHawaii Digs
OK Boys & Girls,
Time for me to start thinking seriously about how and where I'm going to store my boat for 6-12 weeks this summer while in Hawaii, before moving on.
Any suggestions or local knowledge would be helpful. I could ship over my trailer if necessary, but would rather not.
It would be very cool if this forum came up with something!
MM
Time for me to start thinking seriously about how and where I'm going to store my boat for 6-12 weeks this summer while in Hawaii, before moving on.
Any suggestions or local knowledge would be helpful. I could ship over my trailer if necessary, but would rather not.
It would be very cool if this forum came up with something!
MM-
waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
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Frank C