MacGregorSailors.com

Ok - its a deal Road - Ill cover the 6-12 mph and you take the 12-24 mph regime....DEAL???

Well, I already did the 0-28mph test, and I think Billy did the 28-30+ test.

So what's left?

Mine are still attached. I am quite convinced the IDA rudders being plastic and much larger would not have stood the test I accidentally conducted on my stock rudders.

G

Sure are a lot of DUDES in this thread

Rick

Sorry I only have a honda 50 cant do 24.

Sure are a lot of DUDES in this thread

I am willing to make room for some DUDETTS if you can find any...



G

If the Class Traitor Highlander is reading this and still willing to talk to us lesser mortals, am I not right, John, in pointing out that we power the at top whack without raising the rudders? I sure as hull do - ok, that's hitherto meant only 12mph due to the tinpot 25hp engine - but there's no quick-lift mechanism for the rudders on the "performance" MacGregor's, and I recall you once writing about twin tails of spray at 20 kts. The 40hp is mounted now and as soon as the 300 mph winds abate, off we go

The centreboard is a whole 'nuther issue, and whilst I agree that it makes the boat a lot more maneageable at 5kts on the River Thames, there's no way I am planing with even an inch of that sucker in the water.......

In closing, was out last Sunday for the second expedition in the Beneteau - F5 gusting 8, and boy does that boat fly with just the jenny with a reef and a half - 7kts on a reach and pointing really well, even with the main firmly down inside the stackpack. I couldn't do that in the Mac and may be close to losing my religion...

Run up the throttle until something breaks and then back it down about 10%!

G

With the rudders tied down then grounding them ie hitting sand (dagger board up) you will cut a neat slot in the deck were the rope turns out of the deck exit hole and heads off towards the cleat. If the ropes stretch allowing the rudders to canter back this will load up the steering gear causing failure this can happen while sailing or motoring.

Jack Sparrow

Sounds like Jack's next mod is going to be a forward looking sonar with an auto-rudderup attachment hooked into the alarm

I was thinking of using a shear pin linkage in the rudder rope hold down instead of bungie. Getting the right breaking strain might be a bit hit and miss though.

Ship with new on board is 7 days out from OZ but who is counting. Wife is pi$$ed already spent $4000 on mods and boat is not even in the yard

My sonar is quite good for forward profile I set the alarm for 2.5 metres this gives me time to view the sea bed on the display and ascertain the appropriate action. I have considered shear pins in the rudders but opted for situation awarneness.

Jack Sparrow

We have done a fair bit in rivers and lakes here, of course in the rivers unless you have a strong cross wind while trying to line up the trailer there is no need for a rudder down but in one lake there are quite a few stumps well within rudder range whick fortunately I have managed to hit with the dagger board first.
Have been totally stuck in weeds and mud with the rudders down which took me getting in the water to disentagle just to lift them.
We have had enormous amounts of weed wrapped around the rudders while sailing from shallow banks or just loose weed stirred up by power boats etc.
Even managed to "beach" on a large log while negotiating a shallow passageway under power and then tangled the tender rope around the prop and the rudder (up) which did manage to cut a groove in it..
Walking around the boat trying to push a boat called "trust me" out of these situations must give watchers a belly laugh .
Anyway "when" my rudders finally break I will consider they have given good service and hopefully will be able to continue the journey even if not under full sail.

I had an interesting experience with the rudders under power. We usually leave 1 down a low speeds to improve handling. One time we were already motoring at 5mph and when I pulled up the one rudder, the boat went into a sudden sharp turn. I would expect the same would happen if one of the ropes were to snap. The faster you're going, the worse the turn could be.