Mac Trawler....

[Kittiwake]

.... I don't know how much better the fuel mileage would be without ballast, as it doesn't sit that much lower in the water with vs. without, and well below hull speed, it takes very little energy to push that boat. ....

You know tk, I had been wondering the same thing, because the 26M documentation seems to suggest that the ballast doesn't make a huge difference in fuel efficiency.
But last trip I did an experiment: the mast was up, no canvas, no daggerboard, ballast in ... and I was planing at 4500 rpm and 13.2 mph. Then I emptied the ballast, and in the same direction with the same wind and water conditions I was planing at 3500 rpm and 13.2 mph. Now this is just a one-off observation; but 1000 rpm seems likely to represent a fair difference in fuel consumption.
Hmm, but you are perhaps referring only to low speed travel.
Kittiwake
ps. lookin good Gazmn in that hammock
pps. Gypsy Life I identify with your thoughts re leaving the mast at home. I like to believe that Roger himself would consider this a very suitable use of the Mac: he built it for wide application. And I personally like to leave the ballast out especially when the mast is off unless I am bashing into waves at low speed and want more mass to cut through them with the 'deep-V' bow.

[Tomfoolery]

Hmm, but you are perhaps referring only to low speed travel.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Since it was a Mac-as-a-trawler discussion, and regular trawlers don't plane, I was only referring to well below hull speeds.

High speed is a whole 'nuther animal, IMO.

[mastreb]

Ballast will make a considerable difference in fuel consumption. 1300# extra weight alone as a component to inertia, if it didn't affect displacement, would be a big difference, and when you consider that it also increases displacement by an additional 1300 pounds and wetted surface by about 10% means you're looking at an overall decrease of something like 25%, which is close to what your 1000 rpm improvement shows.

So yeah, a Mac without ballast is certainly more fuel efficient. But with the additional topside weight of these trawler mods, I'd probably run with it anyway.

[Gypsy Life]

I am talking trawler or hull speed . We are looking for maximum fuel efficiency . I imagine dumping all that weight has got to increase efficiency . I imagine losing that tall mast would make the boat so much more stable . I also imagine the mast has got to cause at least some drag as well .
If I don't put anything heavy on top such as a flying bridge , then the ballast shouldn't be needed .

But this is all speculation and the reason I am writing , to see how people who have tried it came out .

We aren't using the sailing rig enough to justify having it . Our next time home I am seriously considering leaving it there and going topless .

Thanks for the advice and please keep it coming .

[Kittiwake]

..... We aren't using the sailing rig enough to justify having it . Our next time home I am seriously considering leaving it there and going topless. .....

In our boating area, and I assume in many others, it is extremely common to encounter folks on sizeable motor cruisers who say cheerfully, "we were keen sailors for decades; but a few years ago we decided to switch to a power boat and we have never looked back". They then give various reasons eg. older age, been-there-done-that, reduced complexity etc.
What we are talking about on this thread is to some extent a 'Mac-equivalent'. A nice thing about the Mac is that one can have it all - sailing or motoring - for a very reasonable price. Heck you can throw away the mast and still be getting good value for money. As discussed at length on other threads by boaters the world over, "a few more feet of length would be nice" ... but then you lose the advantages Roger designed in.
Kittiwake

[Gazmn]

Re Crikey:

Hey Gaz! Looks like you have one of those Connestoga model bimini's!
No boom swingin across that baby.

...Once I looked up Conestoga -I thought - I resemble that remark

LOL Crikey

That's a: 103"W x 8' 4 bow Bimini hung off a SS 96" X 6' 3 bow frame with an extra bow provided by SS fishing rod holders holding 2 6' sections of 1/2" plastic conduit, wrapped in pool noodles. That's what really gives that Conestoga shape. What I really want is a custom enclosure with independent removable side panels ala Genco or Dowsar- Still Dreamin'

I bought this top sort of on the cheap [Ebay] to keep my mods out of the rain. The boom & sailing is doable when I tuck the front 2'. But not an issue while topless - but covered [Wagonstyle]

Gee, I might ought to put this in the mods section

[Crikey]

Not intending to mock it! Though I'd love it, Dowsar is waaay out of my price range! Though they're beautifully made! Like you, I want to come up with my own design for the Dodger part of my setup. From what I've seen - not too difficult really. Just a few more holes in the boat...
My Bimini is another story - picked it out of the garbage one day on my way home from work. Never look a gift horse in the mouth!

Ross

[Gypsy Life]

We put a hardtop over the last 4 feet of stern and put on 200watts worth of solar cells . Railmakers built the SS tubing frame and we added a wooden top . We then got a dodger from BWY . We still have the area in between exposed because of the boom . If I remove the sail , I am thinking about a tall Bimini to cover the are between dodger and hardtop .

Our modification was discussed a few years ago in Heartland magazine in the article on Macs , the swiss army knife of boats .

[Tomfoolery]

If I remove the sail, I am thinking about a tall Bimini to cover the are between dodger and hardtop .

Consider a simple 'bridge' piece between the bimini and the dodger. I can put mine on with the boom swung to one side, and when I extend the mast roller higher by a foot (through a hole in the bridge), I can leave the mast on in its travel position (though higher) and still have the bridge in place. Gives me a lot of flexibility.

There is no structure to it; it's just a flat panel with two zippers at each end, and a couple of snaps at the ends. The curve at the aft part didn't have to be sown into it, as it's wider there, so it just naturally falls to the sides. Same Sunbrella as the rest, and it was a standard option with the Dowsar system, but any canvas company could make one for (I would think) relatively cheap, as there's no tubing or other structure. It takes 30 seconds to remove when prepping to sail, and a little longer to put back.

While it looks low at the dodger, it's actually not. I don't even notice it when going below. I probably duck a bit, but I don't remember doing it, so it can't be much of a hindrance.

[WASP18]

Do you remove the dodger when trailering? Or does it fold up neatly for stowage when on the highway.

[Tomfoolery]

Do you remove the dodger when trailering? Or does it fold up neatly for stowage when on the highway.

For local trips I fold the bimini, lay it down backward, and just leave the dodger, but for highway travel, I take the canvas off. The dodger would probably be ok, but if it's not ok, it'll be costly to find out. I also don't want bug splats all over it. Unfortunately, the dodger doesn't fold. The attachment points angle down and inward (not in line with each other), so if I tried to fold it, it would mess up the attachment lugs and/or their attachment to the deck, so I leave the hoops in place without the canvas usually.

But I've gotten pretty fast at putting the canvas up, and it can be done easily on the water, so no big deal taking it off. I also don't particularly like having a dodger, and often leave it off, but the only way to put the bridge up is by having that dodger there. I suppose I could drape a tent over the boom.

Putting the full enclosure on is another story, though - it's a lot of work, but worth it when it's buggy. Or cold.

[WASP18]

Thanks! I just ordered a black Dodger from BWY. Actually, I sent them an e-mail with my contact information to begin the ordering process. Don't know how long it takes to receive it, or if they need to order from the manufacturer first. By the way, your setup looks great. Thanks for displaying your photographs.

[Tomfoolery]

Thanks. You can see what it looked like new (when the PO bought it) at Dowsar Marine.

http://www.dowsar.com/options.htm

Pricey, that's for sure.

[Gypsy Life]

Its funny that when we ordered our dodger from BWY we ordered it with solid doors . She said we were the first to order solid doors ! They sell them in screen or isinglass .
Our reasoning for solid doors , has been a good one . When at dock or a crowded anchorage , we can sleep or change clothes without having to put the wooden door boards in . We simply zip it up and we have our privacy . For ventilation we leave the top part a bit unzipped .

It would be nice to also have a pair of screen doors , but since we are watching our pennies , and can afford only one set , the solid ones have served us well .

[Tomfoolery]

It would be nice to also have a pair of screen doors , but since we are watching our pennies , and can afford only one set , the solid ones have served us well .

You may be able to have screens installed in the existing panels, with a flap that you can roll up for privacy. That would be much cheaper than making new panels, I would think (keep the piece that's cut out for the roll-up panel), and sew in screen. Even a small panel with screen can make a big difference. Any boat/RV canvas shop could modify them, and the off-season is usually when prices are at their lowest.

Just a thought.