MacGregorSailors.com

Hi Tom
Bet u would like one of these puppies too EH !
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 010061.jpg

I may temperly install this on dreamer's boat & let him try it with my CDI Spinnaker Furler & Cruising Shute , to see how he likes it Rockies trying to relieve me of my cruising shute !!!
J

Is that the retractable bowsprit, do you have any other pics of it assembled, even if not on a boat?
I am in the process now of building a bowsprit for Merrylegs

I put propane storage under the seats. I've got room for 4 bottles (2 per side) but typically only use 2 bottles per season or less. This mod works great. I am going make one change. I'm going to add a 1/2" diameter insert on the front of each pod with a threaded cap. Occasionally, I will get a bottle that fits tight and during large temperature variations during parts of our season, the bottle will get stuck. When that happens, then I can just remove the threaded 1/2" cap on the front end and use a long screwdriver or dowel or something to push the 'stuck' bottle out the back.



I wouldn't mind one of those telescopic bowsprits...

Doug & Angie

Doug W wrote:Occasionally, I will get a bottle that fits tight and during large temperature variations during parts of our season, the bottle will get stuck.

Hey Doug,
Conversely, is there a time when the temps expand and allow the bottles to rattle around in there with vibration?

I am thinking of doing something like this, however mounting them vertically. That might not work well if they get stuck. Then again, with your 1/2 mod, that might solve it.


--Russ

Doug,

I like your mod and plan to duplicate on my boat (coming soon I think!). Also, your blog was one of the influences steering my family to the 26m...so thank you!

Just an idea for your mod...you could take some parachute cord (sold at most camp stores), remove the inner lines so you have just the sheath left. Then drill a small vent hole on the opening end of your canister (to allow gases to escape)(you probably already have them in your mod). Then run the paracord sheath thru the hole, tie a knot on the outside of your canister so the long end of the line is in your canister.

Then, when loading the individual fuel tanks, pull the long end taught across the opening, push a fuel tank into your holding canister, releasing slack as it goes to the back of the canister, insert your 2nd fuel tank, and coil the excess paracord in the leftover space. Now all you have to do is open your canister, pull on the line (which is in back of the rearmost canister) and it will push the other towards the opening.

Initially, the paracord sheath will be round, but it will compress very flat and is still strong enough to give a good pull on.

Fair winds,

David

Thank you for the very kind words. Most of my ideas are my interpretations of what others have done on this forum and others-- or ideas that my wife has run across or asked for. Finally, in 2013, boat is set up to her liking enough that last summer after an awesome sail-vacation in South Dakota, she told me that it's not my boat anymore--it's ours! That ranks high up there in being some of the best news a guy can hear!

Generally, the propane tanks are snug enough that even the more loose ones don't vibrate that I can tell. I have 3 miles of gravel road to bounce the boat over and no matter how slow I go, it is unforgiving and rattles loose anything that I don't get secured enough.

That's a great idea with parachute cord. I only put in a couple of tiny, probably inadequate, pin holes to keep the heat from building up too much pressure. I'll have to revisit them. Now that I think about it, my 'vents' are near the aft end by the cap. I could definitely see how a single snug canister might seal up the cavity in front of it and create a different pressure with the heating of summer. Wonder if that is why I had a couple times where a can would be stuck until I pulled it out with long pliers. Each time it was a single can in the pod that was stuck. Great ideas, guys. It gives me something to consider on my design. Seems like most of my mods end up going through a generation or three before I'm happy with them!

I've been studying (aka drooling over) Highlander's way-cool bowsprit trying to figure out what I can do for my boat with my skill set and limited resources. I think I watched an hour of his videos tonight.

David, glad you got your Mac! For my wife and myself, ours is the perfect boat for our current needs!

Doug & Angie

I am a very lucky husband !
My wife loves the boat and our cruising lifestyle as much as I do .
She has been right there in the whole process of selecting a boat , modifying it , and cruising.

I also have an admiral that is "all in".
In the past I had picked the wrong girl several times but this time
The right girl picked me.
Nothing could be sweeter.

Shes a fan of the 1lb bottles also. We do feel the pain of the empties ending up in landfills though.
We might try some of the refill methods this summer.

They look like launchers for the Weekend Warrior.
Double 007 could use a couple of these.
Dave

Doug W wrote:I put propane storage under the seats. I've got room for 4 bottles (2 per side) but typically only use 2 bottles per season or less. This mod works great. I am going make one change. I'm going to add a 1/2" diameter insert on the front of each pod with a threaded cap. Occasionally, I will get a bottle that fits tight and during large temperature variations during parts of our season, the bottle will get stuck. When that happens, then I can just remove the threaded 1/2" cap on the front end and use a long screwdriver or dowel or something to push the 'stuck' bottle out the back.



I wouldn't mind one of those telescopic bowsprits...

Doug & Angie

It are pointed aft, that means a mine layer...

DaveB wrote:They look like launchers for the Weekend Warrior.
Double 007 could use a couple of these.
Dave

Doug W wrote:I put propane storage under the seats. I've got room for 4 bottles (2 per side) but typically only use 2 bottles per season or less. This mod works great. I am going make one change. I'm going to add a 1/2" diameter insert on the front of each pod with a threaded cap. Occasionally, I will get a bottle that fits tight and during large temperature variations during parts of our season, the bottle will get stuck. When that happens, then I can just remove the threaded 1/2" cap on the front end and use a long screwdriver or dowel or something to push the 'stuck' bottle out the back.



I wouldn't mind one of those telescopic bowsprits...

Doug & Angie

mine launchers...

Sailors in my sailing Association called them 'Warp Nacelles'

I added in 1/2" ports on the front end with a threaded cap; plus two more pin holes on the front bottom for air pressure equalization. Figured it couldn't hurt.
It does add to the experience when our admirals are 'all in'!
I usually, but not always, collect the empties so that I can take them to a local recycling scrap yard. They take just about any kind of metal--even batteries and engines. All have to be dropped off to separate areas.



Doug & Angie

Doug W wrote:Sailors in my sailing Association called them 'Warp Nacelles'

Now that's funny

It would be great for a laugh and for any kids on shore if someone were to have these installed and replace propane bottles with some sort of fireworks, light them up then hit the throttle, you'd have some VERY curious onlookers

Mine are stored under the captains seat
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ewimg=3834[/img]
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ewimg=3835[/img]

I carry 2 - 6lb propane bottles mounted off the stern rails on Spice. Plus, should I feel the need to carry extra, I have two rocket launcher tubes mounted on the side that holds several more small portable bottles. I also have a portable catalytic heater I can connect inside for heat or use the propane stove for take the chill off if necessary. So far down here in Florida, I need the A/C more than a heater. Got that too with a Honda EU2000i inverter/generator for power in the hot summer months.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1172 ... 7771875457

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1172 ... 7771875457