FIRST SAIL OF THE SEASON

[irayone]

I have always had a big dock boat... dock fees etc... We all know the reasons why the Mac is so cool. I reasearched and bought a 2005....Anyway we sailed in 10 to 12 kt winds out on Morro Bay Ca. today....On my tack back up wind.. the boat wanted to slide backwards like the dagger board was not functioning. But all systems were in check. Boat sailed great on all other points of sail. Next time I'll just motor back up the bay... Second issue is the boat seams unstable which I no it's not true it just felt that way. Almost if I am unsure about the beast. Or maybe I am over thinking ??? For some reason the boat just felt uncomfortable and insecure. Third I am alittle disapointed at the Yamaha 60... I was only able to hit 8 kts... I do have the boat set up for coastal crusing...30 gal h20, 2 ice chest, 2 anchors, few cases of wine etc...The boat was flat and level at the dock and was weight loaded correctly.... It didn't want to get up and plane like I thought it would. I have heard of confliting views regarding the Mac having a light bow???...Any comments....Thanks

[Trouts Dream]

Not sure about the sliding backward on the up wind tack but I have a 50 HP Tohatsu on my 97X and I can hit 15 Kts loaded for cruising.
I would check that you ahve the correct prop for this boat as a starting point.

[Irafatsar]

8 knots seems a little slow. I pulled 15 knots WOT first day with mine, and 5 knot under sail for 30+ minutes. What prop is on your motor? I just changed mine but have yet to get back into the water. hoping for that final three, we will see. I feel I have a huge advantage as my admiral only adds 100 lbs. I know where I can get rid of a spare tire or two as well. what do they say 1 knot for every 100 lbs

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

8 knots sounds quite slow, especially with a 60 HP. I do better than that with a 50 HP on my "X" -- Im wondering if your have the "tilt" set correctly.

That feeling of "uncomfortable and insecure" comes with a MacGregor -- these boats feel as though there's no keel sometimes--typical of a water ballast. This boat does a quick (white knuckle) lean over, and then the water ballast slowly does its stuff keeping the rub rails out of the water.

I know the feeling too.

[Russ]

Coming from a 34' keel boat the first time out on the Mac scared me to death. It's very tender and light at first but I suppose that's the deal with water ballasted boats. It's the trade off to have other benefits. We're adjusting to it.

Speed seems way too slow. What was the top RPMs?
Was the ballast in?
Weight distribution seems to be important. If you have all those cases of wine in the rear the boat will be squatting and hard to get up on top of the water. I found moving some weight or even people temporarily forward until it gets on top of the water does the trick.

[irayone]

Thanks for the replys ballast full ...weight up front... What prop size should I use?

[Scott]

Sliding Backwards? Possible to high in the eye. (irons) or pinching the sails too tight?

[markh1f]

irayone,
Take a close look at the shape of your mast and main sail, a baggy main will induce more heel and reduce your ability to sail to windward. My mast came tuned from the dealer with a bow in the center going towards the back of the boat which resulted in a supper baggy main. I have pretty much tuned that out of the mast but my main is still fuller than I would like.
Mark

[bubba]

My wife brought our M into irons every time when we first started sailing it untill I finally convensed her to set the main sail first then tighten up the jib sheets. With the rotating mast on our M our main sail works better than a head sail and should be set first, with several years sailing a Hobie Cat 16 with a rotating mast taught me that the main is first.

Was your rudders and dagger board down at full speed ? We have bottom paint and it slows us down but we still go at 19 mph with full gear and food for a month. I am guessing bottled water is about the same as wine except for the heavey glass bottles and the head aches.

[irayone]

No the dagger board was up and the rudders were also up full ballast. I need to take another run to see what the rpms are at full speed. I think I was at 4100 but should be 5500.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Yeeks - that is way too low - as in the damage-your-motor regime, not just a performance issue.

Maybe someone way overpropped you with a 14x13 or something??

Macs dont point great - 40 degrees true is probably the best reported here by someone believable. 50 degrees true much more common.

[opie]

8 kts with full ballast, that sounds right. With no ballast you should get your 15kts.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Is the difference that big on an ? I think its only about 5 on an - even a white one....

[irayone]

On the central Coast of California above point conception sailing weather is not always the best.
11 5/6 x 11 G prop...Yamaha 60 2005....full ballast...one week supply for coastal crusing.. 8 kts at aprox 4100 rpm....??? is this correct...??????