MacGregorSailors.com

As with most disaster stories, todays started out great with wind of 10-15 and 2-3ft seas. I was about 2 miles out of Channel Islands Harbor making 6 knts on a broad reachoh what a dayTHEN.

I decided to motor back into the harbor because the wind was blowing exactly out of the harbor entrance, so I went to start up my Honda 50 2004 baby, just out of the shop for its 1 yr service, and NADA. It was acting like it was out of gas. Off came the cover, primed the fuel line bulb and still nada. So there I was 2 miles out with the harbor entrance straight into the wind, not a good situation. I sit there for a minute thinking about my options. I could beat upwind and sail into the harbor, but then what? How would I get into the slipunder sail alone? Are you crazy? So I decided that since I am a member of Boat USs towing service I grabbed the VHF.

PahnPahnPahnthis is Sailing Vessel Enterprise Sea.Im a 26ft blue MacGregor Sailboat with one passenger.2 miles out of Channel Islands Harbor.engine will not start..ship in no immediate dangerrequesting assistanceover

The Harbor patrol guy was nice and after a little info trading, they were sending out vessel assist to help me back in. Then I noticed a patrol boat heading for me like a Bat-out-of-hull. He was a nice guy and joked to me about why a sailboat would need a TOW.I laughed and said that I could get back into the harborbut wasnt going to dock under sail!

By the time Vessel Assist reached me, I was already back into the harbor and dropping sails, so all he had to do was help me to the slip. The harbor patrol boat stayed with me the whole time to make sure I didnt get into trouble, which was nice.

I was able to get a Honda service guy over to the boat and when he pulled out the spark plugs they looked like they were 20 yrs old! New plugs, readjusting the idle and Im good to go! My only question is what good was the Honda service I paid for last week ($145)?

If you arent a member of Boat US/Vessel Assistyou damn well should be!!

Tomorrow morning, Im bringing doughnuts to the Harbor patrol officethey were there when I needed them!

Nice thing about wirelessIm on the boat, listening to Jimmy Buffetsipping hot coco/schnapps.

Happy ending.

Rich, I'm at work on a midnight shift and jelous. Enjoy your night.

Since help isn't always nearby, I've been thinking about the Duane Dunn Trolling Motor Mod..(under exterior in mod section). Same concept as practiced by MaddMike....a backup. This seems to have merit whether or not you also use it to power your dingy etc. Jack

Rich,

How did the parade go for you. Channel Islands Yacht club won:

1st place for yacht club entry
1st place for best dressed crew
1st place sweepstakes

Not bad!!!!

Dang Rich!!! You have had some crazy luck lately! Again, glad to hear no one was hurt! I think I would be asking for my money back from the Honda service guy though...

Something to think of for those who want aux. emergency control for getting into a slip, on their trailer, or on a crowded mooring w/o having to use a trolling motor or back-up engine.

On the Missouri, Mississippi & parts of the Amazon while going downstream I used 2 part whitewater oars for controlling my 'ferry angle' and moving to the outside of sweeping bends (the usual deep water on a river) and saving fuel. They are also great for getting on/off a beach & rowing the final leg into a slip if you run out of gas or have engine trouble.

Here are my specs.

I use 2 part 11 ft. 'Stout' wood whitewater oars (easy to store) that use 'locking pins' rather than oar locks. These are attached to the Genoa track when needed, the oars assembled & bingo you have a back-up 'engine' (i.e. you). Because the boat only has a 7'10" beam you can row from the cockpit (portigee style) standing up. The oars can also be used for all sorts of other things. (beach shade, emergency tiller, emergency boom, etc. etc.). You can get info. on such oars & the necessary clips & locking pins from any whitewater rafting dealer. (short people might need a step in the cockpit) Maddmike

I put oar-lock sockets on my 26C(S) and had 2-piece river rafting oars. The only times I used them was down in the FL Keys, for bird watching. I also had a push-pole end that I could put on one end. Never had to use that.
I never got around to doing that on my 26X's.
I was in West Marine last Wed. and bought a Genoa track car that I think I can modify for oars. I think the 26M would work very well for rowing. You can sit at the forward end of the cockpit and use the steering pedestal for a foot brace.

RICHandLORI...heyyy....sailing into a slip is supposed to be a "CINCH"...havent you seen ROGER MACGREGOR sail backwards with his "X", tie off at the pier, and look like a PRO.

Heh Heh...Im with you...sailing into a SLIP is for anyone BUT ME !!! MY Mac X looks to nice to be all scratched up.

Rich,
You didn't have any flashbacks to the Irving Johnson sitting on the beach did you? Hard to believe that smooth running motor of yours would go belly up like that so quickly.

Having watched your skills myself, I KNOW you could have sailed her right back in to the slip at CIL. I bet it was interesting tacking back and forth up through the channel.

Hope all else is going well. Keep up the great reports.

Glad to hear you're ok.

Bruce

sailpsych wrote:Rich,
You didn't have any flashbacks to the Irving Johnson sitting on the beach did you? Hard to believe that smooth running motor of yours would go belly up like that so quickly. Bruce

You're darn right! That is exactly what I thought and why I called the harbor patrol to ask that they "watch over me" as I came back into the harbor!

I will be down at the boat on the 27th with the kids on Christmass break and will hang out there until I sail/motor down to MDR on the 30th....so stop by and say hi. Maybe..we will head up to Santa Barbara...or something....

Mike and Bill,
Thanks for the information on the rowing setup. I thought it may be possible to "row" the Mac, but after getting little response back from a post for a push pole(I ended up with a sectional unit from Cabela's and it came in handy this summer), I thought others would think rowing a little out there.
Any possibility of posting a picture if the oar/locking pin/genoa track setup?
Thanks,
Greg

Greg - I've been too busy lately to give the oars a lot of thought. Had a boat go out the door on Sat. one on Sun. and one today.
While in the cockpit today I did notice that it might be better just to go with oarlock sockets mounted on the outside of the coaming top.
PM/email me in a couple of weeks if I don't post anything on this.
Also, others that have called and emailed me, I'll try to respond tomorrow.

Attn Bill at Boats4Sail.....did I miss your promised post re details on the oar lock issue...or like the rest of us, maybe you've been too busy. Will keep watching. Also, any specifics re the exact oar you find works best. Jack

Jack,

When I get back in town in April I'll show you my set-up. The 11ft 2 piece 'stout' whitewater oars are available in Reno (so is the rest of the stuff you would need). Gonna cost ya a beer though! Hope you had a happy new year & your boat didn't float away with all the rain. (think washoe lake will have enough water this year for a MAC outing?) Cheers, MM

Hey...good to hear from you Mike...yup, Washoe is within a kayak drag from the road now. I just spent ten days in the Florida Keys on a Pearson 40....even got down to the Tortugas....and left my mark on Duval Street in Key West. Not Sri Lanka weather, but close...70-80s.
Welcomed back by a local flood...little damage here, but some in parts of CC. Looking forward to seeing your oar setup and buying you that beer...at Reds I'd suggest. Jack