MacGregorSailors.com

Please grant the new guy one more question...okay there will probably be several more eventually.

Have trailered my Mac twice now...once at Tarpon Springs when I got it yesterday and once this afternoon after my first sail with it.

Both times the boat was motored onto the trailer (once by previous owner and once by me) all the way to the rubber bow roller and secured with the nylon strap on the trailer winch. However, both times as the trailer was pulled out the boat slid back...first time about 3-4 inches and this afternoon about 8-10 inches. In fact this afternoon the boat was not even touching the forward most trailer boards (the short ones just aft of the bow). LIke it was so far aft the CG was trying to lift the nose and if it had not been attached to the winch the back end would have swung to the ground (that would not have been very fun...especially for the first time sailing it).

Fortunately I am storing it at the same marina I launch it from so I didn't have to trailer it very far. Just put a safety strap across the gunwhales just behind the bow pulpit as a back up to ensure the boat stays seated on the trailer.

The winch did not turn. I guess the strap stretched a little or something.
The winch was a tight as we could crank it. Any thoughts on how to prevent this? Does anyone use a chain or large shackle (or something other than a strap that might stretch) to secure the boat to the trailer before pulling it out of the water?

Or am I possibly doing something wrong here?

Thanks for any help.

Jim

If the launch ramp is at all steep, it is normal for the boat to slide away from the bow stop. Here's how I was told to fix it and it works: motor ahead SLOWLY and CAREFULLY jam on the brakes and the boat will come sliding back to the stop and all is well and you can then secure it tightly with the winch. Although I flinched when I first heard this, and I am sure I am going to hear some #$%^&* from the board regulars, a worker at the factory told me about this and it DOES work.

Rick

Rick,

Tried that both times and nothing happened. How fast is "SLOWLY and CAREFULLY"?

I was thinking maybe a chain or something from the winch point on the front of the boat wrapped around the front trailer post or something like that. No slippage as it comes out of the water.

Thanks,
Jim

It's called the "Mac Bump". Get used to it. After you have put the boat on the trailer, winched it nicely, and pulled the trailer out of the water, expect to do the "Mac Bump" to make the boat nice and snug against the rubber stop. You will then have to winch it again. Just S.O.P. If you don't go fast enough to get it to slip forward, then try a little faster. You will get the hang of it.

Ray

See Jim - - The McBump - - - I'm not TOTALLY crazy Actually I knew I would take some heat for explaining this manuver.

Rick

c130king wrote:Rick,
How fast is "SLOWLY and CAREFULLY"?,
Jim

Slowly motor (self explanatory) and carefully jam on the brakes (not so hard as to put the boat through the trunk)

Rick

The assembly of the winch, the vertical post it is attached too, and the rubber stop is quite strong.

If I remember correctly, Chip, while trailering his X to FL was rear ended. The winch and all that it is attached too was fine.

If I am wrong, I'm sure you will see his posting very shortly.


Ray

Eight minutes

I told you


Ray

Jim - Not really much can be done. You can try to wrap a line around the winch to the boat and then to the tonge of the trailer. Do not trust the winch and support to keep your boat on the trailer. Within 5 years it may(will??) fail.

I have not had a problem pulling the boat the last few inches with the winch. You could always have the boat facing downhill or the tound lower.

Or just use the Mac Bump.

I think a critical part to an effective "bump" is a slack winch strap. I tried more times than you can imagine,unsuccessfully, before finding out this detail,from this site of course. Also bent my ladder in my first year of attempted bumping.

niceaft wrote:Eight minutes

I told you

The interesting part was that you happened to post just as I was browsing the forum for the first time in two days.

I ended up with a much heavier duty winch and strap than stock, and I still can't winch the boat all the way forward on level ground. The Mac bump is the way to go.

Note in the photo as well, how far back the boat is from the winch post. I was able to do the Mac bump in reverse to get it situated properly on the trailer.

"The Mac Bump"...
Ive discovered that a little liquid hand soap on the bunks help retreiving the boat...I put the soap only on the bunk "pressure" spots. Amazingly, I sometimes can winch the boat when on level ground, ballast empty, using the "soap" method.

Other than liquid soap, there is another way to eliminate the MacBump. Using 2 plastic bags (similar to those from WalMart, food stores, etc.), place one over each of the V bunk sections. They can be tied using their handles so they don't come off. You'll be amazed how smooth the Mac can be cranked onto the V-bunk. Then move the vehicle forward about 2-3 feet and crank the winch a bit more. Another 2-3 feet, winch again. You should be now be able to pull to level ground and find the bow snug against the bow stop. (Or at least really, really close.)

This is a method we came up with back in 2001 when it was discussed then. I still use it. I've had more success with this than the soap. BTW, you can rip the plastic off in the parking lot, disposing of it properly, before going home.

(Now, I going to hear how the 2"x2" piece of plastic possibly left between the bunk & the boat could endanger the whales, etc. by stopping up their blowholes. Sorry for not have a perfect solution.)

Holy smokes Chip! That looks like a very nasty hit. I hope everyone was OK.

Did the boat make out OK? I noticed the Nissan in the trunk, what about the rudders etc?
What hit you? A Mac Truck?

On another note, that soap trick sounds good, I just give the trailer a good dunking before I pick up the boat. Gets the beds nice and wet to help with the Mac bump. The first time I did it, I was going a bit too fast and the bow rode up on the v stop a bit so the Mac was lifted up off the beds a bit. So I did what Chip did and used the Mac bump in reverse. Worked out fine.

Just one thing of note with the Mac bump, make sure you put the away the fine china inside the boat BEFORE you try it as things inside tend NOT to stay put.

G