MacGregorSailors.com

Well, here is a post that may,,,,or may not open a discussion and perhaps add a wider dimension to the term POWER sailor.

Bought the 26X some years ago and shortly thereafter moved from Washington state to Texas and started building a new home, and other projects. So we did not use the mac nearly as much as we had planed when we bought it. In fact it has sat here in our yard almost 2 years .

Home and projects done, started preparing the Mac to use. Installed hydraulic steering and a Raymarine S1000 auto pilot. Also some new custom work in the interior. Fiber glassed over the center ballast tank fill hole. Last home project has prevented us from launching the Mac so far this summer.

Lying under the boat today, (Boat hanging from straps.), finishing the ballast tank hole. While there I thought I might fix some minor damage on the center board. As I examined the centerboard, King Neptune spoke to me. His exact words were, “Russ forget that rattling piece of sh*t, its day has passed and you don't need it.”

Well, I was quite surprised that ole Nep would come ashore her in Texas to tell me such a thing. So I puzzled on it for a while and finally I understood what he wanted me to do. Something that I have thinking about for quite awhile.

I am 68 years old, time has been kind to me. I am still in reasonable health and fitness. I have sailed quite a lot. Olympia, Wa. To San Francisco twice. Olympia to Acapulco. Crossed the Columbia River Bar five times, once at max ebb, at night. Grays Harbor bar twice. However 68 years is 68 years, and sailing seems to be more work then it used to be. During the years I have known quite a number of cruising sailors, (Familys). They sail always, when they have to. Quite often when the wind is just right, perhaps 30% of other times.

My next project, (And it will happen), for the Mac. Is, Miami to the Bahamas, down through the Bahama chain to Dominican Republic, over to Puerto Rico, and then down the Windward and Leeward islands to Trinidad, back up the islands to Puerto Rico,then over to Jamaica , then cayman Islands, then Belize. This entire trip would be less then 5500 miles. The longest passage between fuel stops would be less than 400 miles, Cayman Islands to Belize. I plan on the trip taking at least one year. A fellow on this site told me that his large HP Merc. Bigfoot was giving him 12 miles per gallon. Figuring that a Tohatsu 18 HP would push the mac. At 5-6.50 Knts. And give 10 MPG. The trip would require 550 gallons of fuel, and at $6.00 per gallon the cost would be, $3,300.00, or $275.00 per month over the year. Even if you planed to sail such a trip I am quite sure that your fuel cost would amount to, $85.00 per month.

The Mac has plenty of room in the rear for two 39 Gal. Alum. Fuel tanks. One on each side, fill through cockpit seats. 750 miles range. Now, not sailing you have a tank for better than a hundred gallons of fresh water. No boom or main sheet, permanent canopy over the cockpit, easy 200 watts or better solar panels on top., davits for your Walker Bay, off the back. Duane Dunn stubby mast in place of the big long heavy one.

The Mac is a very comfortable cruiser as long as you have good weather and can be in a port every week or so. Most especially when you consider the cost, and that it is trailerable. In other words It would be difficult to find a better boat than I have now.

So Neptune, thank you You have helped me make a decision that I have wrestled with for quite awhile. That rattling piece of sh*t is coming off and a piece of Polyurth. Foam is going in, and that haven for barnacles will be glassed over.

I plan to keep the rudders as they are. However I am concerned about that much hull, with no keel at all.

Single gasoline engine at sea, no sails????? Well, I have over a thousand hours in a single engine airplane, quite a bit over water. The thought doesn't bother me a bit.

I will order the two fuel tanks tomorrow.

Of course this make no sense for the day or weekend sailor. For that use The Mac is great just the way it is. But all along I have wanted to both travel and trailer.

It now appears that I will have, sails, mast, and rigging, and a very low hour 50HP Tohatsu for sale.

I am interested in any comments. And to those of you that bothered to read this Thank You.

Russ miller

Don't understand what point you're making on the 100 gals of water ...
where or how?

Overall, I won't argue with the plan to motor through the Carib, your choice. But even with the added 500 lbs. of fuel, I wouldn't choose to strip the boat's sails, foils and rigging. For a minor added load factor (< 200 lbs?), they add immense flexibility, stability and safety ... all of it optional, but available.

Sounds like a plan. I am 65 and want to sail a few more years but you have given me an idea for when those days are over. In fact, we bought our X from a man who had broken his back. He was walking with a cane and still in therapy. His comment it was, "I'll never sail again. If I boat again, it will have to be on a power boat." After all the mods are done personalizing the X, it seems silly to start over with a new boat, just convert.

Your cruising plans may exceed what I will want to do, however.

Your mod of closing the centerboard hole is good, but I would suggest inserting some type keel in there, perhaps a 4'' one. My X gets hard to control in some winds, especially at slow speeds. A little bit of centerboard greatly improves handling, so a little keel might do the same. Just a thought.

On rereading, after Frank's comment, you're not planning on using the ballast tank for the fresh water are you? I hope not. It would only work when full or empty. When partially full is would decrease stability and be a hazard.

I can't imagine trying to steer in a x-wind inside the marina without a keel down.

With all that free board, she blows all over the place at slow speeds.



G

Yep, ballast tank. Once I flushed it and set it up with a pump Sailing would be finished for sure. lots of remote islands, plenty of water would make life far move enjoyable. I do not understand how a partially full ballast tank would be unsafe if you are not sailing.

I think your right a short keel would improve tracking. Once I have modified the boat, crowed marinas will be few and far between, as they are, in fact,now.

Russ

Partial ballast is every bit as dangerous when motoring ... maybe more dangerous than under sail, since at least wind pressure on sails will tend to stabilize the hull.

By contrast, your fresh water supply will shift as the hull powers over every swell or wave. As that water supply shifts, the hull goes with it. Besides, in this age of power-efficient watermakers, why haul 75 to 150 gallons of drinking water? (The X-boat's 1400# of ballast @ 8.3#/gal ~ 165 gals.)

I have been in many conditions (large following seas 10 to 14 foot swells are the most memorable) while motoring where the a full ballast is what got me home. The boat handles like a tug boat with full ballast and an out of control boobing cork without it. A half ballast causes the water to surge from one side to another and increases the tendency of the boat turning over. If in doubt, have all your passengers run to one side of the boat while in a high speed turn!

I agree with the earlier post where the sails offer a measure of safety and the dagger board steerage when you need it.

Anyway sounds like a great trip. Good luck and be sure to let us all know how it goes

MaddMike writes:

Benefits of twin engines

1- you never have to cancel a day trip because your engine quits.
2- Smaller engines = the ability to usually unbolt it and take it in a taxi to the nearest service guy.
3-two engines seldom quit for the same reason (unless you run them out of gas), so you almost always have enough spares to keep one running.
4- Motorsailing on one engine (the leeward one) keeps the prop in the water most of the time, even during heavy weather.
5-On a multi-day upwind moter trip you only have to run each one 1/2 the time.

Disadvantage = more cost per hp.

MM= big advocate of twin engines (FYI my 6hp are out 18 hp's are now in).

LCB you write:

Single gasoline engine at sea, no sails????? Well, I have over a thousand hours in a single engine airplane, quite a bit over water. The thought doesn't bother me a bit.

And you talk to Neptune. Need I say more.

By the way, before cuttin that ......rattling piece of sh*t..... are you sure you know how your mac will sail without?
my nightmare is loosing it while sailing .....under sail or under power it doesnt a matter...dockin without it.....impossible for me.

Just a couple of points, I agree that the idea of a power boat conversion is doable but I would look at adding a weighted keel - something about 4 inches down, maybe 2 inches wide out of iron covered with 'glass. Need to get 500 to 1000 pounds down low to improve stability. I might also add 2 more aux. keels running 1/3 of the boats length just ahead of where the twin 50hps would be mounted on the reinforced modified transom. The water (and fuel) tanks can be baffled to reduce the sloshing but weight would have to be shifted forward to keep things balanced. Or I might just sell the Mac and get a real deep v cruiser.

First off, I would suggest you learn how to Scuba if you don't already know. That's not being sarcastic BTW. Tanks are available everywhere you plan to go, and it would not only be a great way to see more on your trip but a way to reduce the cost of eating very well. You would also simplify any in-water or under-boat repairs and maintainence. It would also make it easy to clean that barnicle catcher, and just check conditions of the bottom etc. I myself, would carry at least one tank of my own for those places where at night its not a park/no one knows no one sees. You can reduce some of the C/B rattel by adding Teflon washers on each side of the pivot bolt. Start a routine of first thing in the morning and last thing at night rotate the C/B to keep it clean and free.
Single motor no sail? ONLY 400 miles from shore to shore? ( in a staright line btw) Bigfoot Merc getting twelve mpg? What speed was he talking about? Under what conditions? I would give that a lot of thought as well. Fresh Water can be a problem, Solar charging, SS Radio?
But hey it sounds like a great adventure and your not leaving tomorrow, so you have lots of time to work out the logistics. You have selected a good source of knowledge with this board as I see it. There are numerous good sailors and as many talented engineers as well. Little is impossible with the talent pool you have readily at hand. Good Luck and I will be watching as this plan progresses.

Russ,

If the problem is fresh water then why not tow a watermaker? You could tow it forward alongside instead of aft taking in discharge water and exhaust oil (if you go with 2 cycle).

Or just install a water maker below and power it off the house battery since you plan to motor you will be generating plenty of replacement power.

Personally I'd leave the ballast tank full of seawater for ballasting purposes as it was designed. On calm days you could empty it to improve motoring efficiency and on not so good days you have the ballast where you need it. If used for drinking water a half full ballast tank could pose a real problem for handling in tight quarters or in heavy seas.

Also I think I'd keep the rigging and sails in place even if only for motor-sailing as it would greatly improve your overall distance (range) under power. Probably would double it.

BTW, did I notice an 'Ice House' on your place the the other day? Did you build it and go into business recently? If so I hope to stop by and have a beer with you sometime before you leave on your trip.

Kind regards,
JonBill

I would add some sort of skeg that will give directional stability under power and help low speed turning. Make it fixed in place.

You also might want to create a small motoring mast as I have. You still need the forward facing masthead light when under power. Here is my solution. It's just two pieces of starboard with SS bolts and aluminum tube spacers. Easy to build and it fills the void of the mast step.





Throw in an aft arch to mount all the long term cruising stuff. Just a simple piece of aluminum channel bent and welded, bolted inside the transom.

Please note as well that D.D. has a 2nd choice of power with that kicker as well. But IMHO Keep the sail option open by all means. I for one cannot imagine long voyages with any outboard running hour after hour after hour . . . . .