I decided to post this under "General Interest" because the questions may pertain to more than just Mac 25.
As some of you know, this is my first season on Mac 25 and thanks to this Forum I successfully installed the block and tackle hoist for my outboard, and just this weekend installed (clumsily) a boom vang (big difference - any MacGregor needs one, IMHO).
Now for the problems:
As some of you know, this is my first season on Mac 25 and thanks to this Forum I successfully installed the block and tackle hoist for my outboard, and just this weekend installed (clumsily) a boom vang (big difference - any MacGregor needs one, IMHO).
Now for the problems:
- A week ago I lost an outboard (I think it's just an impeller) and needed a tow to the marina (a Chesapeake forecast worked as always, and instead 5-10 kts wiinds, we had 0 kts wind), and my boss (aka wife) insisted I spend another $1,800 and buy a brand new 6.6 hp Mercury outboard RIGHT THERE AND THEN. So I did and the ouboard works great, except when I try putting it in reverse. It kicks hard and instead of locking in, the whole ouboard (with the propeller) jumps out of the water. It takes several tries to get it right and actually start moving. It does it at low, medium, and high throttle. Am I doing something wrong, or is it the dreaded warranty time?
- The same outboard seems to have an irregular throttle, i.e it speeds up and slows down when cold and at idle - is that normal? Also, when under way, when I shift it into neutral at a medium throttle, it seems to speed up and I have to throttle back a lot. Again, is that normal, or am I doing something wrong?
- The final issue is locking the keel. When at the dock, I can find the locking hole in the keel with no problem. Unfortunately, not only is my berth shallow (5 ft nominal), also going out to Chesapeake in a channel that should be 9-12 ft deep, just today I hit bottom (indicated by the boat slowing down substantially - at first I thought there was something wrong with the outboard). So I have to lock in keel while under way on the Bay - except the locking hole is not there! I can only assume that when powering (or even under sail) the unlocked keel swings backwards, and the locking holes no longer align. Any suggestions to that problem?