Some time back, I ran across an article from MacGregor Yachts about needing to drill a hole in my Mac26X (1996) to allow any excess bilge water collection to come up into the cabin so that it doesn't get dangerous, unbeknownst to the skipper. I understand there were once instructions about this hole on the website, but I can't find them there. Can anyone provide detailed instructions on how this hole should be drilled - preferrably with a picture of one successfully done - or give me a steer to where I could look to find out? Perhaps, someone in Mac26X land has bettered the "drill a hole" concept and has an improved method (like putting in a bilge pump that takes care of the collection before it becomes a problem?). Thanks. Dick
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Hole Location
My 2002 has a hole about 1/4" above the sole, on the vertical part at the head of the aft berth. In the pre-2000 Macs, this would be at the bottom of the cabin step where the ballast vent is. I've included a crude diagram showing where the hole is on my boat. Just make sure that, when you drill, you don't go too deep and hole the ballast tank. -- - Jeff Drumm, '02 26X -- "Wasabe"
My 2002 has a hole about 1/4" above the sole, on the vertical part at the head of the aft berth. In the pre-2000 Macs, this would be at the bottom of the cabin step where the ballast vent is. I've included a crude diagram showing where the hole is on my boat. Just make sure that, when you drill, you don't go too deep and hole the ballast tank. -- - Jeff Drumm, '02 26X -- "Wasabe"
Attachments
Crude NOT, Jeff!
Don't I wish that I could make crude drawings as well as yours. Has you come up with a way to but in partial ballast. Mine fills in 6 minutes with the boat at the dock. I assume that if I want just 1/3 full for motoring 2 minutes, right?
Don't I wish that I could make crude drawings as well as yours. Has you come up with a way to but in partial ballast. Mine fills in 6 minutes with the boat at the dock. I assume that if I want just 1/3 full for motoring 2 minutes, right?
DON'T Partially Fill Ballast!!!
Thanks for the compliment on the drawing, Will. However . . . Whatever you do, DON'T PARTIALLY FILL YOUR BALLAST TANK! It's a real safety hazard. There's no internal baffling to keep the water from shifting from one side of the boat to the other, and you could wind up using your centerboard as a sundial very easily. It's actually MORE dangerous to have a partially full ballast tank than an empty one. Please . . . 6 minutes isn't long
-- - Jeff
Thanks for the compliment on the drawing, Will. However . . . Whatever you do, DON'T PARTIALLY FILL YOUR BALLAST TANK! It's a real safety hazard. There's no internal baffling to keep the water from shifting from one side of the boat to the other, and you could wind up using your centerboard as a sundial very easily. It's actually MORE dangerous to have a partially full ballast tank than an empty one. Please . . . 6 minutes isn't long
-- - Jeff- Status