Old dog trying to learn new tricks...

[mccauley13]

One more newbie, too old to be considered new, having "sailed" on the USS Roosevelt, CVA 42 (aircraft carrier) back in the mid-60's and nothing since. Got a wild hair to learn to sail, bought a '81 Mac 25 last week and wallowed it up and down Beaver lake in NW Arkansas last Saturday. Most fun I've had in public in twenty years. I'm looking for any ideas to make mods to the cabin for weekend crusing and overnights. Have spent hours reading the posts here and have to say they are impressive and a little more than humbling when I realize what I don't know! Thanks in advance for any sugestions offered.

 

[oreana123]

Here is your challenge for sail trim: install telltales, even pieces of yarn, at the leech of your jib at the 25% 50% and 75% point. Add telltales at the leech ends of your mainsail batten pockets. Now try to fly all 6 telltales straight out!

Save up and buy an Idasailor rudder and head assy.

Rewire the boat.

Get a pop top cover.

 

[r.oril]

Go out sailing with others as crew. Watch, learn and ask questions. Add a boom brake to the boom and learn to duck. Learn how to reef the main and do it early. Make sure the motor runs and have a full gas tank.
There is still allot of “Puppy in us Old dogs”!

 

[Sumner]

Welcome!! Ruth and I had never sailed before getting our Mac this time last year and it has given us a great year. We are still learning how to sail ourselves, so I'll leave that advice to the others, but we have made a lot of mods to the boat for extended trips and have more of those planned for this year.

If you get some time you might want to look at some of our mods and others following the links below.

You have some nice lakes in your area. My folks lived in Branson for over 30 years after my dad retired, so I've seen a lot of them, but haven't been on them. That might be a trip for us in the future.

A couple things I would suggest. Put preventers on.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/rigging-9.html

....and you will sail down wind with a lot less problems and they are cheap to add. Also if you plan on anchoring out at night get a really good anchor/anchors and 20-30 feet of chain and some good 3 twist line. I would not cheap out on this stuff for piece of mind.

c ya and have fun, but be safe,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Q: does everyone have a windex?

I find it much more useful than teltales... critical down wind, and very helpful upwind...

especially noticed, when I forget to attach it..

 

[JWH2050]

Hello ! I'm a old salt also, USS Forrestall CVA 59 ,71-74, I also sail Beaver and have a Mac 25 and a Mac 26X. If you sailed last Saturday you are hearty. The weather has been lousey. I have just been waiting for a little warm weather to launch. There is a sailing club on Beaver it's up around Lost Bridge area. You might check it out.
http://www.beaverlakesailclub.com/ . You can contact me at jwh@uark.edu if you wish.
Happy sailing...

 

[caguy]

A pee bottle is critical. It'll keep you from falling overboard and comes in handy on those nights when it is too cold to visit the gunnel.
BTW here is a link to my mods as well.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/boa/1600376312.html

http://frankmendez.web.officelive.com/mods.aspx

Welcome on board.

 

[cscott]

I am sure you have found out by now that she does not handle like the USS Roosevelt. Just enjoy and great sailing. A USS Lexington CVA 16 sailor 1955-1957.

Chuck

 

[Sumner]

Q: does everyone have a windex? .....

Yep, but only remembered to put it on once :cry: and wasn't going to bring the mast down to put it on the other times. I also bent the top of the tail in storage and broke it off trying to straighten it out and though I can buy another for a couple bucks. Found out they are very expensive, so we still have the one that is missing a little of its tail.

I was on the Connie (CVA-64) in the mid 60's and I had/have a canoe after that .

According to my friends in SW Missouri it has been cold, so you were pretty dedicated to of been out on the boat :dance:,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

 

[Justin_NSA]

"They'll get out of the way. I learned that on the Saratoga" - Captain Ron

USS Midway here. Our Marine squadron use to Det with the boat.

For weekends and overnights: Check out the wiring situation on your boat. Roger didn't spend a lot in that department. If you want additional lighting or fans you may need more circuits. Make sure you have a radio, the mast and deck lights work and understand how to anchor properly.

 

[beamreach]

Here is your challenge for sail trim: install telltales, even pieces of yarn, at the leech of your jib at the 25% 50% and 75% point. Add telltales at the leech ends of your mainsail batten pockets. Now try to fly all 6 telltales straight out!

Even for seasoned sailors tell tales are the best way to moniter how the wind is moving over your sais and leaving them. It teaches you how to keep them trimmed, pulled in enough or let out enough, to take the best advantage of the wind. Like Jonn said, they should be standing straight out when you've got it trimmed just right. Hopefully you'll have many steady breezes to practice in. I have a wind indicater I keep attatched at the top of my mast but it only tells me the direction the wind is blowing. A good tool.

I had a Mac 25 twenty seven years ago. They are good boats and I found mine quite fast when trimmed right. I liked going into really shallow places on light air days and just dropping the keel, never having to set an anchor. Wouldn't leave it like that though. Welcome to the site.

 

[timebandit]

Bunch of old farts!

I hate to admit it but I celebrated my 44th anniversary of my 21st birthday last year, spent 12 years wearing a funny French cap for Uncle Sam in a far-a-way place.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Welcome, McCauley13. Read this site often, ask a question when you have one, and enjoy your boat. Like Timebandit, I celebrated that anniversary also last year. My only regret about getting a boat is that I waited so long to do it! And, Sum, nothing wrong with a canoe. If I had not had a canoe and made a sailing rig for it, I probably wouldn't be sailing today. -Paul

 

[mccauley13]

Yep, it was colder than a bankers heart but there was nothing that a down jacket and gloves couldn't match. Redoing the hatch and cabin slides and a general clean up now. I'm afraid once warmer weather gets here work will take a backseat to fun.

 

[flynfol]

...spent some time as a guest on the FID. Never knew liquid oxygen was sky blue until I saw it myself. Have fun.

Fairwinds, John

 

[CaptTripps]

Welcome to the site! I know several sailors in the club on Beaver. I'm from Carthage, MO and have a slip up on Stockton Lake. That sailing club is very energetic and fun-loving. Check them out if you want...slip rental very reasonable if member. I have an '85 M25 and love it. The guys a right about the wiring. You are a Hearty Fellow if you went sailing recently!! I'm looking to take mine back to the slip during Spring Break. Have her out back now putting in cabin floor and recovering cushions. HINT: steal ideas from TimeBandit...my Mac's gonna look like his if I'm not careful!!!

 

[timebandit]

HOT PINK???

Have her out back now putting in cabin floor and recovering cushions. HINT: steal ideas from TimeBandit...my Mac's gonna look like his if I'm not careful!!!

 

[mccauley13]

Guys, thanks for the responses and ideas. I have a LOT to learn (and I expect it to be really fun). Wonders of wonders the running lights and the cabin lights all work! However, the mast lights don't. I may try to run that grimlin down next week if it's too bad to go out and wallow around the cove in front of the marina. I do have a question though, where is the best place to locate a solar panel? I have no access to shore power and will use it (5 watt panel) to keep by battery hot as long as I can. Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[Justin_NSA]

5 watts isn't going to be much help, you need more.

 

[Sumner]

...... I do have a question though, where is the best place to locate a solar panel? I have no access to shore power and will use it (5 watt panel) to keep by battery hot as long as I can. Thanks in advance for the responses.

We bought a ....................

......40 watt last year from these guys......

http://www.solarblvd.com/index.php?cat=c40_20---55-Watt--6-.html

.....and a few weeks ago bought an 80 watt from them and I think I have found a place to put another 40 watt. You don't need that much, but I would suggest at least a 20 watt to keep the battery up while moored or would move up to a 40 watt. You also need to get a controller, but they aren't much for a 40 watt. I've seen a few places a little cheaper than solarblvd.com, but they were fast on the delivery and helpful on the phone and didn't try to oversell me on something. If I get another 40 watt panel it will be from them.

My 40 watt panel install is here......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-22.html

....and we just got a .......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/inside-22.html

....63 quart frig/freezer. I'm hoping the 80 watt panel will take care of it and the two 40's will be for my CPAP machine, lights and computer/chart plotter............

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/Comp-ChartPlot-Index.html

...that I'm building.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links