Well.It looks like my new found adventure of learning to sail has to come to an end,,as some of you know my boat was damaged in the storm Ernesto,,the main sail was destroyed,,I have fiberglass damaged to the side of the boat and it now needs some glass repair and a total repainting,,top to bottom,,I have no place to do such work,,or the money ,,as my winters bring me no income at all for a while,,I am delighted in saying I did get to sail her for a few hours this summer. sadly my working on the boat vrs, hours sailing is not a fair ratio of time,,,I truely wish I could find a place and learn how to do all this work,,but,,,it is just maybe to much to do for me in a back yard ,,I can be reached at e-mail Zoldhippie420@aol.com,,,And thank all in this room ,,I have truely learned a lot from all of you people in here,,,Many blessing to all of you fine people,,, Malcolm,,,
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Don't Give Up The Ship!
Hello Malcom, I hate to see you give up. If you lived in my area, I'd gladly lend a hand. Maybe you should ask around in your area and see if you can find some other sailors who came out more fortunate to see what help they can be. I've found the sailing community at my lake is pretty close knit and I think if I ever needed any help, there would be more than a few willing to jump in. Look around on the internet for DIY tips for boat owners, there must be thousands of them out there. If you will take the time to read carefully, not get in a hurry, and not be afraid to improvise if you are lacking a tool someone else thinks you need for a repair, you can do anything if you believe you can. I've put more hours into working on my boat than sailing it so far, but that's part of the attraction for me. I used to race cars, so I was used to a work to racing ratio of about 9:1! For me, whether I'm working on the boat or sailing it, I'm not working my straight job or worrying about other things, just the matter at hand. I know by next season, I will have the boat to my liking and I won't be doing near as much work on it. What model of Mac do you have?
Hello Malcom, I hate to see you give up. If you lived in my area, I'd gladly lend a hand. Maybe you should ask around in your area and see if you can find some other sailors who came out more fortunate to see what help they can be. I've found the sailing community at my lake is pretty close knit and I think if I ever needed any help, there would be more than a few willing to jump in. Look around on the internet for DIY tips for boat owners, there must be thousands of them out there. If you will take the time to read carefully, not get in a hurry, and not be afraid to improvise if you are lacking a tool someone else thinks you need for a repair, you can do anything if you believe you can. I've put more hours into working on my boat than sailing it so far, but that's part of the attraction for me. I used to race cars, so I was used to a work to racing ratio of about 9:1! For me, whether I'm working on the boat or sailing it, I'm not working my straight job or worrying about other things, just the matter at hand. I know by next season, I will have the boat to my liking and I won't be doing near as much work on it. What model of Mac do you have?
repair work
Hi Malcome, maybe you can offer a 'partnership' to a young poor soul with lots of energy? (try the local college, or maybe craigslist?) also please read some of don casey's fiberglass repair articles (found on sailnet, boats us, and other sites... or buy his books). fiberglass work is messy, but not overly expensive, or complex... depending on the amount of dammage. before you write off the boat, maybe you can take and post some photos? then I think we can give you an opinion on whether the work is worth the effort. (refresh my memory, what model do you own? and year?) if its really that bad, I'll bet you can sell the parts here, for something and get enough for a smaller 'project' boat. (the mast is always in demand, as are sails, keel, etc...)
Hi Malcome, maybe you can offer a 'partnership' to a young poor soul with lots of energy? (try the local college, or maybe craigslist?) also please read some of don casey's fiberglass repair articles (found on sailnet, boats us, and other sites... or buy his books). fiberglass work is messy, but not overly expensive, or complex... depending on the amount of dammage. before you write off the boat, maybe you can take and post some photos? then I think we can give you an opinion on whether the work is worth the effort. (refresh my memory, what model do you own? and year?) if its really that bad, I'll bet you can sell the parts here, for something and get enough for a smaller 'project' boat. (the mast is always in demand, as are sails, keel, etc...)
Nothing is permanent...
Fiberglass work is actually pretty easy so don't let it panic you. I suggest you get a good canvas tarp, put the Mac in the back yard and cover it well. You may feel that it is a total loss at this moment but in a few years, you may (will) feel completely different. Keep an eye out for fiberglass repair books and videos as well as needed parts. You will find when the time comes you will want nothing more then to rebuild the Mac and probably make some modifications at the same time. I would also keep hanging around here maybe you can get some ideas from the other members. If you want you can post a few pictures, I bet the damage is not as bad as you think it is... good luck, mark
Fiberglass work is actually pretty easy so don't let it panic you. I suggest you get a good canvas tarp, put the Mac in the back yard and cover it well. You may feel that it is a total loss at this moment but in a few years, you may (will) feel completely different. Keep an eye out for fiberglass repair books and videos as well as needed parts. You will find when the time comes you will want nothing more then to rebuild the Mac and probably make some modifications at the same time. I would also keep hanging around here maybe you can get some ideas from the other members. If you want you can post a few pictures, I bet the damage is not as bad as you think it is... good luck, mark
On the Flip-Side of the coin ...
Spending half my adult life looking for a sailboat large enough to sail the ocean and having that chance several times only to see it vanish to another buyer. Never having the money to cinch a deal, I finally secured a MAC25 fixer-upper back in February 03. It had a cracked transom and the wood support rotted away with eventually the fiberglass breaking out the entire stern when the previous owner left the outboard hanging on it will trailering down some rough road. This and a half dozen other problems including top deck delamination and cracking set the boat to the scrap-yard where I was informed by a friend knowing my love for sailing one day. Picked her up for a song! All rigging was intact so I was jubilant and pumped to get started restoration. Learned fiberglass repair as I went and 800 bucks later she is better than new. Mind you I nearly replaced the entire stern and top deck, but it looks nearly original. A MAC25 is a tough vessel, well built and was made for refitting and heavy refurbishment. So Monday September 13, I launched her down in SoutheWest Florida at a place called Matlacha Park on Pine Island just a spit away from Sanibel Island. My wife and I spent a week cruising Pine Island sound, Port Charlotte and San Carlos bay. We docked into many restaurants (Waterfront Restaurant) was the favorite in St. James City. But my favorite exotic place was an old Jimmy Buffet water hole on Cabbage Cay. It is said,this is were Jimmy got his inspiration for the hist song 'Cheeseburger in Paradise'. It was all so beautiful. And no matter where we sailed for the night, we always had a waterfront view. LOL. We visited islands with wild pigs on it. Some with large lizards and beaches where there were shells of extraordinary beauty. Secluded places seldom visited because it can only be reached by boat. Malcom ... in this day and age of hectic life, you have at least a vessel that has the potential of realizing your dream of adventure. Hang on to her as if she were your only chance to escape bondage. Because in a real sense she it! Plan your work well ... and work your plan. Good luck my friend. Tom
Spending half my adult life looking for a sailboat large enough to sail the ocean and having that chance several times only to see it vanish to another buyer. Never having the money to cinch a deal, I finally secured a MAC25 fixer-upper back in February 03. It had a cracked transom and the wood support rotted away with eventually the fiberglass breaking out the entire stern when the previous owner left the outboard hanging on it will trailering down some rough road. This and a half dozen other problems including top deck delamination and cracking set the boat to the scrap-yard where I was informed by a friend knowing my love for sailing one day. Picked her up for a song! All rigging was intact so I was jubilant and pumped to get started restoration. Learned fiberglass repair as I went and 800 bucks later she is better than new. Mind you I nearly replaced the entire stern and top deck, but it looks nearly original. A MAC25 is a tough vessel, well built and was made for refitting and heavy refurbishment. So Monday September 13, I launched her down in SoutheWest Florida at a place called Matlacha Park on Pine Island just a spit away from Sanibel Island. My wife and I spent a week cruising Pine Island sound, Port Charlotte and San Carlos bay. We docked into many restaurants (Waterfront Restaurant) was the favorite in St. James City. But my favorite exotic place was an old Jimmy Buffet water hole on Cabbage Cay. It is said,this is were Jimmy got his inspiration for the hist song 'Cheeseburger in Paradise'. It was all so beautiful. And no matter where we sailed for the night, we always had a waterfront view. LOL. We visited islands with wild pigs on it. Some with large lizards and beaches where there were shells of extraordinary beauty. Secluded places seldom visited because it can only be reached by boat. Malcom ... in this day and age of hectic life, you have at least a vessel that has the potential of realizing your dream of adventure. Hang on to her as if she were your only chance to escape bondage. Because in a real sense she it! Plan your work well ... and work your plan. Good luck my friend. Tom
my boat
First of all,,,I want to thank you guys for the helpful & encouraging comments,As far as the boat is concerned,,it is A 1974 Mac Venture 25,,I assume the first year made,I relooked at the restoration project on the boat "Over Keel "..man what a mess he had,,but he did it,,And I know there will not be a prouder sailer on any waters than he,,I am rethinking all of this,,as I haven't sailed enough to really get the "jest" of it all yet,I do have a couple of smaller vessels I can sell to finance the sailboat,,a 14 ft with a 20 hp and a 12 foot v-hull with my 4-1/2 mercury,,,this should help quite a bit,,Last weeken I was at the bay,,I could not help but stare at the sailboats on the waters there,,,I will be back,,,,,It may take a while,,If that boat can survive getting blown over a dock and two sunken boats,,leaving the marina with it's mast in the water,,then go upright and through another dock to land in someones front yard,,and yet the sleeping berth was dry,,and yes,,,I did fire up the motor and power it back into the marina,,,,mayby,,,this boat wants to live again,it spend 14 years not being in the water,,,I owe it to the boat I have named The "Sea Freak" Maybe one day we can get a few of these fine peoples in here to gather for a few days sailing next year,,again Thank you Clownpilot,,,Mark,,Mr.Bill...and Abby normal,,,,,
First of all,,,I want to thank you guys for the helpful & encouraging comments,As far as the boat is concerned,,it is A 1974 Mac Venture 25,,I assume the first year made,I relooked at the restoration project on the boat "Over Keel "..man what a mess he had,,but he did it,,And I know there will not be a prouder sailer on any waters than he,,I am rethinking all of this,,as I haven't sailed enough to really get the "jest" of it all yet,I do have a couple of smaller vessels I can sell to finance the sailboat,,a 14 ft with a 20 hp and a 12 foot v-hull with my 4-1/2 mercury,,,this should help quite a bit,,Last weeken I was at the bay,,I could not help but stare at the sailboats on the waters there,,,I will be back,,,,,It may take a while,,If that boat can survive getting blown over a dock and two sunken boats,,leaving the marina with it's mast in the water,,then go upright and through another dock to land in someones front yard,,and yet the sleeping berth was dry,,and yes,,,I did fire up the motor and power it back into the marina,,,,mayby,,,this boat wants to live again,it spend 14 years not being in the water,,,I owe it to the boat I have named The "Sea Freak" Maybe one day we can get a few of these fine peoples in here to gather for a few days sailing next year,,again Thank you Clownpilot,,,Mark,,Mr.Bill...and Abby normal,,,,,
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