Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:06:55 -0400, wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:56:29 -0600, JimC
wrote:
Did I say that? - (Nope.) But so far, you haven't provided evidence that
a Mac, with a sea anchor deployed, would roll over and over again. You
said that it would several times (over and over again) but you didn't
support your assertions.
You can stop right there. There is no attachment point on a Mac26m
that is anywhere near strong enough to attach a sea anchor.
Good point. Let's take it past Mac-bashing.
Here's some advice for those who take such things seriously.
Whether it's a Mac or more substantial boat, don't assume your
cleats have backing plates and will take much strain.
I've read of one "well respected" brand sailboat having no backing
plates and breaking up on the rocks when the cleats pulled out during
a blow, losing the mooring.
Your suggestions are well taken. From their literature, the Macs' cleats
on current models do have SS backing plates, but their capacity should
be verified. Also, see my suggestions for forming a towing bridle and
reinforcing it with extensions to the mid-deck cleats.
Another boat that the "real sailors" fawn over is now undergoing some
refurbishing by a real sailor friend of mine.
He found a faultily bedded thruhull that only luck kept from coming
free and perhaps sinking the boat.
In addition to its positive floatation. the Mac has zero thruhulls. --Nada.
In both cases the boats were built with the weaknesses/defects.
Know your boat well, and know what you can expect of it when you ask
it to save your bacon.
BTW, I recall at least one Mac owner detailing his procedure for
installing a substantial backing plate for a critical cleat.
--Vic
Jim