Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]Mobile 0419 582204
Home 03 97271547

In Australia, standard hitches are 50mm. 2" is 50.8mm, too big, although there are plenty of rigs still using 2" onto 50mm. They are illegal but more importantly, they are too loose a fit and can be dangerous. I need to see a side shot of the hitch (need to see the brake controller). I replace hitches nearly every day, it's no big deal to cut that that one off and weld (or bolt) a new 50mm one on, one made from cast and is surge ready. Also, treg couplings are an option for you, google it.

Before you decide anything, consider a hayman reece hitch with sway control. Also, depending on the ball weight, a weight distribution system (hayman reece). At work we often get retired folk towing 30ft caravans that have no idea what a death trap they are towing, they are amazed how better they tow with a hayman.

Are they 205/75 x 14 tyres? You could fit 185/75 (secondhand, just for the purpose of registration) to reduce the overall girth, fit the new guards with a provision to adjust them in/out. Get your tick of approval, fit the 205's back on and your good to go. If your 20 or 30 mm over spec, nobody
will ever check or care.

Yes, that cable is a breakaway lanyard, you connect it to the same place you connect the safety chains. Speaking of which, I don't see any........................

In a few weeks I'll give you a face to face consultation, for free (well, maybe a beer or two) 8)

 

[QC]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

You have the breakaway cable figured right. I did some quick searching and it looks like a Tie Down model 66. I found a manual on-line and just sent it to you.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Wow, 2" is too big?
That's the standard here in the states.
You must be talking 1&7/8"
Weird that they would want something that small on a rig that size.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]No, not 1 & 7/8th. 50 millimetres (50mm) which translates to 1.96". It's only 40 thou difference but a little bit of freeplay promotes premature wear. Thanks for the pic, Kevin.

Phil, you need this.......................

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]

[colour=blue]No, not 1 & 7/8th. 50 millimetres (50mm) which translates to 1.96". It's only 40 thou difference but a little bit of freeplay promotes premature wear.

Our standard was also 2" many moons ago but since we changed to metric it's been 50mm.

Phil, you need this.......................

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]Woops :%

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Hey Phil, That is one kool boat. #1 How big is the outboard? #2 Is it the maximum power for the rig? #3 Do you know how fast it will go at WOT? #4 What do you do for a keel when she under way as a sail boat? #5 Is it 1.3 metric tons? Thanks JR

 

[QC]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Those spiraling trailer tongues crack me up. It's like you guys plan on doing stunts while pulling a trailer. If you place a ramp just perfectly, the trailer can get air, do a complete barrel roll and land back on her wheels without popping off the ball. Yeah, yeah, I know what the idea is, but you guys shoud worry more about 70 Tonne trucks without the barrell roll feature before that. Our stupid systems work OK . . .

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

OMR:
1. 50hp
2. Some have gone to 115hp, but apparantly re-inforced rear-end. Some use 75hp
3. 50hp around 16-20mph
4. Long firbre Glass one. Does take on 1200lb water ballast in 6 minutes tho.
5. 1.3 metric tonnes, or 1,300 kg.

This dealer site has a 'spec section'
http://www.russellsmarine.com/mac/magregor-26m-sailboat-pricing.html

QC:
Up here a banana-bender don't get his licience unless he can barrel-roll (we call it 'death-roll') a 6x4 trailer.

Thanks a lot for those pictures, great help.

Aldo:
thans a lot. Will be back.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]Kevin, what are you talking about? What spiralling tongues? Who said your hitches were stupid?

 

[QC]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Aldo,

Isn't the idea of your trailer tongue that it can spin around? I was just being silly, but I don't understand why a fixed tongue, over a ball, is not sufficient. Maybe I misread your post, but I assumed that Phillip must replace that fixed tongue with a spinny one . . . and I asssumed that it was a regulation, and if it is regulated that you need a spinny thing, then someone must have decided that a fixed one was stupid . . . Again, I was just being silly. Oh and I don't know what you call them, so I just coined "spinny", and by that I mean that the female side of the ball-to-tongue joint deal spins in the "tube" in the more rearward chunk of the tongue assemply. Ya know, the shiny part in your pic above? That's what they do right? Spiral? Spin? You can grab the front part and spin it around inside the rear part?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

[colour=blue]Yes, they spin. Sorry, I wasn't sure what the heck you were talking about - sometimes I have difficulty with your accent

The one in the pic does spin 360, but that's only one type, most others do not spin. The spinning ones do work in an accident situation especially if the trailer is 3 ton+, the towing vehicle doesn't get flipped over. They are not mandetory, just a good idea.

Inside the 'shinny thingy' is a heavy adjustable spring - it's the surge control.

One thing we DON'T have that is a great idea - breakaway lanyard. Our electric hitches have them, but not hydraulic surge.

Today I reviewed our design rules, the hitch that is on Phil's trailer is o/k to use in Australia but I'm a little concerned with the pin that captures the ball, could you describe it to me?

 

[QC]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

No need for an apology, I leave stuff out and expect others to follow the blanks . . . You've got mail . . .

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Man, what a load. All this BS to get your trailer legal? Sad.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Spent a day working on the boat and trailer.
Put John and Walter (he is the chap on the right....guess where he comes from....hint.....speaks spanish.....south of your boarder......ok, he is el Salvador.....really nice bloke and works hard.)
on to it.
They took to it with the grinder, got every rust flake off, then rust converter, then etch then Kill Rust paint.
Made a really good job of it too. Walter gave the VIN number a real good top-coat, so had to get the paint stripper out.

John sanded off the bottom of the boat and I put on the anti-foul. Used the good stuff with the 12mth warranty if left out of water for 12mths.
Looks really good and clean.
An elderly friend (yachty) came over and we set it up. Took us a while. Anita and I spent another hour on tuning it. Had to follow the book, but got it pretty right in the end. Not as hard as I thought.

John re-wired the trailer. One of the US tail-lights, although new, was damaged in transit: couldn't get parts so replaced everything from wiring back.
It look really good and sound.

It is off to the workshop tomorrow for the guards to be welded on and a new hitch.
I can only use the US hitch if I have a 2" ball with its standards stamped on it.
Tried hard to find one here, but they are all 50mm.
Next time I will be getting one shipped over with the boat.
Hopefully in a couple of days I will have the saftey certificate and registered.

Here is another small problem I have, and someone may has some advice:
It came with a Garmin GPS Map 215 chartplotter.
The G Chart wasn't in it...that's fine....no use to me.
But these G Charts were stop being made in 2005. I have tried a lot of retailers and Garmin in the hope they have one 'left over', but to no avail.
I see you can still get certain US ones.
So this piece of equipment looks to be useless to me.
So if anyone knows of some outfit who is doing knocks-offs or has old stock for East Coast, Sth Queensland, Australia, please let me know.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Phil,

I have an old Icom ML360 which uses the old Navionics Classic chips. I have had success on e-bay finding all but one of the charts I want. I suspect if I keep my eyes open I can one day find one. It is for the North Channel which is a beautiful place, but somewhat dangerous without a guide or a GPS. Granted there are probably more of my charts sold than yours, but hey contact some of the power sellers and see if they have any left in stock! BTW, things do change, but I have referenced the GPS readings with my depthfinder and paper charts and they are dead on. They may change up and place a channel marker or something as such which is not identified on the old chips, but I subscribe to the theory that GPS is an aid, not the capt. of my boat. I wish all boaters understood this. (I know you do too d )

BTW your new boat probably only saw 6 months of service a year prior to your ownership. Fresh water only, and considering where it was purchased very light waters, (wave action). Great lookin boat.

dk

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Like Pointer said for the chips: EBay... Very likely you will find exactly what you need there.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Phil,

Have you been sailing long, or is this old hat to you? I bet that girl will surf downwind bigtime. I would agree, McGregor builds alot of boat for the buck. Looks like a tall rig for the boat! What kind of sail inventory did you get with her?

I think we will knock down some green tails this afternoon after thinking about you guys on the other side of the world!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

Phillip, just have someone throw a 2" ball in their suitcase next time they are headed your way. But then maybe you'd need it right away? It's a shame to have to go thru all that change.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Finally in my yard...all the way from the US of A

I have tried ebay, but guess the secret is to keep trying.
Another option may be to put this unit on ebay and see what happens, and if it goes put the bucks toward a new one.

Pointer94:
Have I been sailing long??????
Nope, never done it before in my life.
About 30yrs back I looked at buying a trailer sailer so I got to look over one while on its trailer.
Wife sent me and our little bloke on a 2 day Sail Club course on those little boats after I decided to get a Mac 26, and that was great.
I reckon you can learn to sail in a day: just takes the rest of your life to perfect it.
If it all goes pear-shaped, I'll sell the buxxar and try something else.
Cheers
Phillip