Hi Rick & all,

Having sold Star & now (too late) given a lot of thought to our inexperience of Mac's and Slipways, I have written a guide that, in retrospect, I wish I had done beforehand.

So below, what do you think?, should this be offered to new members with an apology if I'm teaching them to suck eggs, as the saying goes.

Retrieving a Macgregor 26M from the water.

1). Approaching the Slipway mooring/pontoon:

2). Coil 2 ropes on the correct side and have the ‘BOAT HOOK' handy to retrieve ropes from water or assist with helpers if necessary.

3). Place one coil of rope on the cockpit seat next to the wheel. The second at the bow. Have your crew positioned and ready to pass, throw to helpers or loop the pontoon cleat/post.

4). At the cockpit, pass one end of the rope over the safety wire and out of the boat then back down and secure to the deck cleat, ready to pass the coiled end (nicely coiled so that it will straighten when cast ashore) on the deck to helpers or catch the pontoon cleats/posts as you approach.

5). Repeat 4). at the bow

Note: the mooring ropes must not be over/above the safety wire when they have been passed or thrown ashore.

Note: Be aware if either of the ropes go in the water you may need to URGENTLY move the gear lever to Neutral to avoid it getting caught in the prop.

6). Slowly, no rush, continue approach to Slipway mooring/Pontoon and either pass/throw ropes to helpers or catch the pontoon cleats/posts.

7). Tie up.

8). You now have time to consider the wind and plan your approach to the trailer.

9). Get the trailer into position.

10). Set winch to ‘free wheel‘ position. It will then be easy to pull enough of the strap out.

10). Raise and secure rudders.

11). Raise outboard slightly.

12). RAISE THE DAGGER BOARD AND CHECK VISUALLY at the mast base on deck that it is fully raised and secured so that it clears the trailer bunks.

13). If help is available, get them to ‘Cast off’ and walk the boat around from the Slipway mooring to the slip/trailer and into the trailer guides when you are ready at the wheel.

14). Start the outboard and power the boat onto the trailer.

15). If the boat is not close enough to the bow locator post, reverse off and take a run to achieve a distance of approx 12 inches or less from the bow to the bow locator post.

DO NOT USE THE WINCH TO PULL THE BOAT ONTO THE TRAILER.

15). Holding reduced power, enough to keep the boat on the trailer, attach the winch strap and apply tension.

Engine into neutral and switch off.

16). RAISE OUTBOARD to max height.

17). Move trailer partway up the slipway and stop (still on the slipway).

18). Lift drain valve on the stern.

19). Open air valve located under V berth port side cover and remove the valve.

20). Wait for the majority of the water to drain out.

21). Move off the slipway to the rigging area.

22). Lower the mast and pack but DO NOT put transit strap on YET.

23). Do the ‘MAC SHUFFLE’ by moving away slowly and stamping on the brake pedal to move the boat forward if necessary, into the bow locator post. Repeat as necessary.

24). Secure the boat by tightening the winch.

25). Fit and Tighten the Transit strap.

Go home, go to bed and sleep after a great day out!!