How fast can you get it up?

[Knot Tied Down]

This is a repost since I dont think anyone saw this on my *Maiden Voyage* thread a few days ago. I also put up some nice photos from the trips in the days following on that thread as well. But now she sleeps with the other boats in storage

I am curious how long does it take others to step the mast and rig everything up after having things stored for travel? After watching the macgregor video, and seeing it can "be done in ten minutes", and then actually doing it (and it taking nearly an hour) I am curious, and wondering if I'm just that pokey?

I found a little solution to getting the roller furler attached to the forestay easier...I took a bit of rope, looped it around the furler cup, then made a Foot loop on the lower end, stepped down on it, and brought the furler to the forestay using my body weight instead of struggling with one hand gripping the unit, while the other tries to push the pin through to attach it to the forestay. hope it helps someone who's struggled with this task!
In place of my magic rope...Has anyone used this?http://www.kellyhansonmarine.com/apps/webstore/products/show/115896
its a quick release shroud lever that looks to do the trick nicely and looks to be on my christmas list.

 

[Sumner]

.......I am curious how long does it take others to step the mast and rig everything up after having things stored for travel?

..Has anyone used this?http://www.kellyhansonmarine.com/apps/webstore/products/show/115896
its a quick release shroud lever that looks to do the trick nicely and looks to be on my christmas list.

First off thanks for posting the pictures and trip report . Enjoyed it all...now how long does it take us to get on the water?

Take a guess, a lot longer than an hour. We usually figure at least a 1/2 a day to get in the water, but we are loading a lot and just take our time since we will be out for a while. About the same coming in. I think if we went out a lot day sailing off the trailer and the boat was packed and we just had to rig it and get it in the water and the tow vehicle parked 45 minutes would be a good pace for us. Just getting the mast rigging equipment out and the mast up at home is maybe 10 minutes max, but that doesn't count getting the boom/main on and the lines all hooked up for the lazy-jacks and reefing and such.

Get the lever you posted as you will then have good forestay and shroud tension. I doubt you have good tension now the way you are doing it if you aren't messing with the turnbuckle. Now saying that lots of people probably have the same tension you have and haven't had a problem. There has been some discussion about forestay failures on the X's and especially the M's with their rotating mast on the other board.

If you have the furler you should have a toggle at the top of the forestay at least. Also if you add the Johnson lever you are probably going to have to shorten your forestay unless you move it up the mast or have enough room above the furler now to just shorten it. You can have a new one made up from riggingonly.com for about $50 and/or talk to BWY about one for that combination.

We really like the Johnson....

....lever as now it is easier to pin the forestay and we end up with good tension on the whole rig without messing with the turnbuckle. We have the model the next step up in size from the one you posted a link to with 5/16" hardware. If you stay with a 1/8" forestay though ours would be a waste. More here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/rigging-24.html

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Knot Tied Down]

Hi Sum, I went to your page and read all about the rigging. I've got to say I don't have a clue what I need to do! It didn't occur to me that I would need to change the cable length. As far as the tension on the forestay...I only hooked it up, and did not adjust the turnbuckle the three times I had the boat out. *in this situation, I don't think ignorance is bliss*
Thank you for all the wonderful information in your reply.

After seeing the photo of the inside of your boat with all the supplies, I can see why it would take half a day to get ready!

 

[justsomeguy]

Two hours, when solo. Two and a half when the admiral is helping.

 

[Knot Tied Down]

Two hours, when solo. Two and a half when the admiral is helping.

Haha! One would imagine that two pairs of hands would make the work faster! as much as I'd like a helper...I don't want to change the name of the boat

 

[MrBill_FLL]

1 hour to setup and launch. 1.5 taking out and packing up. mostly solo.

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

1 hour for me, as well (total setup, not just mast). This goes for either the V222 or the M25, with a helper on hand for raising the mast. Both masts are stepped by hand, without the aid of a mast raising system.

I take an extra half an hour to 45 minutes when tearing down, but that's because I'm too particular about how I like things put away and lashed down.

I don't see how anyone could ever have one of these boats set up and launched in 10 minutes by themselves. Even 2 people who knew what they were doing seems like a stretch. Twenty minutes on one of the 22's isn't hard, though; my dad and I used to be able to set up my V222 in about 20 minutes when I was a kid.

 

[Sumner]

....I don't see how anyone could ever have one of these boats set up and launched in 10 minutes by themselves..

I don't either and if that was in reference to the 10 minutes I mentioned in my post above that was to just get the mast up sitting in the driveway at home. No other rigging, packing or launching,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[rgranger]

I have a smaller boat than you do but I can do it in 30 min. However I practiced and took notes about what had to happen first. The first time I took the kids sailing it was really hot and they sat in the car for 90 min while I grunted away.... So I figured I had to come up with a better system if I expected my family to follow me to the water. I have a check list that I print out and look over before we leave. And now that my kids are older they help and it goes even faster. With the kids help, I've done it in 15.

Practice in your yard on a nice cool day.

 

[Knot Tied Down]

Sum, in the macgregor video I think they said ten minutes, and theres a video for sale on macgregorsailors.com that says it can be done in 10:35... I was considering purchasing the videos for winter viewing?

 

[timebandit]

GF and I can do it in 30min, to 2hrs.

We take four day mini vacations, friday thru monday, every other week if we can, we set up and launch on thursday night.

Every thing is loaded in the driveway except motor, rudder assy and two large ice chests.

We set and launch at night so the decks are wet with dew and that slows us down some.

GF stays on board and removes traveling gear and I attach motor and rudder.

GF attaches mast raising gear and together we raise the mast and check all the lights.

GF bends on the genny while I do the mast and main.

When every thing is stowed we bring the ice chests aboard.

GF drives to the dock and backs us in (she is better then me)

I step off the boat to the dock and with two long dock lines float the boat off the trailer and tie it off.

GF parks the truck and makes sure we did not leave anything while I drop the motor, drop and pin the rudder and the keel.

I start the motor to warm it up and GF brakes out life jackets, gps and does a radio check.

If there is the hint of a breeze we will raise the sails and motor out to the chanel.

There is a reason they call it ghosting and it is best done in the dark.

A lot of times we take our friends and even though there are twice as many hands it really is not faster just less work and even more fun.

Sometimes we are having so much fun setting up the boat it takes more time and one time we were so tired we just slept in the boat and set it up in the am.

 

[oreana123]

I don't cruise as much as I used to, so I have almost nothing in the way of my setup. I have converted every bolt on my rig to a tethered pip pin, so I never screw a nut on a bolt, and I can't drop anything overboard. I also have an adjustable backstay that has a snap shackle attach, so I never raise my mast with the backstay attached to it. And my rudder stays attached at all times. I have a sliding gooseneck so the boom is separate from the mainsail, which makes everything more simple. Sheets and sails all attach with snap shackles.

For me, there are two levels of readiness: rig up and ready for splashing, or rig up and sails bent on. If I am alone, I don't want complications at the boat ramp, so no sails and it takes me about 10 minutes single handed to rig my Mac, longer if someone helps (I am that kind of person!). If I bend on the sails, that adds about 10 minutes.

I do not have roller furling. I do not use any mast lifting rig. I don't have baby stays.

For me, roller furling is a nightmare. On a trailerable sailboat, it really gets in the way and is so vulnerable to damage. I understand the desire to roll up the headsail quickly, but I manage without it. That takes time at setup and takedown I don't want to give up.

I have two potential problem areas: I should have a Johnson lever on my forestay/stem fitting. I also still have a nut and bolt in the base of my tiller, so I am vulnerable to losing parts there. I pin my forestay with a quick release pin, but I still have to loosen my tbuckle to do it, with a Johnson lever I could shave some time.

 

[ChockFullOnuts222]

I don't either and if that was in reference to the 10 minutes I mentioned in my post above that was to just get the mast up sitting in the driveway at home. No other rigging, packing or launching,

Sum

Hi, Sum. No, I thought I had read it somewhere prior to my reply this morning. Now that I try to track down my source, I can't find it. I definitely wasn't trying to chide....very sorry if it came across that way.

 

[Knot Tied Down]

http://macgregorsailors.com/catalog/pages/speedyrigger/index.php
These are the instructional videos I mentioned, and the other bits was in the Macgregror video which I thought it said one person can rig it up in ten mins...but after watching the video...i think it might have been one person can get the MAST up in ten minutes, (but then theres everythign else to conect)

 

[Sumner]

.. Now that I try to track down my source, I can't find it. I definitely wasn't trying to chide....

I knew you weren't, just wanted to make sure people didn't think we could get on the water in 10 minutes :cry:.

I'm not surprised that John can though the way he has his boat setup and yes John get the Johnson Lever and knock some more time off and you will like it,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[oreana123]

I kind of enjoy set up, but I am always in a hurry to take it down (fatigue, cold)

 

[Jordan grant]

Ok. I just set up to unst mast on mac 26s in 5min. Not rushing. Im 65 and can do it in light breeze in under 3min down and maybe 4or5up. Its technique that comes with practice. If youve never done it, have someone stand by for safety. My genoa is tacked at the top of foil so it adds weight and can be awkward. I loosen all shrouds 2holes to make getting mast back up and vertical easier. Put your tall crutch in brackets on pushpit. Clear cokpit completely ,put in duckboard and pin hatch closed. Thats important. In the picture I have the billy attached to mast bracket on pullpit. It can go on cleat bot up and forward is better mechanical advantage. Wind can be a problem so if youre on the hook,secure boat with a secondary stern anchor so its not sailing. You want her straight upwind. Stand behind mast and start pulling the mast back. fter releasing forestay pin keep the rope tight with mast resting on your left shoulder. I use my left hand to keep mast on my shoulder and on boats centerline. Dont let go of rope and when you get to back of hatch ,increase rope presaure bring mast off your shoulder while guiding it down into crutch . Thats done while simultaneously pay ing out rope . Raising is the reverse but its done incramentally whileusing both hands for the billy. Its heavy at first but gets to a point where the shrouds wont allow it to go go over . Doing it once with someone watching is a xonfidance builder. Check shrouds at spreaders and top to be sure theyre not binding. When I said 2min down once rigged I meant it. Stay away from fancy expensive junk that ads weight to your boat . You should be able to do it with stuff thats already on your boat. Im including a few pics of set up rig that may take a few postings ,so keep your eyes peeled if youre interested.

 

[Jordan grant]

Pics of rope upand around spreader brackets and down to strut. Much better advantage. Trust me

 

[Jordan grant]

Ok now that we've dispensed with that. Does anyone own a sail made by fx sails/the sail store ,charleston Sc. Specifically ,their 4full batten inshore main. Yes or no. Ignore me and I uninstall and find a site with some sailors on it. Your loss. Just kidding fellows. I need some input

 

[Knot Tied Down]

Hey Jordan, thanks for the great photos and how to! I'll definitely give that a go come spring time. The photos clearly showed what you were talking about and made it easy to understand.
I do want to try attaching the mast raising system to the bow like you did, because I always seem to not have enough room when hooking it to the metal loop I have mounted on the deck behind the anchor locker. My pulleys are always bound tight together after the mast is up, and then I struggle to get the roller furler on. so thanks for that!