Hello, i recently bought a Mac 25 and really like it. Trouble is i,m old and the mast is formidible task. I will keep it of course because it looks so beautiful in full sail when my kids are with me but here'e the deal. I want to go alone sometimes so i was wondering if there is anything wrong with using the specified ails sometimes and other times when I,m alone take along a little one with approapriate sails that will fit into the macgregor brackets. That way I could at times not have to rely on other people. Thanks Tom & Idaho
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Mast Raiser
MacGregor had a mast raising system for the 25. Here's one on this boat for sale: http://www.sailingtexas.com/smacgregor25102.html The Mac 26 manual (section 10) on Bob's site shows how to use the mast raising system for the 26 but the 25 worked the same way. If you're handy you should be able to build something similar. http://www.macgregor-boats.com/ Happy sails *_/), MArk PS: Please ignore if you were talking about something else?
MacGregor had a mast raising system for the 25. Here's one on this boat for sale: http://www.sailingtexas.com/smacgregor25102.html The Mac 26 manual (section 10) on Bob's site shows how to use the mast raising system for the 26 but the 25 worked the same way. If you're handy you should be able to build something similar. http://www.macgregor-boats.com/ Happy sails *_/), MArk PS: Please ignore if you were talking about something else?
Baby Stays
Tom, I have a set of baby stays I removed from my boat. They are yours if you want them... John S Boise
Tom, I have a set of baby stays I removed from my boat. They are yours if you want them... John S Boise
Baby Stays
What is the status of the baby stays. I had my boat repaired last year and one of the L shaped brackets was lost.
What is the status of the baby stays. I had my boat repaired last year and one of the L shaped brackets was lost.
??
"A little one" what? I don't understand what you are asking. Richard, you can buy an "L" bracket from BWY.
"A little one" what? I don't understand what you are asking. Richard, you can buy an "L" bracket from BWY.
kind offer
Thanks for the generation-- trouble is I don't even know what they are. What I should have posted was questions about buying a shorter mast--say 15 feet or something so I could put it up myself-- Is that a dumb thing to do? Tom
Thanks for the generation-- trouble is I don't even know what they are. What I should have posted was questions about buying a shorter mast--say 15 feet or something so I could put it up myself-- Is that a dumb thing to do? Tom
Baby Stay
John--Thank for the generous offer==trouble is I don't even know what baby stays are. What I was trying to ask was if I could buy a shorter mast(like 15 feet) that I could put up by myself easily. Is that a dumb question? Tom
John--Thank for the generous offer==trouble is I don't even know what baby stays are. What I was trying to ask was if I could buy a shorter mast(like 15 feet) that I could put up by myself easily. Is that a dumb question? Tom
Let's do this
Tom, There are no dumb questions, ony people too embarrased to ask what they don't know. If the mast is too much to push up by yourself then here's what we need to do. Shortening the mast will be a lot of trouble and expense just to totally ruin any performance from your boat. Not racing performance but just plain sailing worthiness. You can buy or make a mast raising system, you already have part of one if you use the mainsheet tackle. We can post a sketch I guess but BWY may sell one. It consists of a gin pole that attaches to the forward side base of the mast. This is used to create leverage by attaching the forestay or jib halyard to the end of the gin pole and then running a line down to a block and tackle or even a trailer winch. The baby stays attache a few feet above the deck to the mast and also attach to the deck just forward (I think) of the mast step. The baby stays prevent the mast from swaying to either side and causing pro blems. Keep in mind the back stay and side stays are attached at this point and then the mast is winched up into place and the forestay attached. Tighten the back and side stays and go sailing. Not that hard on anyone and only takes a little more time than muscling it up. Lots safer too. Even the strong guys can slip on the deck so I don't recommend the muscle routine. Any questions ask again or if I've missed something someone jump in here. Steve P.
Tom, There are no dumb questions, ony people too embarrased to ask what they don't know. If the mast is too much to push up by yourself then here's what we need to do. Shortening the mast will be a lot of trouble and expense just to totally ruin any performance from your boat. Not racing performance but just plain sailing worthiness. You can buy or make a mast raising system, you already have part of one if you use the mainsheet tackle. We can post a sketch I guess but BWY may sell one. It consists of a gin pole that attaches to the forward side base of the mast. This is used to create leverage by attaching the forestay or jib halyard to the end of the gin pole and then running a line down to a block and tackle or even a trailer winch. The baby stays attache a few feet above the deck to the mast and also attach to the deck just forward (I think) of the mast step. The baby stays prevent the mast from swaying to either side and causing pro blems. Keep in mind the back stay and side stays are attached at this point and then the mast is winched up into place and the forestay attached. Tighten the back and side stays and go sailing. Not that hard on anyone and only takes a little more time than muscling it up. Lots safer too. Even the strong guys can slip on the deck so I don't recommend the muscle routine. Any questions ask again or if I've missed something someone jump in here. Steve P.
BWY
It makes more sense to get a mast raising kit. Once you go out a few times, you'll be very glad you didn't spend lots of money to drastically reduce your sail area. Check out the Blue Water web site for the mast raising kit and also look at the single line reefing kit for the main sail. Give them a call and they will be helpfull imformative, and have the parts you'll need.
It makes more sense to get a mast raising kit. Once you go out a few times, you'll be very glad you didn't spend lots of money to drastically reduce your sail area. Check out the Blue Water web site for the mast raising kit and also look at the single line reefing kit for the main sail. Give them a call and they will be helpfull imformative, and have the parts you'll need.
Tom, look here
Tom, look here at the MacGregor sailors site. From the home page scroll down to the manuals and look at page 10 of the mac 26 manual. The baby stays are called side stays here. The mast raising system is depicted so you can easily understand what we're talking about. Link is below. Like John says, buy the system and use it. Steve P.
Tom, look here at the MacGregor sailors site. From the home page scroll down to the manuals and look at page 10 of the mac 26 manual. The baby stays are called side stays here. The mast raising system is depicted so you can easily understand what we're talking about. Link is below. Like John says, buy the system and use it. Steve P.
newer model
If I remember right, the newer 26M kit is cheaper than the older style, uses a winch instead of the block and tackle setup and can be adapted to practically all models. BWY can set you up with everything you need.
If I remember right, the newer 26M kit is cheaper than the older style, uses a winch instead of the block and tackle setup and can be adapted to practically all models. BWY can set you up with everything you need.
Where can you buy a kit?
I too recently acquired a mac25. I've been trying to learn what it would take to install a mast raising system, but it would seem that all I have found is home-made equipment. Does anyone make or sell actual kits for this sort of thing? I by no means consider myself a sailing handy-man, but could probably figure out some instructions.
I too recently acquired a mac25. I've been trying to learn what it would take to install a mast raising system, but it would seem that all I have found is home-made equipment. Does anyone make or sell actual kits for this sort of thing? I by no means consider myself a sailing handy-man, but could probably figure out some instructions.
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