Im thinking of buying a used 2002 26x. I will probably be a solo sailer and worry about mast raising and tacking by myself. It this boat OK to solo, my wife thinks not...to big, rigging not run to the helm, etc.. etc.. Well I'd love to hear from other solo Mac sailers that I'm not crazy, I think it can be done??? Thanks Ken
- Status
mast raising
Ken, I have found that the larger the boat, the easier to sail. It's all a matter of setting it up to singlehand. In the Sacramento area you usually don't have strong winds, at least that was so when I lived there. As for raising the mast, just buy the system sold by MacGregor and used on their new 26 footers. By the way, I use it very sucessfully on my 22' MacGregor Venture. You can buy it through the factory or from a local dealer and the cost for the system including the new stainless steel swivel on the deck, is about $175 and well worth it. Novelman
Ken, I have found that the larger the boat, the easier to sail. It's all a matter of setting it up to singlehand. In the Sacramento area you usually don't have strong winds, at least that was so when I lived there. As for raising the mast, just buy the system sold by MacGregor and used on their new 26 footers. By the way, I use it very sucessfully on my 22' MacGregor Venture. You can buy it through the factory or from a local dealer and the cost for the system including the new stainless steel swivel on the deck, is about $175 and well worth it. Novelman
that's what I miss most: solo ease
I sold my 2000 26X last year to get into a larger boat. And I miss it. I have many days that I'd like to sail and can't round up a crew. The 26X was fine for soloing and it's easy to run the main halyard to the cockpit. Pulling in the sheets was easy enough on all but the hairiest bay days...reef early on those. You will want to get a boom kicker or topping lift to help get the sail down; I think it just came with clip cable on the backstay which was unsatisfactory. I usually kept mine on trailer with mast up at a marina but the mast system makes it manageable. That was a really fun low-maintenance boat.
I sold my 2000 26X last year to get into a larger boat. And I miss it. I have many days that I'd like to sail and can't round up a crew. The 26X was fine for soloing and it's easy to run the main halyard to the cockpit. Pulling in the sheets was easy enough on all but the hairiest bay days...reef early on those. You will want to get a boom kicker or topping lift to help get the sail down; I think it just came with clip cable on the backstay which was unsatisfactory. I usually kept mine on trailer with mast up at a marina but the mast system makes it manageable. That was a really fun low-maintenance boat.
Solo Sailing
I am in the opposite extreme camp. I solo sail, I step my mast by just dead lifting it while standing on the pop top, I enjoy going forward to tend lines or just sit on the pulpit. My set up time is minimal, I keep my agility, and I use the mast raising as an exercise.
I am in the opposite extreme camp. I solo sail, I step my mast by just dead lifting it while standing on the pop top, I enjoy going forward to tend lines or just sit on the pulpit. My set up time is minimal, I keep my agility, and I use the mast raising as an exercise.
raising mast with roller furled jib sail in place
My boat currently does not have a roller furler but I think Ill get set up this way (the loss in permfornace from the hank on sails is worth the gain in convience to me) On my small boat (Catalina 16), I leave the roller furled sail on the front stay all season even though I have to drop the mast after each session (boat is always trailer sailed and is about 1 mile from dock but must go under power lines). On this boat, its still fairly easy to raise the mast with the jib rolled up on the front stay. I also just leave the mast attached to its base and even though it mast top sticks out a ways past the end of the boat, I dont have any problems with damage to the mast (speed is maybe up to 15 mph). Makes set and and take down fairly quick and easy. Im thinking I could also do this with the roller furler on the Mac26 fairly easilly using the mast raising hardware?? Leaving the mast attached to the base might be a little scary however.
My boat currently does not have a roller furler but I think Ill get set up this way (the loss in permfornace from the hank on sails is worth the gain in convience to me) On my small boat (Catalina 16), I leave the roller furled sail on the front stay all season even though I have to drop the mast after each session (boat is always trailer sailed and is about 1 mile from dock but must go under power lines). On this boat, its still fairly easy to raise the mast with the jib rolled up on the front stay. I also just leave the mast attached to its base and even though it mast top sticks out a ways past the end of the boat, I dont have any problems with damage to the mast (speed is maybe up to 15 mph). Makes set and and take down fairly quick and easy. Im thinking I could also do this with the roller furler on the Mac26 fairly easilly using the mast raising hardware?? Leaving the mast attached to the base might be a little scary however.
solo sailing
I do it all the time and there is nothing to it if the jib is roller furling and the main has slugs. The only thing I am lacking is a way to anchor without leaving the cockpit. Also with the Macgregor raising system it is a breeze. Go for it you will be glad you did and tell the wife not to worry. scott
I do it all the time and there is nothing to it if the jib is roller furling and the main has slugs. The only thing I am lacking is a way to anchor without leaving the cockpit. Also with the Macgregor raising system it is a breeze. Go for it you will be glad you did and tell the wife not to worry. scott
- Status