Rudder for a 1988 Macgregor 26D

srimes · Jun 30, 2020

Bonky11 said:
Hello,
Looking to see if anyone knows where I can find a good used rudder, mount and tiller for a Magregor 26D? Someone liberated mine, along with the motor, and right now I am only working part time so money is tight.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you, stay well,
Bruce

Man that sucks. I'd consider making one from wood and fiberglass. If you sail in deep water only it could be a 1 piece unit skipping the hinge. For a cheap tiller get a post hole digger handle.

sail sfbay · Jun 30, 2020

Consider fabricating your own: http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-other-people/other-people-mods-1.html

rgranger · Jun 30, 2020

I made a rudder for a Mac 22. Can't find the pics right now but I started with two pieces of 2X12 boards. Glued them together to make a 4 x 12 piece and then using an electric plannar I gave it a NACA foil shape. It took less than an afternoon.

NACA airfoil - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I also made a tiller handle... that I could find pics of. I started with some oak strips I purchased at Lowes...

Then I made a jig by screwing blocks to the floor of my shed and glued the pieces together...

Put it in the vice and shaped it with a planar and some sand paper...

Several coats of varnish and...

I had a new tiller handle...

Good luck building one. I think you can find some aluminum plate material at Lowes and the rest is just time and patience.

Justin_NSA · Jun 30, 2020

I replaced mine with the Idasailor HDPE version and gave the old rudder to the buyer. Maybe other Mac owners still have theirs.

Justin_NSA · Jun 30, 2020

Bonky11 said:
I am not familiar with that one. I just googled it and found a few things. Not sure yet will have to look into it further. Do you happen to know how far the rudder hangs below the boat in the down position?
Thanks

They are RudderCraft now. I can't say it was deeper than the original, just a more efficient foil shape. Pricey though.

rgranger · Jun 30, 2020

I once owned a Balboa 26 with a ruder craft rudder. It was noticeably awesome. The foil they create has a lot of lift so the rudder turns the boat easily without you having to drag the rudder through the water like a break. A flat board will turn you boat but if you can get the foil right, it makes a difference. The trick is getting it symmetric on both sides.

rgranger · Jun 30, 2020

regarding depth.

If you do go with a true foil shaped rudder then aspect ratio becomes a factor. A longer thin rudder can produce as much lift as a short fat one. But the thin one with less surface area will produce less drag and you will move faster through the water. On the other hand, having a longer than needed rudder will mean you kiss the bottom more often. Every decision is a trade off.

Justin_NSA · Jun 30, 2020

See if Blue Water Yachts can help you out. Someone on here may still offer you their old rudder.

AndyVS · Jun 30, 2020

Hi Bruce,
I have a rudder & post from my 26S. I upgraded to the Ruddercraft and highly recommend it but if money is tight this will get you through. The tiller I have was homemade by the PO but is usable. Send me a PM if interested.

Andy

rgranger · Jun 30, 2020

You might also consider posting this request in the "macgregorowners.com" sub-forum.

I would be surprised if the rudder hardware for the V21, V22 and V25 were different. There are probably many older macs being parted out.