Slack shrouds on leeward side?

[WayneH]

OK, your mast tabernacle looks great. Not compressed into the deck at all. I think I see why your turnbuckles are nearly closed but I'm not sure enough to say here.

A suggestion for you: Put tape on the screw threads right next to the outer ends of your turnbuckles before you go sailing again. IF your stays go slack again, check to see if the tape is still against the turnbuckles. If there is a gap between the tape and turnbuckle, your turnbuckles are unscrewing and need pins through the little holes in the turnbuckle screws. The closed turnbuckle on the starboard side should still have the locking nuts against the turnbuckle body.

The only way to figure this out now is to GO SAILING!!!! Enjoy the day. Check the tapes when you return to the dock.

About the bend in your mast, I say ignore it. My brother drove my 16 footer under a power line and bent my mast a bit but it never affected the boat's performance. It took several washings to clean his swimsuit, tho.

 

[Joe]

You have a non marine connection at the top of the shrouds... I'm talking about the carabiner thingy...... that's making your shrouds too long... and not adjustable. So... simply change the connection piece to give you another inch or so at the other end.

For instance... a simple "D" shackle would shorten the gap... the pin end will go through the hole.. the shackle body goes through the shroud eye.

 

[Chris Patterson]

That IS a spooky looking loop..

 

[jibes138]

Get some "rigging tape" also and tape all those nicopress compression fittings that are holding the wire ends. They look like the sharp edges are causing damage to your mast where they are rubbing on it.

 

[sunman]

thimble should have gone through the the tang(s) on the upper end of the rigging, but whats done is done,
get a short D Ring as suggested, or start(smart) over, call it a learning experience, tenssion the rigging, and tune the mast, angle(s) and bow as U
go

 

[Joe]

thimble should have gone through the the tang......

Uh... are you quite sure about that?

 

[justsomeguy]

Uh... are you quite sure about that?

Except for the OP's masthead rigging, that's pretty much how Roger designed these MacGregors, thimbles through a tang, and the tang through-bolted.

He also put the thimbles through the adjusters at the chainplates.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Two comments:

I don't know how long you've had the boat, but it looks like the rigging has been totally modified over the years with way too much extra crap that you don't need. I don't understand the ring at the stem fitting for instance ... it's just adding length. Also mentioned are those Quick Links at the top of the mast (those connectors that look like a C with a captive nut). Those look like they were added to make removing the shrouds easier. They don't really belong on your standing rigging and could be a weak link. Also, there are way too many fittings at the bottom of the shrouds with a swaged eye and then the separate toggles. I don't know why you can't just have your wire swaged to a threaded rod which gets screwed directly into the turnbuckle.

I would start from scratch and have a rigger (or do the research and do your own work) to simplify your standing rigging. It looks like it has been tinkered with so much with extra parts (and some of those tangs look questionable as well) over the years that there is no wonder that it doesn't fit. Start from scratch, simplify it, and get it right.

No. 2 ... your boat is different on the trailer than it is resting in the water. That's just what happens when the support system is totally different. That is also the problem with a trailerable boat. I have found that the rigging has to be loosened so that you can get all the rigging connected. That's because the wire stretches and you can't pull on it by hand to get the fittings in. So you have to re-tension, every time you put the mast back up. That is the hassle of trailering your boat, so most sailors have to adapt their rigging with quick release pins and/or components that are more easily adjusted. That should enter into your planning when you design your new standing rigging.

OTOH, if you don't want to go thru the expense and thought process for a 5-year boat, just sail it and don't worry so much about fittings that aren't perfect ... and do a little tinkering of your own to get fittings to work better.

 

[solodare]

So a little background then,
I just got the boat at the end of last summer having not one clue about sailing. I bought it from a guy who didn't really care about the boat or sailing as much as wanting to relive some childhood memories. So I didn't get the feeling he did anything to the boat other then use it. And he told me about as much.
He how ever purchased the boat from an engineer! So yeah! a lot about the boat is literally "over engineered" Even I, not knowing the first thing about sailing when I started this adventure could see that right away.
I have not altered anything YET. I do what to simplify everything about it.
Yes the boat only has to last me 5 years but the thought of the mast bustin loose and crashing down on my family is not something I will want to risk.

Having a proper rigger re-do everything is a great idea how ever, I just got off the phone with a guy from West Marine Rigging Services down the road in Rock Hill, SC and lets just say after talking to him I'm not at all comfortable going that route at least not with them. So looks like I will probably be knee deep in research for a while. Unless I can find another rigger around here which is pretty likely, I just haven't checked yet.

D shackles concern me. Seems like they could come loose easy, BUT again I do not know much about this stuff. If Im re-doing this I would feel more comfortable looping right to the tang. Would that not be the best option there? seems to be one less fail point.

Tape around the ends is great advice. I think I even have some heavy duty shrink tube that will fit nice there. I will definitely do that now and if I re-rig.

Now for the "ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL" I don't like it either. Mainly because everyone who has seen it gets a crazy look in there eyes and starts talking to it!
JK
I think it is used to hook into the trailer winch when using the winch to raise the mast. (thats what I have been using it for) I wounder how Im going to make that work with out my precious ... I MEAN RING...

Regardless I need to take it out on the water and see where I'm at with it.
I picked this boat because the add said all new rigging and that was the one thing I felt the most intimidated by. At least now this will force me to learn about the one aspect I tried to hide from.
SO please!! Everyone keep chiming in here cause I need all the help I can get!!
Back to search box to research rigging!!!!
Thanks SO MUCH EVERYONE!!

 

[NitroRoo]

http://www.islandnautical.com/

This is who I used to make new rigging for my boat (just one upper shroud). I used to live close to them, but now that I'm up here I still try to shop with them - they really know their stuff. I've purchased most of the things I need through them. The local West Marine guys know NOTHING about sailing (at least that has been my experience).

Since it sounds like you don't have the original rigging, you'd have to call them and ask if they can get the specs for your boat. They'll make the rigging right there in the shop, and are really good about answering questions, etc as well. 1 Upper Shroud for my hunter was about $80 from them, just to give you an idea of cost (that's with all the hardware, turnbuckles, etc - complete).

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Ahh ... that makes sense about the ring!

It's not a bad modification in that case. It's certainly strong. I think the Quick Links at the upper shroud fittings is what makes most of us uncomfortable. Joe's suggestion to use a shorter shackle is sound.

I prefer the 2 Pc shroud tangs that has 2 ears where the eye fits between and is secured by a clevis pin. It looks like you could replace your single eared tangs and eliminate the Quick Link (or a shackle) completely.

https://www.dwyermast.com/items.asp...are&familyID=28&familyName=Tangs+(Mast+&+Boom)

Here are some examples.

You would have to take the hound apart and simply re-assemble with new tangs.

 

[sunman]

Except for the OP's masthead rigging, that's pretty much how Roger designed these MacGregors, thimbles through a tang, and the tang through-bolted.

He also put the thimbles through the adjusters at the chainplates.

thank U for setting them all straight
and yeah, I'm pretty sure about that

 

[justsomeguy]

thank U for setting them all straight
and yeah, I'm pretty sure about that

No worries, I just hope solodare gets his rigging straightened out.

 

[Jackdaw]

Except for the OP's masthead rigging, that's pretty much how Roger designed these MacGregors, thimbles through a tang, and the tang through-bolted.

He also put the thimbles through the adjusters at the chainplates.

Wow. I'm at a loss to know what I really think about Roger Macgregor.

I look at that picture and that 'hardware' and I might think he's a duplicitous bastard.. Claiming to newbie boat owners that MacGregor has 'wink wink nudge nudge' figured out how to make boats 'just as good as the big guys', but at a lower cost due to their 'efficiencies'. Looking at the picture, you could reason that is NOT the real reason why they cost less.

As the same time, I don't ever really hear stories of Mac rigs falling down. And people love them for what they are.

Huh. Carry on, MacGregorites!

 

[justsomeguy]

Wow. I'm at a loss to know what I really think about Roger Macgregor.

I look at that picture and that 'hardware' and I might think he's a duplicitous bastard.. Claiming to newbie boat owners that MacGregor has 'wink wink nudge nudge' figured out how to make boats 'just as good as the big guys', but at a lower cost due to their 'efficiencies'. Looking at the picture, you could reason that is NOT the real reason why they cost less.

As the same time, I don't ever really hear stories of Mac rigs falling down. And people love them for what they are.

Huh. Carry on, MacGregorites!

[shrugs shoulders] It's not much of a blue-water boat, that's for sure.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You have a non marine connection at the top of the shrouds... I'm talking about the carabiner thingy...... that's making your shrouds too long... and not adjustable. So... simply change the connection piece to give you another inch or so at the other end.

For instance... a simple "D" shackle would shorten the gap... the pin end will go through the hole.. the shackle body goes through the shroud eye.

Absolutely correct. Get rid of that quick link(s), it's a disaster waiting to happen. First, it's too long, and Joe's idea about a simple D short shackle(s) is the right approach. Second, it'll get you back the room on the threads on the shroud base at the turnbuckles.

Look at the bright side: at least you have open bodied turnbuckles, not the closed ones!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Yes, I'm pretty sure ...

thank U for setting them all straight
and yeah, I'm pretty sure about that

that I have no idea how that boat was originally rigged. Let's just say that there might be a better way ...

 

[justsomeguy]

Absolutely correct. Get rid of that quick link(s), it's a disaster waiting to happen. First, it's too long, and Joe's idea about a simple D short shackle(s) is the right approach. Second, it'll get you back the room on the threads on the shroud base at the turnbuckles.

Look at the bright side: at least you have open bodied turnbuckles, not the closed ones!

Actually, solodare's got both.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Actually, solodare's got both.

Good pickup, thanks.

 

[solodare]

YEAH, I dont like the new one. Wish I cold find and old one like the rest.
I have a brand new one like the one on the starboard side. I guess I could match the other side....