The Official "What Did You Do To Your Mac Today" Thread!
- Thread starter Sock Puppet
- Start date
Why did you remove the foam from the mast. That sounds like a great thing to have. It would possibly seem to stop that annoying ring when the halyards slap the mast at anchor, keep the blasted wasp nests out and strengthen the mast when you warp it for performance sailing. But I am certain it must have had a problem or you would not have removed it. What was the problem? Just curious.
The wiring was sub-standard, at least what I could tell from the ends, before I started. I also wanted to add a second positive lead for another light. Also, I thought about the weight of the foam... Not dry but wet, like after a rain. That's substantial weight at the end of a 28 foot lever!
Incidentally, there are hooks available that mount on the spreaders, to which you can hook the halyards and stop the slap.
I just pull it tight, cleat it and coil up the remaining halyard and put it between the halyard and the mast above the bottom turning block or cleat. It holds it out just about 1.5- 2" from the mast at the bottom. The tautness and that small angle keeps the halyard away from the mast.
It works fine for a couple days.
I don't know that I would want the halyards pulling in on the spreaders... It will make the rig unbalanced.
Thanks! I did not know about those. Having them held away at anchor while trying to sleep is something I had not considered. Heck, anything would do as a temporary hook.
I made a stainless top for my mast and mounted the antenna in the middle that is easily removed for travel on the trailer. In the summer, I shove a rag in the two ends of the mast to keep wasps out. I too had thought about foam, but never tried it. I assumed it was closed cell so no water could get in. I did not know that could happen. Thank you for the response.
I try to be responsible when it comes to mast noise in the marina. Usually I disconnect the halyards and hook the working end on the safety fence wires (the white coated wire supposed to keep you from falling overboard) both main and jib.
Then for the lines coming down, I grab them all and pull them out and bungee them to the lower shrouds so no ropes (err "lines") are in contact with the mast. I don't think it's harming the shrouds.
In my case I still have wire slap Inside the mast but in the end, it's a lot quieter than many of the boats surrounding me. I think for the most part, people are good about it. There are quite a few livaboards and weekend folks.
I tried inserting pool noodles up into the mast when it was down but could only get as far as the spreader bolt. Fwiw, this did not help. I want to try what some and sum did by placing a foam block or knot every couple feet but I am betting I will still get hung up at spreader bold unless I remove the spreaders first. Sounds like a winter project.
Then for the lines coming down, I grab them all and pull them out and bungee them to the lower shrouds so no ropes (err "lines") are in contact with the mast. I don't think it's harming the shrouds.
In my case I still have wire slap Inside the mast but in the end, it's a lot quieter than many of the boats surrounding me. I think for the most part, people are good about it. There are quite a few livaboards and weekend folks.
I tried inserting pool noodles up into the mast when it was down but could only get as far as the spreader bolt. Fwiw, this did not help. I want to try what some and sum did by placing a foam block or knot every couple feet but I am betting I will still get hung up at spreader bold unless I remove the spreaders first. Sounds like a winter project.
I'm about sure that I was able to pull past those without taking them off,
Sumner
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Drilled out the rivets in my mast cap and steaming light bracket. Getting ready to run my new wires to add an anchor light When I went to remove the old steaming light fixture the wire insulation just crumbled as I pulled the spade connectors off.
I'm looking at different SPDT rocker switches to go from steaming to anchor lights, Toggle switches stick out and are easy to break. The switch is going onto the OEM fuse panel.
My deck connector has 4 pins so I don't need to replace it. I will use some butyl tape to re-bed it after I solder on the new wires.
Edit: I may pull some coax thru just in case I ever want to add a VHF antenna. For our big pond the handhelds work pretty well.
I'm looking at different SPDT rocker switches to go from steaming to anchor lights, Toggle switches stick out and are easy to break. The switch is going onto the OEM fuse panel.
My deck connector has 4 pins so I don't need to replace it. I will use some butyl tape to re-bed it after I solder on the new wires.
Edit: I may pull some coax thru just in case I ever want to add a VHF antenna. For our big pond the handhelds work pretty well.
I think that is a great idea. You might want to pull that boat to a bigger pond at some point
,Sumner
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Our Endeavour 37
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Thanks Sum. What 50ohm cable should be used without losing too much power? (RG58/RG213/LMR400 etc etc). I don't think there is more than a 50' run.I think that is a great idea. You might want to pull that boat to a bigger pond at some point
Sumner
I use RG-8X which they say is good for up to 50 foot runs. There is better cable but with the antenna...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-42.html
.... at the top of the mast we could get NOAA weather on the radio from usually at least 3 different locations while in Florida. Some of them were over 70 miles away. Of course those are high towers with good output but still even down in the Everglades were it is pretty remote we heard boat traffic all the time. I guess you will just have to figure out how much you want to spend
. I think I bought the cable at Defender but they might have it on here also.I copied the following from this site, but didn't buy it there....
http://www.radioworks.com/ccoaxstd.html
Sumner
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Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]
No problem. I did keep the run shorter....
.... by putting the radio in the space above the sink. I don't hear well but I can hear it pretty good from there in the cockpit since it is facing there. I have a handheld also that I can use in the cockpit but will order the one mentioned in the other thread before going out alone,
Sumner
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Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
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Today, I put what should be the final coat of bright yellow paint on my keel, which still lies forlornly on my shop floor.
Installed the new keel cable, reinstalled the companionway bulkhead, and now must divine the faults in the trailer's lighting system. Corrosion, I'll bet.
Installed the new keel cable, reinstalled the companionway bulkhead, and now must divine the faults in the trailer's lighting system. Corrosion, I'll bet.
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Did you let the smoke out of the wires? That will cause all kinds of problems....
When I hooked her up to trailer back to Tucson last June, I had barely a filament glowing. Good thing I kept to the daylight hours, huh?Did you let the smoke out of the wires? That will cause all kinds of problems....
I rolled through an international border and two BP checkpoints with nary a second look.
I'm kind of a pirate.
