What holds pop top up and secure?

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CAP Pilot64

CAP Pilot64

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Sep 2, 2010
18
MacGregor 26S Fort Stevenson State Park, ND
Hello,

We are brand new Mac 26 owners and were out for our first sail yesterday. First time I had sailed my own boat in 20 yrs, what a great feeling! We have lots to learn about our new boat and unfortunately not a lot of sailing going on in ND, though we do have a big lake and lots of wind :)

My first of many questions is what keep the pop top secure in the raised position? I noticed their is a small hole drilled in the front on the top that appears to line up with the mast slot. I just used a short piece of line to secure it to the mast, otherwise it will easily drop back down on one's noggin and is quite painfull.

Is their a bolt / wing nut combo of some type that is used to secure the pop top in the raised position? I did see some posts where gas pistons were used, that is really neat and I plan on looking into that further.

Thanks in advance.
 
JDK

JDK

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Jul 12, 2007
213
Mac 26D 1988 New Port Richey, Fl
There is a clip that is contained in the slot in the mast that slides up and positions a threaded screw through the pop top lip. As you can see in the picture, the hole gets worn bigger over time. I don't have a picture of the fix, but I put a brass grommet through the hole and glassed it in so that the threaded piece has a solid hole to fit in. Works quite well, but I'd really like to have the gas lifters.



thx
JDK
 

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Mike B1026

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Jun 17, 2007
402
MacGregor Mac26S Victoria Tx
Ref: Gas lifts

I have seen the gas struts on the Mac25 but I have yet to see pictures of a 26 with them. The pop top legs are at a different angle on the 26 and have limited space when closed (IIRC). It looks like it may be more difficult because of this. Does anyone have a picture?
 
CAP Pilot64

CAP Pilot64

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Sep 2, 2010
18
MacGregor 26S Fort Stevenson State Park, ND
Thanks for the quick reply and picture. I don't remember seeing a clip like that when I purchased the boat. I think I can come up with something that will work reasonably well. I like your fix to keep the hole for enlarging, I will need to do something similar with mine. I didn't notice the gas struts were only on the 25s.... something to think about this winter.
 
oreana123

oreana123

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Jun 5, 2004
997
Macgregor 26D Boise
I installed gas struts on my 26D and it is a great inprovement. Not only does it hold the pop top up against the mast with no clip, it helps my wife pick the pop top up, and it minimizes the damage as you put it down. I did use a slightly offset bracket to clear the bars. The ball on most gas struts is the same, so you can get the gas strut separately from the bracket source. I get my gas struts from www.surpluscenter.com, but I get the brackets from some other place I googled. As with any gas strut install, the best designs hold the item up, and then hold the item down, where you place your brackets will determine this effect. Good luck John S Boise
 
R

Robspan

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Apr 30, 2006
610
Macgregor 26s Kemah, TX
If you have the original clip, it's got a weird thread - I think #12. I got a 1/4x20 tap and made the hole that threading. Didn't even need to drill it out. Lowe's has knurled stainless screws in that thread and I've been using that for some time now.
 
M

Mike B1026

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Jun 17, 2007
402
MacGregor Mac26S Victoria Tx
Have any pictures?

oreana123 said:
I installed gas struts on my 26D and it is a great inprovement. Not only does it hold the pop top up against the mast with no clip, it helps my wife pick the pop top up, and it minimizes the damage as you put it down. I did use a slightly offset bracket to clear the bars. The ball on most gas struts is the same, so you can get the gas strut separately from the bracket source. I get my gas struts from www.surpluscenter.com, but I get the brackets from some other place I googled. As with any gas strut install, the best designs hold the item up, and then hold the item down, where you place your brackets will determine this effect. Good luck John S Boise
Click to expand
 
FroggyAZ

FroggyAZ

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Apr 13, 2010
20
MacGregor 26' S Lake Pleasant
I am also very much interested in that feature for my MacGreg-26S. Somebody already got hit by the top falling down because it was poorly secured.
If anyone has done it and could post pictures and details, we would appreciate.
 
oreana123

oreana123

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Jun 5, 2004
997
Macgregor 26D Boise
looks like surplus center only carries some very big (over 100 lbs) gas springs now. Google is your friend. Also, my boat never sees salt water, so regular springs are ok, but my friend Joel at idasailor.com uses SSteel gas springs on his Unifoil so one could contact him to find a source for non-corrosive steel struts. John S
 
oreana123

oreana123

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Jun 5, 2004
997
Macgregor 26D Boise
I belive the standard ball is 10 mm and my brackets have the letters SPD on them. I don't remember where I got them, but they were so cheap I bought 4 different styles. Again google
 
oreana123

oreana123

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Jun 5, 2004
997
Macgregor 26D Boise
I have an extra strut in my garage that has the name Lift-o-mat on it, if that helps
 
M

MrMikey64

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Oct 24, 2008
424
Macgregor 25 (1984) Wildomar, So. Cal.
Another source

oreana123 said:
looks like surplus center only carries some very big (over 100 lbs) gas springs now. Google is your friend. Also, my boat never sees salt water, so regular springs are ok, but my friend Joel at idasailor.com uses SSteel gas springs on his Unifoil so one could contact him to find a source for non-corrosive steel struts. John S
Click to expand
There are a number of these listed on eBay. Do a search under "prop rod struts".
A search under "gas strut bracket" should provide a list of attachments.

All the best!:D
 
CAP Pilot64

CAP Pilot64

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Sep 2, 2010
18
MacGregor 26S Fort Stevenson State Park, ND
Thanks for the pics. I found the struts and hardware on Ebay like MrMikey64 said. Next problem is that the struts come in different lengths, do have the strut length of the ones you used? I wonder why MacGregor never put these in the boats as standard equipment? I guess this is part of the fun. Sure beats having to provide hard hats for all on board :)
 
M

Mike B1026

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Jun 17, 2007
402
MacGregor Mac26S Victoria Tx
Money

MacGregor doesn't use them because of cost :) And because of that mentality we can own some pretty reasonably priced boats.

I think you can raise your pop up and measure the distance shown in those pictures that were posted. Of course it's nice to have it confirmed before ordering.

CAP Pilot64 said:
Thanks for the pics. I found the struts and hardware on Ebay like MrMikey64 said. Next problem is that the struts come in different lengths, do have the strut length of the ones you used? I wonder why MacGregor never put these in the boats as standard equipment? I guess this is part of the fun. Sure beats having to provide hard hats for all on board :)
Click to expand
 
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