Will The Hobie 17' Sail be enough to power Mac 26?

[MacNCheese]

Let's assume that I can retrofit this 17' mast (from a 1988 Hobie 17 Catermaran) to fit my Mac 26' (Several people have said they easily retrofitted the Hobie 18' mast to fit their Mac 26).
The mast is 27'7 tall so it's almost the same height as the 28' Mac 26 mast.

So I will be re-using:
Mast, boom, rigging, sails from this Hobie 17' (so we know they all work together assuming I can get them on the Mac 26).

Will the sail area of the sail from this Hobie be enough to power my Mac 26?
If not, can I add a sail with more area or am I limited because i'm re-using the Hobie's boom length?

Also, will my Mac 26 trailer be able to transport this boat for an hour trip?
If no, has anyone seen any MacGregor 26 mast and sails for sale anywhere?
Thanks

Please see this Craigslist ad for the pics of the sail:
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/3054893748.html

Or see the attached Pic

 

[Doc_holiday]

I don't have a Mac mast on my 26sI had a bent mast and took the 26.5' mast from my clipper marine mk26. The main sail dimensions are that of a clipper marine and the headsail is that of a mac because I set it up as a fractional rig with the same height as the forestay on the original Mac mast. I was able to reuse all the shrouds and stays from the clipper with 2" extensions for the shrouds and rear stays. I said all that to say this, I have a smaller sail than the original Mac, but I have clipped right along at 7+ knots in wind. I may be lacking power at light winds but I wouldn't know. I do know that I can sail close into the wind and I suspect better than if I had the Mac sails.

The only thing I would do differently, and some day I may, is to take my jib to the top of the mast and allow for a larger jib, but a genoa would probably do the job. I guess it just depends on funds. Maybe if I add a roller furling to the headsail some day, I can just do it then.

I originally tried lowering the boom and using the Mac sail but that eliminates the ability to use the pop top and I was worried that the boom would become more of a threat to life, as well as possibly catching on the life lines.

Before I chose to use my clipper mast, I had heard the hobie mast was a viable option too. If it wasn't for the clipper leaking so badly, I might not have decided to scrap it. But I needed a mast, motor, anchors, safety gear, shrouds, stays, clamcleats, and other stuff to make the Mac functional. Now I just need to find a dump that will take my old clipper.

Btw, this is my middle daughter out on a high school graduation sail with me and one of her friends.

 

[THECUSCUS]

Hi. From what I found the sail area of a Hobie 17 is 168sq ft and your 26D is somewhere around 135 sq ft, so you would be gaining some sail area. The Hobie sail looks like it has a taller luff, which may interfere with your pop top. Also looks like the sail has more roach, which may conflict with your backstay (may not if the foot length is shorter than the 26 foot). Don't know what you are paying for the Hobie, but you can buy a new mast from Dwyer Mast Co. for about $750 (model DM-6) and they are located in CT.

 

[MacNCheese]

Hi. From what I found the sail area of a Hobie 17 is 168sq ft and your 26D is somewhere around 135 sq ft, so you would be gaining some sail area. The Hobie sail looks like it has a taller luff, which may interfere with your pop top. Also looks like the sail has more roach, which may conflict with your backstay (may not if the foot length is shorter than the 26 foot). Don't know what you are paying for the Hobie, but you can buy a new mast from Dwyer Mast Co. for about $750 (model DM-6) and they are located in CT.

Thank you! He wants $500 for the boat and sails. The new mast for $750 is a great deal, but I would still need sails after as I have none. I would also need a boom and the rigging, & I suspect adding these costs on would put me over $1,500 (due to sail cost)

 

[oreana123]

One other very important factor is the aspect ratio of the cat main. While your Mac is mired in its boat hull speed determined by its length, the full battened high aspect sail is designed to take advantage of relative winds at speeds the cat hulls can reach. Unless you have found a way to go much faster than anyone else can, this main sail is not for you! Just sayin.....

 

[MacNCheese]

One other very important factor is the aspect ratio of the cat main. While your Mac is mired in its boat hull speed determined by its length, the full battened high aspect sail is designed to take advantage of relative winds at speeds the cat hulls can reach. Unless you have found a way to go much faster than anyone else can, this main sail is not for you! Just sayin.....

Is that a fancy way of saying the shape of the sail of the Hobie is not good for the Mac 26? I wondered about that?

 

[Bob McL]

Try it and see what happens. It may work - maybe not. I know I picked up a catamaran sail and plan to try it in the future.

 

[MacNCheese]

Try it and see what happens. It may work - maybe not. I know I picked up a catamaran sail and plan to try it in the future.

Guys, I bought that Hobbie mast. Can I just take the mast itself or will i need some parts fron the base off the boat to make it rotate? I want to leave the boat behind unless I need some parts off of it to make this rotate.
Thanks!

 

[Bob McL]

It is the mast step that allows rotation and some changes in the spreaders I suspect. A rotating mast was mounted on a 26 by someone on this board from southern CA. I just tried a cat sail on my 25 and found two things. I could not run it all the way up and have the aft stay connected And the second - it didn't have the battens - - - damn they are expensive! And this sail requires eight. Back in the bag it goes. I did have a smaller boom from a V222 that it fit better.

Take the whole thing and dump what you don't need later.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

the Hobie 16 had a ball and cup setup where the cup was on the pontoon spreaders.

not sure how the H17 (getaway?) is setup.

 

[MacNCheese]

the Hobie 16 had a ball and cup setup where the cup was on the pontoon spreaders.

not sure how the H17 (getaway?) is setup.

Yes, you are both correct, and thank you very much for your answers Bob and Bill!

I read your answers and ended up taking every piece off it that I could. The boat I finally ended up buying was the Hobie 18 down in Philly, and I took off all the rigging and mast and boom and sail, and gave the boat and trailer away to a guy down there.

My 7 hour drive back to New Hampshire went pretty well, here's how I attached the mast to the truck, and I towed a Uhaul behind just for the safety of keeping cars far enough back, take a look at the attached pics and how it was only attached with Bunge Cords.

The last attached photo is what the Hobie 18 Mast Step looks like. Picture a ball that looks like a trailer hitch that fits into that socket. Notice the curved bottom of the Mast Step (because it's made to screw into a curved surface on the Hobie. How do guys who put these on their Mac's attach this curved bottom of the Mast Step onto their non-curved Mac?

Also, dumb question but, since this rotating mast just sits un-attached on the mast step like a trailer hitch ball, can this mast be secured enough on the Mac to make it not fall over? The Hobie Catamaran looks wider and better able to secure this mast from falling. Maybe I'm not understanding how this works?

Last question, anyone know if any members here live in the Boston or New Hampshire area? I have no clue how to rig this Hobie rigging and mast onto the Mac. I'd be willing to travel to you and pay you for your help. I don't have any MacGregor rigging, just all of the Hobie 18 rigging.

Thanks!