Dummy! 26X Rigging

[Nodak7]

OK! Am I dumb or what! Background, I am a newby so please be patient. I have windsurfed for many years but never sailed a sailboat. I just purchased a 26X last week from out of town and brought it home. Pulled out the instructions and have struggled to get the boat rigged ever since. I must be dense but the instruction manual just seems to be unclear on some issues and I am having problems. Can anyone tell me if there is a site that gives step by step instructions for rigging this boat? I have the main mast and Genoa up with the boom in place but I am not certain exactly how to rig the lines. HELP!!!

[bscott]

Go to the Online Catalogue and check out the Speedy Rigger DVD. Jeff has some really good pointers that will save you lots of time both in rigging, docking and trailer hook ups.

Bob

[Craig LaForce]

Do you have a specific question on a few lines?

DO you have a CDI furler? if so, they have a good website that shows their setup.

Otherwise, Main sail control line (mainsheet) Does a 4:1 purchase beteeen the metal loop (Bail) attached to the boom just above the steering console and a metal strap on the top front of the steering console. This uses a set of fiddle blocks.

The boom vang uses the other set of fiddle blocks to keep the boom from rising when running downwind.

Genoa or jib control sheets attach to the clew of the sail with a bowline or other knot then through a block attached to the metal track on each side of the cabin top (for the jib) or the cockpit gunwale blocks (for the Genoa). The sheet then goes around the winch and is cleated off at the adjacent cleat.

Mainsail is hoisted with a halyard on the starboard side of the mast, via the pulley at the top of the mast.

Mainsail clew is pulled back to the back of the boom with an outhaul which can be a simple loop of line from clew to a small cleat on the side of the boom near the back.

Jib or Genoa is hoisted with a halyard on the other pulley located a few feet down on the mast hound. Or if you have a CDI furler it is hoisted by their de-cored line that simply runs up the groove in the furler extrusion and back down to the head of the sail.

There are many other ways to rig it as well, but this is the basic setup. If you have a specific question, ask and you will probably get lots of replies, photos, diagrams, testimonials about boomkickers, etc.

[bastonjock]

its a bit confusing at first,all of these new words such as halyard(rope)mainsheet(rope) etc,once you suss it all out you will wonder what all the fuss was about.

Firstly,where are you located? there may be a mac owner close to you who can help
If there is no one close.then read craigs post

welcome to the forum,theres a lot of info and help on this board,

what lines are you having trouble with? please describe them,do they have blocks and pullys or are they plain

you will have a block at the very top of the mast,this is for the genoa if you do not have a furler,if you have a furler(a big shiney drum) then there will be one line leading out of the furler back to the cockpit,the other small lines are to do with hoisting the sail,there sould be one line that is tyed to the corner of the genoa,this splits in to two and should be run close to the winches,either side on top of the door into the boat.

now that you have doen that,pull the lines associated with the furler and it should wind and unwind the sail

how many lines do you have for the boom?there will be one main one called the halyard,that pulls the sail up adn down the mast,then ther will be at the end of the boom a hitch for pulling the sail out lenght ways,one block and pully set(the one with the shortest line)is called the vang,this attaches to the understide of the boom and the bottom of the mast,at the other end of the boom you put the block and pulley set with the long rope(called the mainsheet) and attach that from the steering wheel colum(binacle) to the buckle at the end of the boom.


How many lines of holes does the mainsail have? one or two?

[bubba]

I had a tough time for the first several times but after my 54 days out and at least 15 times setting up the rigging it is much smoother and we have had our Mac for 5 months now. At first my wife and I tried to do everythingh together but that does not work well, we take separate jobs or each of us sets up the rigging solo and that works much better. Talking to some one while I am setting up the rigging is a mistake, I would forget something every time.

[Nodak7]

I am in North Dakota. I do have a CDI Furler and I finally did get it all rigged (or at least I think I do). My remaining question was how do you keep the boom up when the main sail is down? I was told to keep it in the support but I have seen 26's with a line from the top of the mast to the aft end of the boom. Can anyone enlighten me on how they do it. Thanks bunches for your replies. I have looked into a number of your suggestions. We are planning on a maiden voyage during the long weekend.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Click on the Online Catalog to left and order a Boomkicker from this Board

Its a spring that holds up the boom whilst rigging....

[Frank C]

No.Dak (;)) ... Welcome aboard, & congrats on the new Mac.

The simple answer ... you're asking about a topping lift, never a standard feature, but frequently added by previous owners. Related topics are:

• Pigtail
  Boomkicker
  Rigid vang

Sometimes it's useful for a Newbie to gain context by reading archived threads. It's time-consuming, but I ran a search on the word 'pigtail' to find the following threads, among many others. Maybe it's too much to absorb before the long weekend. But, over time, you'll find the Search button is your friend.
Meanwhile ... here's a freebie.
Does the X have a topping lift?
Boom kicker or rigid boom vange
MacBoomKIcker properties
Boom Support?
Topping Lift vs. Lazy Jacks

P.S. Pls add your City/St to the "location" field in your Profile. After that, most Members also include the year & model of their boat. That info helps to add context to your questions.

[Nodak7]

Thanks Kelly, the "Boom Kicker" appears to be exactly what I was looking for and I have one coming!

[Nodak7]

Thanks Frank I appreciate your help and I have added the information you suggest to my profile. However, until I read your post I had no idea what "pigtails" or "boom kickers" were so it would have been difficult for me to search on them. I did follow all your suggested links and learned quite a bit. You are making me smarter quicker though. Thanks!

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Hi NoDak & Welcome...

Im an X owner also, and I went through the frustration as a new Mac owner 2 years ago. I salute this web site, and experienced moderators for what Ive since learned. Stay aboard.

A help in several areas could be the Mac X Video. The Mac M has a DVD, and both are great generalizations in use, safety, etc. Anyway, you'll enjoy them (but the part of driving the mac onto the trailer didnt work at all for me). The video/DVDs are good stuff to have on hand. The factory did a good job.

In addition, simply hands on in rigging, initially taking your time & remembering "goofs" and learning from them. It eventually becomes natural.

And, wait til you learn the "Mac Deck Dance" -- thats the fun part when lowering the mast and getting the spreaders all tangled in the .... oh, never mind...Ive learned that dance well, but it took a while

And, Happy Sailing. Named the boat yet

[Nodak7]

Thanks for your encouragement Louis! You are correct this site is such a great resource. I have learned a lot. I just finished getting the Boat ready today and was just so excited to take it out I could hardly contain myself. Yes, we have named the boat it was christened 'MAST CONFUSION'. We felt it appropriate for our first attempt at sailing. Next weekend is the maiden voyage. Wish us luck!