26m rotating mast

[mikedoz1]

I am going to be buying a 26X soon, and I was wondering if the rotating mast setup that is used on the 26M is available as an aftermarket kit to install on the 26X? Also, would it be worth the time and expense if it is an option? BTW, I am getting the 26X because I like the cabin layout better.
Thanks

[taime1]

You can check out this link as to it being possible:

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... g+mast+26x

As to it being worth it - that I'm not sure. I also have the X, in large part due to its interior layout, but I'm not sure if a rotating mast is something I would get into. I think it could ad a certain amount of performance and perhaps better pointing ability, neither of which Macs are famous for.

[kadet]

IMHO
I have the rotating mast as it was the only choice with the boat. But on a it is the auto equivalent of sticking a tuned exhaust on a Winnebago. The has so many other performance issues that a rotating mast makes little difference. If I had had a choice I would have left it off the options list and gone for something else.

[Irafatsar]

What do you prefer about the x layout if i may ask?

[taime1]

For me, it's the open concept I guess. Having the head to starboard near the cabin entry makes it feel pretty roomy down below. I also like how to access the cabin, you don't have the bench in the way, we have small kids and I think this is better for us. We also needed enough room in the cockpit to put a baby stroller last year - I'm not sure it would have been possible in an .

The downside, the head is located right against the pizza oven rear birth, so for some, that may be problematic when overnighting with friends or older kids, but in our situation, it's not.

I also like the swing keel, because I'm liable to run into shallow areas and feel better about the swing bouncing off whatever I hit.

[Irafatsar]

I agree the cock pit is very cramped on the our kids were older when we purchased and they liked the separate areas, I love the king size bed. " down below"

[Russ]

IMHO
I have the rotating mast as it was the only choice with the boat. But on a it is the auto equivalent of sticking a tuned exhaust on a Winnebago. The has so many other performance issues that a rotating mast makes little difference. If I had had a choice I would have left it off the options list and gone for something else.

+1

[Ixneigh]

I sail the M a lot and have had other types of rigs and boats too. I think the rotating mast makes a huge difference esp. when sailing with just the main up. You need all the performance boost you can get on these boats.
Ix

[kadet]

I sail the M a lot and have had other types of rigs and boats too. I think the rotating mast makes a huge difference esp. when sailing with just the main up. You need all the performance boost you can get on these boats.
Ix

I suppose it depends on your definition of a lot. Some performance racers advertise 10-30% gains with a rotating mast, From my exerience I doubt the gets 5% with it's undersized rig so maybe 0.2-0.3 knot when on a point of sail to take advantage of the rotation, minus the disadvantages of cause when the thing fails to rotate due to light winds.

Good for racing maybe but for cruising .

It's not a feature I am going to remove since it's there but if the boat did not come with it or I had choice between it and say extra permanent ballast and a taller rig then

I do not see the necessity to retro fit it, which is what the original poster was asking.

[kurz]

wow, you give the idea to me to check it out this summer: Block the rotation of the mast - watch the speed and the redo it in ratation situation

As long the rotation does not make any troubles...

[seahouse]

I can identify with what you're saying Ixneigh. I too have noticed a certain loss of power when the headsail is furled and sailing under the main with other boats that have a non-rotating mast. One time it was late in the day and the wind had become light, the difference was particularly abrupt, and we all commented on it. It was a much more pronounced loss than when I had done the same thing with the Mac.

I couldn't explain the difference until I realized that the rotating mast allows another one third of the surface of the mainsail to become power generating. That one third or so would otherwise have been in a wind shadow of the mast, or less if the headsail were redirecting some of it. I would expect that the amount of power gain would vary with different conditions and configurations.

I would suppose you could satisfy yourself by manually forcing the mast back to the centre position and note the loss of performance.

-Brian.

[seahouse]

Whoa kurz! - we had a synchrony of thought there that stretched across the planet!
- B.

[Ixneigh]

I've already done the centering the mast experiment. I'm perfectly insane but not to the point of keeping a complex article of rigging if its not doing anything. I would have no compunction whatever about re rigging the boat with a better and stronger mast and back stays. The rotating mast also helps the boat to point. If I had an x I might consider it but using a better mast.
unless there is no wind at all or you haven't lubed the pivot since you got the boat, a slight tug on the end of the boom will reset the mast on the new tack.

[mikedoz1]

Hi All, You have given much to think about! Thank You. One forum member asked what I liked better about the X layout, and I have to say it's mainly due to the layout of where the head is located. I'm 6'3" and scrunching down and crawling to the back of the M just doesn't work for me. I have tried it and I have to crab walk to get to the head in an M model. Thank you all again for the feedback, you all are one of the reasons why I am selling my Catalina 27 and getting a Mac real soon. Keep on sailing!

[Russ]

wow, you give the idea to me to check it out this summer: Block the rotation of the mast - watch the speed and the redo it in ratation situation

As long the rotation does not make any troubles...

First year I owned the boat, the mast did not rotate. Simple washers had too much friction. The boat didn't sail like any sailboat I had sailed before. But it was fun.
Second year, I bought bearings so it would rotate. It sailed slightly better, but still doesn't point worth a damn, it's a Mac X/M.

So if I were replacing the mast, I would do it. Spending a lot of money to retrofit it to gain .2 knots, I wouldn't.

---Russ