C Striker wrote:I just wanted to revisit the archives on this. First I drilled my hole 8 inches above the old hound. Too loose. I found this post and moved the hole another inch and a half. Still seems just a tad too loose. I'm hoping that once I cut the top set of holes off the hifield lever ( in order to use the middle holes ) it will be tight enough. So a word of caution to anyone reading this in the future: do the math!
What lever did you end up buying? ie what is the length in the closed position?
I bought the larger one. Sorry I don't have the measurement, or boat for that matter. I realized too late that in order to use the lower 2 sets of holes on the topside, I had to use some sort of attachment between the furler and lever. This of course would make it longer, while shorter was my goal. If I remember right, having the foresail super tight only helped to sail closer into the wind.
Thanks.
Inspecting the larger beastie that just arrived (amazingly quickly) the other option is to move the upper section pivot point to the lower position. Will get almost 3 inches of throw from open to closed versus the stock (as shipped) 2inch throw but the end result will be approx 1/2 inch lower closed position without having to move off the upper hole. That will be my plan b option. Will be having a play around next weekend and will see what I see.
Hello fellows! Just jumping in this subject. I just finish doing this mod in my . I did raised the upper shroud braket exactly 7 1/2 ". Installed 2 turnbuckles in the shrouds mounts down at the hull and adjusted to exactly 7 1/2 ". Then installed one of this Hifields levers in my furler making it a sweet job to hook it up. Minor adjustment on all 3 turnbuckles (one inside furler to get the right tenssion). I does raise my genoa up so when fully unrolled will no scrape the stanchion rail tubes in the front. I hope this helps anyone in the future. I will answer any questions. Good Luck!
Hello again! The levers brand I honestly don't know. It has a little sailboat logo in it. The previous post from West Marine shows 2 models. I used the larger one with the 3 holes in one end. I did not buy it from West Marine however. Much cheaper that, shopped around. Again that was back in 2012 when I saw an with it but I forgot about the rotating mast and it was back to the drawing board. Then I figure it out by using the hole I have previously drilled and move the whole upper shroud/Genoa bracket up. The lower shrouds remain untouched since they are in a different bracket all together. No need to extend that. The turnbuckles I used come from Marine Parts depot.com. Best prices on SS hardware. They are rated for like 1200 lbs or so. Might be over kill but they were cheap. I just oversized the original 1/4 " hole to a 5/16". Will post pics tonight! Everything is lowered down right now but you'll get the idea, I hope this help.
Finally done! New mast hound from BWYachts 8 inches above the old. Tried to get this in Australia and no luck so had to import it.
Sooo much easier now.
Also audited the entire rig and found many things wrong. Mast lean too far forward, shrouds way to loose. Using a loos gauge did the shrouds after setting the mast lean to spec. One thing for sure, without this hyfield lever, no way could I run the shrouds at the tension they are at now e.g. 300lb for upper and 240lb for lower. Mast straight, still rotates and the shrouds now "twang". How the beastie now sails will have to yet find out.
I left the shrouds where they were. Not ideal but others seem to have no issue so will see how I fare. I may get some ss straps made to move the shrouds. Not keen on turnbuckles that high due to weight.
Jimbo, I was planning on putting the turnbuckles at the bottom end of the upper shrouds where they connect to the hull??? No added weight up top and easier to adjust tension of shrouds.
I do agree though that 8" in height difference between the two hounds is hardly going to stress the mast. The bending strength over that distance must be enormous.
Jimbo,
That appears to be the Johnson quick release most of us use on the MacX and allows a 2.5 inch slack on back stay. We also use it on headstay but need to raise the hound up the length of the Johnson quick release .
Both ways work on the MacX.
For trailer Sailors that don't want to use a Gin pole, this is the way to go to save time.
Dave
jimbo wrote:Finally done! New mast hound from BWYachts 8 inches above the old. Tried to get this in Australia and no luck so had to import it.
Sooo much easier now.
Also audited the entire rig and found many things wrong. Mast lean too far forward, shrouds way to loose. Using a loos gauge did the shrouds after setting the mast lean to spec. One thing for sure, without this hyfield lever, no way could I run the shrouds at the tension they are at now e.g. 300lb for upper and 240lb for lower. Mast straight, still rotates and the shrouds now "twang". How the beastie now sails will have to yet find out.
If I remember right, having the foresail super tight only helped to sail closer into the wind. 
. I did raised the upper shroud braket exactly 7 1/2 ". Installed 2 turnbuckles in the shrouds mounts down at the hull and adjusted to exactly 7 1/2 ". Then installed one of this Hifields levers in my furler making it a sweet job to hook it up. Minor adjustment on all 3 turnbuckles (one inside furler to get the right tenssion). I does raise my genoa up so when fully unrolled will no scrape the stanchion rail tubes in the front. I hope this helps anyone in the future. I will answer any questions. Good Luck!
with it but I forgot about the 
