Swing Keel is gone

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
User avatar
Lvoight
Chief Steward
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:13 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X

Swing Keel is gone

Post by Lvoight »

So I was sailing home from the air and water show in Chicago to Waukegan and as blown a bit off course. In 10 foot waves that couple miles off shore sand shoal got closer than I anticipated and then... Snap. I went up and came down heeled and no more keel. The rest of the boat looks fine. Is there an aftermarket for these? BWY is closed today, but I wanted to know if there was any upgraded Keel's people know of or any advice I could glean.

Image

other than that show was awesome.

thanks
User avatar
Tomfoolery
Admiral
Posts: 6135
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Tomfoolery »

Sorry to hear about your broken keel. But at least BWY shows it on their web site, for $550 plus $30 packing fee due to the size. Don't know about shipping.

P/N 5402-1X0

Oh, and watching an air show from the water is really cool. We did that here some years ago, anchored off the beach in Rochester. Something like a mile out or more, which allowed them to make passes close to the water. 8) The Canadian Forces Snowbirds did the formation flying, in tiny little planes with a red bird on the bottom [edit: white bird on a red plane - dyslexic eyeballs :wink: ], and it was a really memorable demonstration. I saw them practicing, or determining ground reference points, or whatever, while I was in the marina the day before, and even that was cool. 8) :D

These guys.

Image
Last edited by Tomfoolery on Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
RobertB
Admiral
Posts: 1863
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:42 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Clarksville, MD

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by RobertB »

Rudder or keel? I read the initial description as the keel.
User avatar
Lvoight
Chief Steward
Posts: 53
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:13 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Lvoight »

RobertB wrote:Rudder or keel? I read the initial description as the keel.

Swing Keel
User avatar
Tomfoolery
Admiral
Posts: 6135
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Tomfoolery »

RobertB wrote:Rudder or keel? I read the initial description as the keel.
Yeah, I read 'keel' and wrote 'rudder'. :?

But the p/n I posted is for the :macx: swing centerboard. :wink:
User avatar
mastreb
Admiral
Posts: 3927
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA ETEC-60 "Luna Sea"
Contact:

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by mastreb »

It is the centerboard (keel) that BWY has listed for $550. You won't find an aftermarket alternative. Rudders are $225.
User avatar
Erik Hardtle
First Officer
Posts: 408
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 4:45 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: New Bern, NC
Contact:

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Erik Hardtle »

Hey I done that!

From my log:
So the TV station asked if I could use my boat to go film video of a capsized fishing boat... Hmmm... work at the desk or work on the boat.. duh 8) .
So I gassed up the boat and went and launched at Oriental with one of our reporters. I did warn the reporter that it will be rough out in the sound, 3-4 ft waves and 10-15 mph winds. Luckily she has previous experience on sailboats, so seasickness was not an issue. So I was in 1-2 ft waves doing about 22mph (thanks to the new 90hp engine) when all of a sudden she heels hard over 50+ degrees, and a wave comes up over the cockpit and soaks me... I thought we were going over all the way. I was able to grab the throttle and shut it down and the boat slowly came back up.

So one of two things may have happened... we hit a whale on one side, or the centerboard suddenly dropped at 22 mph... yea and no water ballast in. The reporter survived but was slightly shaken up... and changed her mind about wearing a life jacket.

Pulled up the centerboard line... nothing left on the end except a frayed wire... ok so the board is down. I jump down below and look for damage or leaks.... none... and strangely silent... I don't hear the centerboard slapping the sides of the trunk... most likely because I don't have one anymore.

Yup, it's gone.

Image

See here for my repair/replacement:
http://www.enctrader.com/hardtlefamily/ ... enterboard

The centerboard I got from BWY even had the holes drilled in it, made installing even easier. (and even got the TV station to pay for the board to boot :wink: )
User avatar
Chinook
Admiral
Posts: 1730
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:20 pm
Location: LeavenworthWA 2002 26x, Suzuki DF60A

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Chinook »

I believe that when Roger handed the spare parts business over to BWY, they got the molds for things like center boards and rudders. It's nice to know that parts like that will continue to be available.
User avatar
Russ
Admiral
Posts: 8299
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Russ »

Chinook wrote:I believe that when Roger handed the spare parts business over to BWY, they got the molds for things like center boards and rudders. It's nice to know that parts like that will continue to be available.
Aint that the truth. Much of the hardware is standard fare, but fins can't be easily fabricated elsewhere.
User avatar
topcat0399
First Officer
Posts: 271
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:16 pm
Sailboat: Venture 2-24
Location: Western Wisconsin, USA

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by topcat0399 »

Erik Hardtle wrote:Hey I done that!.....

(and even got the TV station to pay for the board to boot :wink: )

Made me giggle.
Billy
First Officer
Posts: 439
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:50 pm
Location: Dunn NC 2001-26X140 "XX"(DoubleCross)

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Billy »

Actually Joel at Rudder Craft (formally Idasailor) now has the molds and is producing them. Offers them with finished gelcoat or ready for barrier/bottom paint (cheaper that way). Just got mine in last week and an extra set of rudders. I had damaged my current one but ended up repairing it while waiting. Joel used to offer a CB for the X made of HDPE with enough lead to make it sink. (I have one of those also.)

I think the price was higher than BWYACHTS lists. I had to drill the pivot hole. Let me know if you need the measurement.
User avatar
Dirko
Deckhand
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:58 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Spruce Grove, AB. ...2008 26M..Nissan 70... Sail on Lake Wabamun

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Dirko »

Do you know if Rudder Craft makes (or could make) a weighted dagger board for the M?

We have some fairly light winds up here, interspersed with the odd gale that comes out of nowhere. I've been eyeing up the power head sail on the Tattoo 26, and looking into a masthead rig to handle the light days. It would be nice to have a bit more weight below to counter the sudden gusts.
User avatar
RobertB
Admiral
Posts: 1863
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:42 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Clarksville, MD

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by RobertB »

A weighed board requires new daggerboard rigging - at least adding a block to cut lifting force in half or more. Doubt you could reasonable add enough to make a difference in stability (search the forum, this has been tried before).
Three Gypsies
First Officer
Posts: 260
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:06 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Montgomery Alabama

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Three Gypsies »

Maybe its time to convert Her to a Mac Trawler ? :?


I would put up a Mac Trawler smilie here , if we had one
Wayne nicol
Captain
Posts: 645
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:21 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Queen CHarlotte Islands,B.C.---------------- lightning white 2012 26M "Merrylegs"

Re: Swing Keel is gone

Post by Wayne nicol »

:D
Post Reply