Macgregor 26x steering limits

[Goldenist]

Hi Everyone,

I've had my Macgregor 26x for 3 years and absolutely love it. I keep my boat in Long Island, NY about an hour outside of Fire Island Inlet. The majority of time the conditions are about 20-25 mph with 2-3 foot waves. I feel that this is about the most the boat can comfortably handle. I think the weakest part of the boat is by far the steering system. The only point of sail that makes me feel uncomfortable is a broad reach (wind is behind me and to port or starboard). I have no problem keeping control of the boat in the above conditions but boy does it feel like my steering is about to just blow up. Sometimes with the wind blowing from my port to starboard and me constantly trying to overcorrect by turning to port my rudders seem to almost like max out when the rudders are a little more to port than straight ahead. Is this because of the forces of the wind and my boat and their exertion on my steering system and maybe all of that force in the cable somewhere? At all other points of sail and lower wind this is not an issue. Also, I am pretty sure the tops and most forward part of the rudder brackets bend under pressure. I try to step on them and push them back down and I think that helps for a little bit but then they go back to normal. I am planning on sailing from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk this weekend, about a 75 mile coastal but open ocean trip but this rudder/steering system is the only thing that gives me concern. Is this a valid concern? Can the steering system just pop and break with too much force? Thank you for your input guys!

[C Buchs]

I don't have all the answers, but I do have questions and some suggestions.

What year is your boat? The early had aluminum brackets that I read here were prone to failure.

Lift your rudders so that they are pointing straight back. Measure between them to at several points along their length. They should measure the same all the way out to the tips.

You say that they are coming up. Can you post a picture or explain? Maybe your lines are stretching and should be replaced.

Jeff

[paul I]

Is your outboard attached to the steering system when this happens?

[rsvpasap]

Home > MacGregor Boat Parts > MacGregor 26X (1995-2003) > Steering >

RUDDER HEAD, STAINLESS

https://goo.gl/2kHEQV

[Goldenist]

Yes, thats the bracket I'm talking about.. in that picture, the end closest to the left that connects with the steering arm is what always seems to bend upwards.

Yes, the motor is attached to the steering, no way to disengage.

My boat is a 2003 with the newer stainless steel brackets.

[paul I]

Yes, thats the bracket I'm talking about.. in that picture, the end closest to the left that connects with the steering arm is what always seems to bend upwards.

Yes, the motor is attached to the steering, no way to disengage.

My boat is a 2003 with the newer stainless steel brackets.

This is what you use to disengage the motor from the steering system: http://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/5712-1x0.htm

Using it will cut the steering effort in half.

Do you raise the outboard out of the water when you are under sail?

If the connecting tang is bending upward either the steering arm is pulling it or the rudder is hitting some obstruction and the force coming from the steering effort is bending it up. Are you certain the rudders are not hitting anything through their entire travel? Is the boarding ladder up?

[sailboatmike]

Sounds like the bolts in the system need tightening because its allowing one rubber to move more.

I still have the old cast alloy rudder boxes and the issue with those is more about failure due to cracking, Aluminium alloy castings are known to be brittle.

Also ensure your rudders are locked hard down, even a few degrees makes the helm hard work.

i find my X is really at her best on a broad reach. its just a point of sail she loves and may I say she is rather quick too.

Your sail balance could also be effecting the steering

[Herschel]

My 26X is a '98 with the aluminum brackets. My engine stays attached to my rudder assembly during steering, and I do not have any issue with steering in a broad reach. I can't speak to what is the problem, but I trust your intuition that something is amiss. I recommend getting to the bottom of it ASAP.

[Goldenist]

I totally agree, a broad reach, full main, 100 of the 150 genoa with 20mph winds got me to 7-8 knots of speed which was definitely the most alive ive seen the boat.

I did not have the rudders locked down. I would lovvvve for this to be the issue.

[Goldenist]

And I still need to figure out what's bending these brackets up .. that is not normal right?

I'm sure it helps and is better to disconnect the engine while under sail but I don't think thats the problem.

Steering In those conditions was doable but it probably took literally 10x the physical effort of any other point of sail.

Maybe not tying down the rudders brings the force upwards, pushing the brackets up...

[sailboatmike]

If its taking huge amounts of effort to steer my bet is the rudders are not all the way down and locked in place, mine used to give me hull with the steering before I figured that out, it was like trying to steer a container ship with a tooth pick

[paul I]

And I still need to figure out what's bending these brackets up .. that is not normal right?

I'm sure it helps and is better to disconnect the engine while under sail but I don't think thats the problem.

Steering In those conditions was doable but it probably took literally 10x the physical effort of any other point of sail.

Maybe not tying down the rudders brings the force upwards, pushing the brackets up...

If I don't tie down the rudders they just ride up toward the surface of the water. I never noticed any increased steering effort. Maybe it just never happened to me at the point of sail you are referencing.

[dlandersson]

This is a good point. I have a 98X and I've had to repair one of my brackets.

Metal fatigue can be an issue, also, do you have too much sail up?

[Tomfoolery]

If its taking huge amounts of effort to steer my bet is the rudders are not all the way down and locked in place, mine used to give me hull with the steering before I figured that out, it was like trying to steer a container ship with a tooth pick

I leave mine very loosely cleated when in shallows and/or weeds so they can kick up without damage, but if they move at all, even a little, I can feel it instantly. When motoring the wheel fights me hard, even with only a little bit of rudder movement from vertical.

Mine has the long rudders (maybe from Ida Sailor?) in SS brackets, so maybe that's a different feel from the shorter, wider early X rudders?

[Herschel]

And I still need to figure out what's bending these brackets up .. that is not normal right?

I'm sure it helps and is better to disconnect the engine while under sail but I don't think thats the problem.

Steering In those conditions was doable but it probably took literally 10x the physical effort of any other point of sail.

Maybe not tying down the rudders brings the force upwards, pushing the brackets up...

If I don't tie down the rudders they just ride up toward the surface of the water. I never noticed any increased steering effort. Maybe it just never happened to me at the point of sail you are referencing.

My experience with my old style (1998) rudders is that they absolutely need to be tied down all the way or steering is very poor. Also, in a hard turn with the rudders more parallel to the surface of the water my prop will chew a hunk out of the blade. Go ahead, ask me how I know!