Resource / Guide for basic rigging?

[returnofthemac]

Are there any videos, tutorials or guides that cover running line for the 26M in detail? I have a roller boom so that makes it even more difficult to find any resources. The MacGregor manual is kind of helpful but it is also VERY sparse and doesn't say much.

I have had my new-to-me 26M out twice by motor alone. Today I figured I'd try sailing it. This is was also my first time trying to rig anything - it took me three hours to raise the mast!

When I was on the water, I was not able to raise the main sail. I stopped trying to raise the main as it became dangerous because the boom was moving around a lot and I was battling with:

1) The boom furler cleat locking
2) The halyard cleat at the bottom of the mast locking
3) The boat going off course
4) The boom moving back and forth

I don't really know how to solve these things for next time!

I am confident that I did not rig the boom correctly. I don't know how to rig the jib/genoa.

I got pretty good at raising/lowering the mast, but the rest of the lines are difficult to figure out.

It was a really bleak day on the water. Hope it's better next time

[Stickinthemud57]

Your unusual rig is going to make it difficult to find help, it sounds like to me. I would suggest the following approach.

If you are raising the mast on the water, that is a complicating factor. Start by learning how to step the mast on dry land. Creating a checklist will help you work out what needs to be done and in what order.

Again on dry land, on a windless or very still day, work the kinks out of raising the mainsail. Raising any sail while underway requires that you know exactly the steps involved and what to do when problems arise. The higher the wind, the more critical timing and proper execution is. Again, create a checklist.

Repeat the process for the foresail.

When you have the bugs worked out, try it on water. Pick a very still or windless day. If possible, bring someone along to read off your checklist.

Try not to get discouraged. I had gotten very good at hoisting and dousing my main and foresail at the mast, but decided to lead my halyards to the cockpit for greater safety. I get frustrated with myself when I mess up, but I know it will just be a matter of time before I master the new way of doing things.

Enlisting the aid of an experienced sailor would be great, but you may not have access to such resources (thinking sailing club, marina staff, etc.)

Wish I could be of more help...

[Be Free]

When you are rigging the boom you will (ideally) have two lines attached to it before you do anything with the main. You will have a topping lift to keep the boom from tipping down and you will already have your main sheet attached and snugged down to keep the boom from swinging side-to-side.
The boom will "wiggle" a bit but it won't be swinging around.

[Russ]

Jimmy has the same boat/rig as you with the roller furling main. I'm sure he will stop by here and be able to help.

In the meantime.. go to the main site here and click the resources tab.
Here https://www.macgregorsailors.com/resources.html

Scroll down and download the Blue Water Yachts MacGregor Manual. It has more details and tips.

Just below that you will find How to rig 26M Video

I don't know your sailing experience, but when raising the main sail (on any boat) you need to be pointed into the wind. This can be challenging single handed.

Hopefully Jimmy is not out sailing and will chime in with advice on the roller main.

[Jimmyt]

As luck would have it, I'm headed out to sail with my buddies on the Packet. If you can photograph your boom, I'll be glad to help you work through it.

If you are not an experienced sailor, you may want to consider going back to a conventional main sail setup. I'm still working the kinks out of mine to get good sail shape and proper rigging. Having to figure it out as I go. Still not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.

But, my boat is downstairs where I can take easy photos and measurements. I'll be glad to help you work through it. We can talk on the phone if it gets too cumbersome on the forum. I like to keep as much on the forum as possible, since more people can participate and benefit. But sometimes a phone conversation is necessary.

Hang in there. It will get better.

[returnofthemac]

Your unusual rig is going to make it difficult to find help, it sounds like to me. I would suggest the following approach.

Just my luck! I hope this roller boom is worth it!!

The BWY manual is quite helpful. I'm going to try call them up and see if they can help.

[returnofthemac]

As luck would have it, I'm headed out to sail with my buddies on the Packet. If you can photograph your boom, I'll be glad to help you work through it.

If you are not an experienced sailor, you may want to consider going back to a conventional main sail setup. I'm still working the kinks out of mine to get good sail shape and proper rigging. Having to figure it out as I go. Still not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.

But, my boat is downstairs where I can take easy photos and measurements. I'll be glad to help you work through it. We can talk on the phone if it gets too cumbersome on the forum. I like to keep as much on the forum as possible, since more people can participate and benefit. But sometimes a phone conversation is necessary.

Hang in there. It will get better.

Fantastic! This forum is really invaluable!

I don't have any photos so I've recreated a diagram because it's still in my memory. This is how I had it rigged yesterday.

I'm not sure how to connect the green question marks. There are two pulleys with ropes in the cabin that the previous owner included. I'm pretty sure those go there but I'm not sure how/why.

I was able to lift and lower the mainsail using the 3/16" inhaul line (blue) and the halyard red). Both lines ran straight to the cockpit. Should these lines go through additional hardware they get to the cockpit. Perhaps on the tracks? I ask this because both would lock up in the cleats (in orange) after a foot of line went through them.

[Jimmyt]

I need a bigger pic, preferably .jpg of your sketch. Or maybe I need to check another viewer. I can’t get it bigger than a postage stamp without it getting pixelated..

Looks like you have your vang connected to the wrong spot (blocks and lines with cam cleat that look very similar to your main sheet setup). The vang goes from the boom bale to the hole in the back of the mast base bracket (part of the base that pivots with the mast).

Your topping lift attaches to the loop on the back end of the boom. Looks like you may have that correct. The furling line goes from the drum at the rear of the boom through a turning block at rear, runs forward to a turning block at front of boom. Then, you may have a block on deck to turn it back to the cockpit (or not; we’ll need pics of your deck). You may have a cam cleat on the boom, about midway, that snags the furling line. I don’t agree with this placement, but haven’t changed it yet due to the fact that I haven’t gotten the sail shape like I want it yet. Moving it off the boom to a spot on deck makes the most sense to me.

We need to verify that your outhaul (which they repurposed to tension the cable forming the furling mandrel axis), is rigged properly. Mine was not.

I was optimistic when I said we were going sailing. The only wind out there was when a pelican flew by….







But, we spent a few leisurely hours motoring around watching the birds and a few dolphins. Good to be on the water.

[Jimmyt]

You'll need to set up two clips on your topping lift. One for sailing, and one for furling, setting the aft part of the boom up higher to allow the sail to roll up on the mandrel without crawling forward and jamming against the mast.

[returnofthemac]

This should be easier to see.

It looks like glass where you were! We had good winds in TX today but I wasn't out on the water.

Quick observation: Did you have the bimini and dodger on with the boom off to the side? This rolling boom seems to sit really low. I haven't seen what the regular boom looks like. When I put it all together my hopes of having a bimini up while sailing disappeared!

So, I'd like to confirm the halyard and outhaul routing, as well as the boom and boom vang setup.

[returnofthemac]

You'll need to set up two clips on your topping lift. One for sailing, and one for furling, setting the aft part of the boom up higher to allow the sail to roll up on the mandrel without crawling forward and jamming against the mast.

In the manual it says to disconnect the topping lift while sailing - does that apply here, too?

For furling, the clip that is on there is already as far back as it can be. And if I understand you, the topping lift must be connected to that when furling.

[Russ]

The roller furling main was a product of Mike Inmon’s Mac dealership in California.

Blue Water yachts didn’t offer that option. They are very helpful but I think are closed for vacation this week.

Here’s a video of the RF main.

[returnofthemac]

The roller furling main was a product of Mike Inmon’s Mac dealership in California.

Blue Water yachts didn’t offer that option. They are very helpful but I think are closed for vacation this week.

Here’s a video of the RF main.

Looks pretty straightforward when it's all rigged up!

[returnofthemac]

You'll need to set up two clips on your topping lift. One for sailing, and one for furling, setting the aft part of the boom up higher to allow the sail to roll up on the mandrel without crawling forward and jamming against the mast.

In the manual it says to disconnect the topping lift while sailing - does that apply here, too?

For furling, the clip that is on there is already as far back as it can be. And if I understand you, the topping lift must be connected to that when furling.

Edit: I found this discussion
viewtopic.php?t=22804

that helps a lot. What would that look like? A shorter topping lift that ends in a clip for furling, and an "Extender" with two clips on both ends for sailing?

[Jimmyt]

That would probably work.

Thanks for posting that thread link. I hadn’t seen that before, but that has been my experience also. In any sort of wind, you have to be pointed straight upwind, with the back of the boom raised to have any hope of a good furl.

You could put two loops on your topping lift at two different heights, and a clip on your boom. I’m assuming you have a line at the bottom of your topping lift - which may not be correct. Mine is a stainless wire rope which has a short length of dyneema at the end. Or, you could put in an adjustable topping lift and raise/lower it from the cockpit.

I have two clips on my topping lift currently. Not good. In winds around 20 kts, the loose clip flails around like a weapon. So, I’m going to change that.