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Hey Peter. 2 hours for rigging is no good. Practice will help, but, I found it absolutley necessary to make a few small mods. I take about 30 minutes (no furler). My boat was the '04 26M and it had a pogo stick to support the mast. This was a hopeless arrangement and was one of the first things to discard. I replaced this with a combination roller and V block mounted off the stern quarter rails (the boats scourced from Phil King had these as an option). The later M's had a similar sort of mast support bar ex-factory. (see modifications/rigging/Craig Garlick)


The next thing was to replace the port lifeline attachment with a pelican clip. I undo the pelican clip so that the lifeline can be easily hooked over or under the spreader.

Then, drill a hole in the end of the bolt that connects the mast base to its mount. Use a quick clip instead of a bolt.

Then, when connecting the U bolt to the mast for raising and lowering, I swaged a tube into the mast so that the bolt could slide right through (rather than have to jiggle the bolt to get it through both sides of the mast).

Those were the main things. 30 minutes - never more than 40 and single handed. 25 if the wife helps, and she is getting better with every outing.

See you on the water.

Craig

Those pins and clips (replacing nuts and bolts) save a lot of time - you dont need tools of course, and you dont waste time unscrewing and dropping pieces of boat.

One other thing that helps, especially when alone, is baby stays. Having these allows you to leave the mast alone, partially raised, so you can clear snags and kinks in the rigging as they occur without worrying about the mast falling off to the side. Raising it alone without baby stays can certainly be done, but its a loit easier with them. Hmmm, this gets me thinking, one and one-half months until pitchers and catchers report to spring training means sailing cannot be far behind.

Chip was right about the archives having all the answers regarding rigging, including one I posted. For now, I want to say that our rule is, no matter how efficient you can get rigging up the mast, we never put it up and down on a one-day outing. Just enjoy the motoring benefits of the Mac on such a day. It just is not worth it, IMHO, to try an up-n-down in one day. So we anchor out each time we raise the mast and try to go for two nights if we have the time. It makes a big difference in our enjoyment of the boat. (Summary of my earlier post: 45 minutes up or down and spreaders removed when in cradle.)

Ive found that on the Hudson Ive stepped the mast on Saturday, sailed for the day, got a free tie up at Coeymans for Sat night (eating in the restaurant) gone home, and sailed all day Sunday, stepped Sunday afternoon. It is nice to get more than a day per step.

I started taking more time stepping the mast when one day I came back from sailing to find I had missed one of the holes on the step and had only one side of the mast pinned in...



Even if I finish in under an hour now, I take the full hour to step and check

I step less than I used to (since I tend now to cruise on long trips only) so you do get less practiced...

Opie says:

...we never put it up and down on a one-day outing. Just enjoy the motoring benefits of the Mac on such a day. It just is not worth it, IMHO, to try an up-n-down in one day...

I frequently do one day sails on Winnipesaukee, usually launching before 7 AM and hauling out after dark, unless I'm overnighting at my brother's island cottage. The Wolfeboro town docks are usually full by mid-morning on a weekend and stay that way til just after dark. Morning coffee-paper-people watching at the docks is fun while waiting for the wind to pickup.

My shortest day was mid November '06 - a sunny & warm Saturday. Went launch to haulout in just under 4 hours, this included up-n-down & 1 1/4 hours of sailing. Definately worth it!!

Lots of great advice here for those new to launching a Mac. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning this art form from zero experience to "pretty nifty" imho

However, the truth is, most time is spent doing all the little bits! My list would be something like this:-

Pay the man at the dock, fill in his forms!

Make a cup of tea.

Remove towing tail board and electrics, trailering tie downs, nylon ties on shroud wire, bungees on rudders and securing pin in rudders, securing straps holding roller furler to boom.

Raise mast using all known techniques - Easy! Raising kit with quick release pin and shackles, baby stays with quick release shackles, drop lifelines using quick release pelicans to ease mast movement (avoid falling off deck onto concrete 6ft below)

During mast raising, I push the mast well back and hang it down the stern of the boat suspended on the babystays at the front. I can then reach the top of the mast from the ground to fit the Windex (Only about three minutes but should I bother - would the Windex be OK left on with say 50mph force pushing upwards on it?)

I use the method of just overtightening the forestay to pin the furler to the deck - works great. I always, always cleat the raising line properly with a figure of eight when leaving the winch to move shrouds about and when going forward to insert the pin. I also use the left leg of an old pair of Levis as a bag to cover the drum whilst it squirms round the deck during the lifting process (Wranglers would probably suffice but please don't be tempted to use cheap Chinese imports)

I prefer to use bolt and nut on mast base (speedy ratchet spanner -looks very professional and makes a great clicking noise)

Fit VHF and mast lighting deck connectors

Fit adjustable back stay with micro blocks for easy fitting

Say to oneself "must do all tasks nearest to hand and avoid walking up and down this boat even though it is a lovely boat to walk up and down on"

Fit boom - I prefer bolts and nuts - more lovely clicking noise. Boom has mainsail ready fitted in a bag with lazy jacks (6 lines all attached with quick release clips). Insert sail slugs - quick pin in mast to close gate

Fit vang with quick release shackles

I've towed with the foresail left furled on the plastic foil and also tried it without. Obviously another 5 - 10 minutes to raise the foresail and then furl it, if stowed separately (idea - must fit a little quick release shackle to the furler halyard where it connects to the drum instead of needing to use a shackle key or pliers)

Getting there... methinks it's time for another cup of tea.

Fit spray hood - all ready fitted to SS frame - 5 mins to fit into position and secure

All lines through spray hood to cockpit

Fit cockpit tent. SS frame in place, canvas needs fitting and zipping to SS frame in 2 places - single handed? Yes, it's easy. I work from inside/underneath whilst the tourists and "dock salts" have a good laugh from the outside.

Fit wind powered generator. Already fitted to extension pole - just slot the extension pole into base pole and connect quick electric connectors inside the two poles whilst holding the damned things as near as possible with one waving around in the air. This usually draws the biggest crowd because it is done up on the coaming (knees wedged against pushpit).

Fit cockpit cushions

Definitely getting near now - no need to stop for tea - keep going, keep going

Get gear from trunk of car (bacon, sausages, etc, beer, fishing rods etc -
slight looks of envy now replace the hilarity in the audience).

The rest we all know - ballast valve, fenders, dock lines, fuel, engine procedures, fresh water, dunk the whole thing in the water (is that a touch of hostility emerging in the crowd as she floats without mishap??), wash down trailer if needed and park it using all sorts of insurance compliant locks and things, race back to boat and.........

........Go Sailing

Time taken - no idea. Benefits enjoyed - immeasurable

Sorry for the long post - I got carried away - I think it's the long cold nights.

Mike

We have all struggled the first few times we go sailing. I did practice in the back yard the first few times. I found I could do it faster on my own. Then I had son in law help when we first put the boat in water. He is one who has less idea than I. He just got in the way with his ideas about rigging. So I had to tell him its my bloody boat so we do it by the book. I have put quick disconnect gear on the life lines so I dont have to struggle with the spreaders. It still takes an hour or more to get the boat ready, and thats before I put the sails up. I put the boat in a marina for the last part of the season, best thing i,ve done so far.Its a bit more cost of sailing but I save some of the $$$$ by using less gas driving a smaller car and not having to tow to and from marina.Suggestion to Roger MacGregor, when you make the next DVD disc. Get on a M26 and film yourself getting the boat ready for sailing. Lets see how you do it and how long it takes you.

I once made my own 26x "Speedy Rigger"
You can find the video here: http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... highlight=

Hope you can find somthing useful.

/mattias

Craig said:

30 minutes - never more than 40 and single handed. 25 if the wife helps, and she is getting better with every outing.

Craig,

Was that the total time consumed?

Did that time include all of the following? 1.Untying all lines that secured the mast to the boat for trailering. 2.Removing all means of what you used to secure all of the shrouds for trailering 3.Unbolting mast from bow, and sliding it back to its base on the deck and then attaching it. 4.Rigging the mast raising system, then cranking up the mast. 5.Bringing the boom from below deck and attaching it to the mast. 6. Attaching the main sheet to the traveler. 7.Running the sail up the mast and making certain all halyards are secure?

I just want to make certain that I understand what was included in that time of 40 minutes. If so, then we need an additional emoticon of me bowing in respect.

I know those who owns X's can step a mast without a raising system, do it alone, and still rig a boat in under a half hour. An X's mast is not as heavy as that on an M, and the time to rig an M by oneself is longer just because of the weight of that mast. So I question if all of the above was done in 40 minutes, and alone at that If so, then teach me brother


Ray

Ray - Ill address how I do these

Did that time include all of the following? 1.Untying all lines that secured the mast to the boat for trailering.
>> Sailties, this takes about 2 minutes

2.Removing all means of what you used to secure all of the shrouds for trailering
>> I have this down to a single carbiner and a sailties backup - Ill try and take pix and describe how I do this. This is a real time shaver imho.

3.Unbolting mast from bow, and sliding it back to its base on the deck and then attaching it.
>> Slide it back by standing at the spreaders so you can fight any torque with the spreaders and not the mast - great tip from Chip HIndes

4.Rigging the mast raising system, then cranking up the mast.

>> NA for me, I dont have the MRS.

5.Bringing the boom from below deck and attaching it to the mast.
>> Still one of the few places I use tools

6. Attaching the main sheet to the traveler. 7.Running the sail up the mast and making certain all halyards are secure?
>> I load the slugs into the groove and secure with the sailstop.

NiceAft wrote:2.Removing all means of what you used to secure all of the shrouds for trailering

I use those ball bungees for this task. They are short loops of bugee cord with the ends terminating in a small plastic ball. The loop is wrapped around the mast and shrouds and halyards and then goes around the ball, which keeps it secure while trailering. They take all of five seconds to put in place, and I use 4-6 along the length of the mast. This past summer I also used them to secure the mainsail to the boom when I hauled the sail down, then put the sail cover over everything. They come in handy and are way more efficient than wrapping a halyard around and around and around the length of the mast in order to secure shrouds, etc.

Cat,

I appreciate the response, but, outside of Craig, I have not seen (at least that I remember) anyone say that they have an M and rig the boat in under an hour. Many X owners do it, but not M owners. Again, that I remember. So, when I read this, I really want to know how. I am an eager learner.

Thanks to you and Chip for that leveraged info of where to stand when sliding the mast.

This is a call to ALL M owners. Post your average time to rig your boat. Don't be embarrassed. It takes me an hour and a half, minimum. I admit it. That's why I am in a slip . Let's hear what YOUR timing is......... Mine stinks

Ray

Heck, it took me more than 20 minutes just to read the description of all the tasks!