MacGregorSailors.com

Leon,
Maybe you don't need that net after all ... Steve J. already designed a "daggerboard stilt" over in the Mac Mods pages, but he didn't call it that!



You just need to get the largest PVC "T" that can fit into the trunk, and cut it off like a cradle. Then buy a few unions for same size pipe, and a ten-foot length of that Sch-80 pipe. Size several short lengths of the pipe to reach up to within 3" of the top. I'm thinking you'll use 4 sections of pipe that are each 21 inches long. This gives you a "safety stilt" that will never allow the board to drop more than 21" as you remove the sections (from under the trailer) one at a time.


Depending on how easy it is to lower the board using webbing straps (TBD), you may not even need the stilt, but it's an easy backstop just for starters!

Hey I dont know much about the dagger board but I am assuming it will pass through the top of the boat and protrude ou the bottom . That being the case Take 2 1x4 inch board and two floor jacks . Place the boards up through the slot for the dagger board from the bottom . One board is 10 inches shorter than the other one . Let the jack with the longest board hold up the dagger board when it is set in the slot . Have the shorter board up in the slot with its jack in the raised position . As you let the jack lower with the longer board the dagger will come to rest on the shorter board . when that happens take the longer board out and cut 20 inches off now making it the shorter board . re-install and repeat exchanging boards

delevi
Gin-Pole to lift for installation and support New Weighted Keel

More delays! Looks like I won't be installing the keel this weekend after all. Apparently, they're having some problems to get the whole thing fared. Some lumps around the lead area. Probably another week. This sure is more complex than I thought it would be. Just have to sit tight and wait.

Dont you have a large tree or heavy beam in your garage you can hang it from then drop it in place after you back the mac under it? use a come along or electric winch like on my truck to pull it up. Or make an Aframe from old pipe or wood.

Aya, I keep my boat at a marina on the trailer. The trees are mostly trimmed back so mast-up boats can get to the launch ramp without de-rigging. I might just drive it under a tree somewhere, since I'll need to step the mast anyway. That is, if the mast raising system doesn't work. I think I'll try that first.

The keel is still being fared, hopefully will be done by Friday or Monday, but I'll believe it when I hear that it actually shipped. I believe Joel is regretting taking on this project. It turned out to be a lot more work than anticipated. If he produces more of these, he may outsource the lead portion of the keel. I have encouraged him that there is a large demand from Mac owners who want to add ballast. For those interested, you may want to get together as a group so they have incentive to purchase the lead boots for the keel. They specialize in making fins, but the lead part isnt something theyre set up for. They did already buy the equipment, however to make mine, so well see how this turns out. Mine is the prototype aka guinea pig

Leon

The keel is just about ready Heard that before
Just needs to be primed and painted and should ship Thursday or Friday, so I'll porbably get it by the weekend of 4/15. I was hoping to test it in light conditions, but April is when the winds around here get heavy. I guess I'll really get to see if the whole thing was worth it before the end of the month. I'll be sure to take photos of the keel, along with my other mods and post them on the site.

Cheers,
Leon

I think you'll like it. I hope to try my modest 55 lbs of lead this weekend at Pueblo. I'm not sure if I want to rest the board on the trailer when transporting or leaving it up. I'm leaning towards resting it on the trailer.

baldbaby2000 wrote:I think you'll like it. I hope to try my modest 55 lbs of lead this weekend at Pueblo. I'm not sure if I want to rest the board on the trailer when transporting or leaving it up. I'm leaning towards resting it on the trailer.

I'd pad that crossmember, and rest it there for those long hauls bb. It seems like you could prevent it banging about in the trunk that way? I'm anxious to hear how it goes.

Delevi,

After reading all the thoughts about lifting your 180 lb CB into the slot I had this thought. Especially if you are a little nervous about how it's going to go with your volunteer help. All marinas have means to lift boats into the drink. Especially now during Spring comissioning. Contact one and arrange for them to lift and drop the board properly. I wouldn't think it would cost that much.

I have even heard of stepping a mast using a bridge over a canal. Same idea could work for you.

Find a sheetrock jobber and they have lift trucks that could do this also.

Interesting challenge, good luck.

Newell

Hi Richard,

I was thinking about putting pipe foam around the support. Maybe it would be good to wedge something, wood perhaps, in the well to keep the board from banging back and forth. I'd probably do this from the bottom of the boat. I just got the stuff for my running backstays so I hope to try that out too. Got a couple of airblocks with cleats from BWY I'll attach to the base of the aft stanchions for the backstays. Seem to be quite a bargain.

Are you going to be racing on Chatfield this spring to warm up for the Leukemia Cup?

baldbaby2000 wrote: ... I was thinking about putting pipe foam around the support. Maybe it would be good to wedge something, wood perhaps, in the well to keep the board from banging back and forth. ...

Might be only a bit, but remember that the boat and trailer move independently. If the board is allowed to rest on the trailer, will it cause the upper portion to slap the trunk?

I think that I'm partial to the idea of leaving the dagger board suspended, perhaps with a strip of pipe insulation shoved into the gaps. Could a split of pipe foam straddle the fore & aft edges? I suppose you'd still need a safe landing zone at the crossing trailer rail.

ECE WARNING
(Easy-chair Engineering by an uninformed 26Xer)

baldbaby2000 wrote:Hi Richard,

I was thinking about putting pipe foam around the support. Maybe it would be good to wedge something, wood perhaps, in the well to keep the board from banging back and forth.

Are you going to be racing on Chatfield this spring to warm up for the Leukemia Cup?

Hi Daniel! Yes I'm trying to get the boat ready by the 15th or so.

I just looked at the spreader under my daggerboard, and it seems to me (bearing in mind Frank's observations), that a good solution would be to drop it to your foam cushion and maybe bungee it fore and aft?

I will look for you at the leukemia regatta.

I was thinking about putting pipe foam around the support. Maybe it would be good to wedge something, wood perhaps, in the well to keep the board from banging back and forth. I'd probably do this from the bottom of the boat. I just got the stuff for my running backstays so I hope to try that out too. Got a couple of airblocks with cleats from BWY I'll attach to the base of the aft stanchions for the backstays. Seem to be quite a bargain.

BB,
I took and old hose and wrapped it around the bottom bar of the trailer under the DB exit point. I'm planning to let the keel rest on the bar when the boat is on the trailer. Didn't think about the boat and keel moving independently, as Frank points out. May need to think that one through for trailering.

Please report your progress with the running backstays. This is a mod I'm considering as well, and also your results with your weighted keel mod.

Happy Sailing
Leon

delevi wrote: ... I took and old hose and wrapped it around the bottom bar of the trailer under the DB exit point. I'm planning to let the keel rest on the bar when the boat is on the trailer. Didn't think about the boat and keel moving independently,

Just idle musing, the 50-pound board, of course, presents much less an issue than the 180 lbs. Personally, I wouldn't want either one bouncing on a crossmember. Consider what will happen to the bottom edge of a resting board when;

• * the trailer springs rebound from a pothole;
  * or bounce across a curb going into a service station;
  * or drop off the shoulder of a curving mountain road (BTDT) heading up to the lake.

Especially for the heavy board, it seems a dilemma. I suppose I'd like to sit on the sliding hatch and watch what happens to the board while a Mate towed me around the block a couple of times.