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I have a very "Stock" MacGregor 26s. 1991. I am the second owner. I have attachment points for a boom vang. I also am finding that I could be pointing about 5 degrees higher if I had a traveller. Anyone with experience on this boat: with and without vang or with and without traveller?

I am dialing in my sail trim and sheeting. My question is, are these controls worth the extra lines/bother/maintenance?

If you race you will want the traveler. It will make a difference. Now as for what type and size. That's a problem I have been looking at for my 26D. I have a very nice traveler but it is about 1 1/4 squarish. And to have that in the way to get into the cabin is going to be a problem. Don't forget the cockpit space you will have to give up.
My wife and daughter like to sit on each side of the companionway access. I don't know why, but they do. The big traveler I have would be in the way. So I have been looking at low profile tracks for a traveler. There are a few out there. I can't find he link I had...
Good luck

If you don't mind the extra lines in the cockpit, you can just do two mainsheets: One attached port, and one attached starboard, either at the cabin-top cockpit forward stanchion or on the gunnel tracks forward.

This way you just loose the one you aren't using (the leeward side) and let it run slack while you harden up the one to windward. You can harden them both up to prevent boom swinging during a gybe as well, or if you're beating in a constant wind you can leave them set in their cam cleat to the right length and not have to do anything with them on a tack.

It's not any different to manage than a single sheet while on a tack, and then when you tack you just loose the one in your hand and grab the other one as the boom comes around. It's probably easier than dealing with a traveler frankly.

Much simpler than adding a traveller, nearly as good sailing performance if not better, and it doesn't interfere with the companion way.

Something to consider anyway.

finding41 wrote:My wife and daughter like to sit on each side of the companionway access. I don't know why, but they do. The big traveler I have would be in the way. So I have been looking at low profile tracks for a traveler. There are a few out there. I can't find he link I had...
Good luck

don't upset that delicate ballance

It's fun to sleep in your mac...but believe me...it's not fun to sleep in it because you have to!!!!!

I should have mentioned that I have a vang and use it. I plan to keep it and use it with the traveler. Anything to get ahead of the other guy.
The vang makes a big difference to sail shape and efficiency. So does the topping lift in the right air conditions.

I'm with you there StoneLove. Delicate balance.

Good thread, I've got a vang and traveler but don't modify the vang and use the traveler to make room to pass through the companionway easier...

I'll have to begin playing with it next season; especially, since we beat to windward a lot!

[quote="mastreb"

Re: Vang and Traveller

Has anyone in MacGregor land done a two mainsheet rig on a 26x? If so can you give details/pics of your rig?

Regards to all.

I made a traveler ....



....and so far we like it. We didn't add it for the improved performance but to help cut down on heeling and it does seem to to that to some degree. I handle the sails and Ruth the tiller so it gives me one more item to mess with and I like that.

The build is here.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ng-14.html

....and so far there is not anything that has been negative about adding it.

We also like it from the standpoint that...



.... it helps to get the boom and main sheet out of the way of the companionway underway and at night on anchor.

We also have the vang but sometimes forget to use it when we should. The other item that we feel is a must have is preventers,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

Re: Vang and Traveller

Has anyone in MacGregor land done a two mainsheet rig on a 26x? If so can you give details/pics of your rig?

Regards to all.

A few people have, Rick has the mod posted:



http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1394

I did it on my 26x and like it, no plans of going back. It is great if you are by yourself, it starts to get in the way with another person, with 3 people its in the way. I moved my pedestal back 6" in the cockpit so there would be less room in a stock cockpit.

I tried a couple setups. From the stanchions it is too high/forward to release from the camcleat smoothly. I used a new line on the stock vang for the second. I also use 3:1, no need for 4:1, so there is less line laying around. My best results are running it from the front of the genoa tracks and forward bail on the boom (the one that clears a 5' bimini) It is a straight line from boom to the forward track position. For attachment you could get new cars, I just ran a stainless clamp around the pulley on factory genoa block and attach the shackle to it. (I use a jib) The double main basically eliminates the need for a preventer, allows more adjustment, gives more bimini clearance, I find it safer tacking since the boom is controlled and there are no cockpit sweeping lines. When you are not using it the cars slide off and hook to the lifeline on one side out of the way.

Seapup wrote:.The double main basically eliminates the need for a preventer..

I'm having a hard time visualizing how the setup would replace preventers while running since neither line would be holding the boom forward. Maybe I'm missing something.

I also feel that the traveler is going to give somewhat better sail shape when you need the sail pulled down tight in higher winds as the mainsheet has a better angle pulling more downward. That is what helps to reduce the heeling in higher winds. It is also probably easier to control the sail in gustier winds by quickly moving the traveler.

I'm not saying the traveler is for everyone. In our case I mainly installed it to try and make the boat feel better for Ruth. She is better with the heeling deal and is getting up to no problems at 14-16 deg. if it is pretty steady. On a friends boat that is heavier than the Mac she had no problems with more and the same on the Endeavour.

It mainly boils down to what works for you,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

Sum, I use a similar system using the pedestal main vang + one leeward gunnel vang. The preventer function will limit the main from going past the throw of the gunnel vang.

You can get allot of purchase on a reach by hardening each vang, especially on the gunnel vang to pull the boom down--so much that you don't have to use the boom vang. The negative of this is you have to remove the gunnel vang from the old leeward gunnel to the new leeward gunnel after each tack. Kinda POA when short tacking down a narrow fairway but excellent for long duration reaches. This system also keeps clutter out of the cockpit=more seat room and no blockage of the companion way.

Bob

bscott wrote:Sum, I use a similar system using the pedestal main vang + one leeward gunnel vang. The preventer function will limit the main from going past the throw of the gunnel vang..

I can see where it would limit the boom from swinging all the way over to the other side of the boat, but it still looks like to me that if you are running and the boom is around to about where the sail is on the spreaders the boom will be ahead of the bottom attach point of the mainsheet. If the boom starts to come around it can swing a ways past the attach point and then be caught again maybe before mid boat.

To me a preventer, at least the ones we have, doesn't allow the boom to move towards the stern at all,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

can see where it would limit the boom from swinging all the way over to the other side of the boat, but it still looks like to me that if you are running and the boom is around to about where the sail is on the spreaders the boom will be ahead of the bottom attach point of the mainsheet. If the boom starts to come around it can swing a ways past the attach point and then be caught again maybe before mid boat.

To me a preventer, at least the ones we have, doesn't allow the boom to move towards the stern at all,

Sum

Its not a preventer in that respect, the boom is not locked in place like the setup you made. It does prevent the boom from coming into the cockpit and hitting someone, or even causing a jarring swing. That is enough for me to not need a preventer, not for everyone.

Just guessing numbers, but the forward bail is roughly 4' back from the mast on the X with an 8' beam. So if the port mainsheet is straight up from the gunnell the boom is on about a 45 degree angle from the mast. It doesn't take much more before the belly of the sail is up against the spreaders. From experience I can say the outside mainsheet catches well before the boom can enter the cockpit. If the boom were payed out to 60deg it would still be outside the cockpit by about 30deg when it caught.

Kinda POA when short tacking down a narrow fairway but excellent for long duration reaches. This system also keeps clutter out of the cockpit=more seat room and no blockage of the companion way

Have you tried just leaving one on each track and not bothering with the pedestal at all?

Seapup wrote:

can see where it would limit the boom from swinging all the way over to the other side of the boat, but it still looks like to me that if you are running and the boom is around to about where the sail is on the spreaders the boom will be ahead of the bottom attach point of the mainsheet. If the boom starts to come around it can swing a ways past the attach point and then be caught again maybe before mid boat.

To me a preventer, at least the ones we have, doesn't allow the boom to move towards the stern at all,

Sum

Its not a preventer in that respect, the boom is not locked in place like the setup you made. It does prevent the boom from coming into the cockpit and hitting someone, or even causing a jarring swing. That is enough for me to not need a preventer, not for everyone.

Just guessing numbers, but the forward bail is roughly 4' back from the mast on the X with an 8' beam. So if the port mainsheet is straight up from the gunnell the boom is on about a 45 degree angle from the mast. It doesn't take much more before the belly of the sail is up against the spreaders. From experience I can say the outside mainsheet catches well before the boom can enter the cockpit. If the boom were payed out to 60deg it would still be outside the cockpit by about 30deg when it caught.

Kinda POA when short tacking down a narrow fairway but excellent for long duration reaches. This system also keeps clutter out of the cockpit=more seat room and no blockage of the companion way

Have you tried just leaving one on each track and not bothering with the pedestal at all?

I have tried it with the dual vang but it takes up too much cockpit space for a crew of 4. Also tried it with 2 gunnel vangs and a main sheet vang but that also took cockpit space.

When we tack/gybe with the gunnel vang, I pull the boom over with the main sheet and a crew detaches the gunnel vang with it's quick release shackle and hooks it to the new leeward gunnel and hardens up the sheet
.
The main is always under control with the main vang. This is no fun in a short tacking duel.

As far as a "preventer", this system protects 1/2 the boat from a mach 1 decapator as the boom cannot cross over to the crew seated on the orginal windward side. I very rarely sail ddw because of a possible accidental gybe but prefer beam reaches which are faster, safer, and less boring.

Bob

Seapup wrote:

Any other pictures of this setup?