MacGregorSailors.com

Hello,
I bought a 1992 26S and I am getting ready to take it out on maiden sail. This is my first MacGregor. I hoisted the sail to check them out and they seem generally OK, no rips or tears. On the roller furling the sacrificial material has been sacrificed. The roller furling itself works, but is the original and plastic is cracked. When I raised the main I noticed that the boom sags way into the cockpit, making for a really dangerous tack or jibe. Shouldn't the boom be parallel? The sail is the original. Is there something I am forgetting to do? The main halyard is tight and the mainsheet is free, no boom vang. Is it just time for a new sail?

Thanks,
Mike Woodcock
All is Swell
Benicia, California

Welcome to the crew. Yes the boom should be parallel. Was the sail fully raised?

I didn't step back from the boat. I actually put the mast up while the boat was on the trailer. The halyard was definitely tight.I should have got down and looked from the side. I have hard that the "Luff " line, I think that is what it's called, may have shrunk over time. The sail is over 30 years old, original I think.

Your gooseneck may also be set too high. Or the sail isn't original to the boat and is oversized. Next time your out take some pics, this should be easy to figure out!

Thanks, I will take some pictures and add them here.
Mike

Again, welcome!

When I got my S the mainsail had a rope luff and foot, both of which had shrunk considerably. The boat could be sailed, but did not sail well until I replaced it with a slug-feed loose-footed sail.

If it's original, my guess is that the main has stretched. Mine is 15 years old and has stretched.

One temporary solution might be to install a topping lift to keep the boom high and away from getting in the way.