Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
- Ixneigh
- Admiral
- Posts: 2358
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Key largo Florida
Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
Mine have the bend in them but otherwise seem to be holding up. Is it worth upgrading to the heavier ones?
Do plan on maybe an extended trip to the Bahamas.
Thanks
Ix
Do plan on maybe an extended trip to the Bahamas.
Thanks
Ix
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
- kurz
- Admiral
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
Yes, my
2011 had the small ones.
with the heavier it is much better!

with the heavier it is much better!
- Ixneigh
- Admiral
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- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
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- Location: Key largo Florida
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
I have a 2011 also. I’ll pick a set up. Thanks.
Ix
Ix
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
- March
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Iowa, MacGregor 26X, Yamaha 4 stroke 50 HP
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
Can't hurt. We keep a spare pair in the bilge and they truly came in handy in the Bahamas. One morning, the water was so incredibly transparent, that we forgot to keep a keen eye on the depth. At some point, while sailing serenely, the boat got stuck in the shallows and ended up teetering on three points: the centerboard and the two rudders. All of a sudden it became apparent that the current was pretty strong. By the time I jumped into the waist-deep water and sliced the rudders' ropes (we could not pull them up by hand anymore), one of the aluminum brackets was already bent and cracked. Luckily we had a spare and we replaced it later in the day. No biggie
- Russ
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Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
How difficult is it to replace the brackets? Can it be done in the water?
--Russ
- Ixneigh
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- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Key largo Florida
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
I don’t think it would be possible for me to do
It alone. But if I had the part at least that’s something. I could always try to enlist other cruisers assistance. Re: Gin Clear water. Oh how I miss that!! Been too too long.
Ix
It alone. But if I had the part at least that’s something. I could always try to enlist other cruisers assistance. Re: Gin Clear water. Oh how I miss that!! Been too too long.
Ix
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
- Jimmyt
- Admiral
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
Plus, the bracket bolts are well below the waterline. So, it will be exciting to do in the water on an M. Not sure about the X.

Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
-
- Deckhand
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Tucson AZ
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
OG 26X aluminum rudder brackets were above the water line, everything transom-mounted was at the deck's edge;
rudder bracket : ladder pivot : motor bracket : valve handle : rudder bracket

rudder bracket : ladder pivot : motor bracket : valve handle : rudder bracket

1996 Macgregor 26X w/ Nissan 50hp 2-stroke
- Jimmyt
- Admiral
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- Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:52 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
I think that’s better than the M…
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
- Ixneigh
- Admiral
- Posts: 2358
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Key largo Florida
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
You have to do it on the tide with the M. You have to unbolt the lower gudgions, 4 bolts. Impossible to do alone. Plus reseal with marine sealant.
Ix
Ix
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 7905
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
At the beginning of the 2024 season, my son unbolted the "wrong" safety pin on the rudder brackets. After launching, we soon learned the rudders would not go down. I didn't want to pull the boat, so switching the bolts IN WATER was a challenge.
The X brackets do seem smarter and above the waterline.
The X brackets do seem smarter and above the waterline.
--Russ
- NiceAft
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Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
This thread reminded me of Madd Mike.
For awhile, he was thinking about taking Xenons Arrow across the Pacific for a trip to Hawaii. He mentioned that the rudders would need some reinforcements
Chinook has posted this: " I remember some of his last posts were talking about trying to sail his boat out to Hawaii, but I don't think he ever made that trip. While he was active on this site, it was always fascinating to read his posts."
.
For awhile, he was thinking about taking Xenons Arrow across the Pacific for a trip to Hawaii. He mentioned that the rudders would need some reinforcements
Chinook has posted this: " I remember some of his last posts were talking about trying to sail his boat out to Hawaii, but I don't think he ever made that trip. While he was active on this site, it was always fascinating to read his posts."
.
Ray ~~_/)~~
- March
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Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
If memory serves, the aluminum brackets that cracked and bent were simply held in place by a vertical axle. We didn't have to remove the plate that goes against the fiberglass wall. That was still in good condition. It could be done easily in waist-deep water. Not hard at all.
(It was definitely easier than removing the centerboard while on the water, in order to clamp it back together, having split it by hitting a rock that lurked unexpectedly in the middle of the Nassau canal, on an earlier occasion)
(It was definitely easier than removing the centerboard while on the water, in order to clamp it back together, having split it by hitting a rock that lurked unexpectedly in the middle of the Nassau canal, on an earlier occasion)
- kurz
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Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
U talk aboutMarch wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:54 am If memory serves, the aluminum brackets that cracked and bent were simply held in place by a vertical axle. We didn't have to remove the plate that goes against the fiberglass wall. That was still in good condition. It could be done easily in waist-deep water. Not hard at all.
(It was definitely easier than removing the centerboard while on the water, in order to clamp it back together, having split it by hitting a rock that lurked unexpectedly in the middle of the Nassau canal, on an earlier occasion)

- March
- Captain
- Posts: 956
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 7:54 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Iowa, MacGregor 26X, Yamaha 4 stroke 50 HP
Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?
That is correct. It's an X. The aluminum brackets look like those in Tuxonpup's pics