Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

A forum for discussing boat or trailer repairs or modifications that you have made or are considering.
User avatar
Ixneigh
Admiral
Posts: 2358
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Key largo Florida

Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by Ixneigh »

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
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
User avatar
kurz
Admiral
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by kurz »

Yes, my :macm: 2011 had the small ones.
with the heavier it is much better!
User avatar
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?

Post by Ixneigh »

I have a 2011 also. I’ll pick a set up. Thanks.

Ix
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
User avatar
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?

Post by March »

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
User avatar
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?

Post by Russ »

March wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 2:19 pmLuckily we had a spare and we replaced it later in the day. No biggie
How difficult is it to replace the brackets? Can it be done in the water?
--Russ
User avatar
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?

Post by Ixneigh »

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
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
User avatar
Jimmyt
Admiral
Posts: 3301
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:52 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by Jimmyt »

Ixneigh wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:28 am 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
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.

Image
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
tuxonpup
Deckhand
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:37 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Tucson AZ

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by tuxonpup »

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

Image
1996 Macgregor 26X w/ Nissan 50hp 2-stroke
User avatar
Jimmyt
Admiral
Posts: 3301
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:52 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by Jimmyt »

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
User avatar
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?

Post by Ixneigh »

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
"Shoal Idea"
2011 M, white
Etec 60
South Fl.
User avatar
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?

Post by Russ »

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.
--Russ
User avatar
NiceAft
Admiral
Posts: 6498
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:28 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Upper Dublin,PA, USA: 2005M 50hp.Honda4strk.,1979 Phantom Sport Sailboat, 9'Achilles 6HP Merc 4strk

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by NiceAft »

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."
.
Ray ~~_/)~~
User avatar
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?

Post by March »

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)
User avatar
kurz
Admiral
Posts: 1236
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Zürich, Switzerland, Europe

Re: Upgraded blue water rudder brackets?

Post by kurz »

March 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)
U talk about :macx:?!
User avatar
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?

Post by March »

That is correct. It's an X. The aluminum brackets look like those in Tuxonpup's pics
Post Reply