Replacement pelican hook on stock 26M lifeline

[Navy DOC]

Recently returned from an extended trip abroad (read that anyway you like), and am prepping the boat for launch. At some point over the past 10 months the spring loaded plunger on one of the lifeline pelican hooks was lost, and I am now the proud owner of a pelican hook body without a method of securing it.

I've tried to purchase replacement hook (to the tune of $30.00 or so) from WesMarine, but had to return because the hooks they have are too large.

The MacGregor website has a "supplier" section where they id the hook with a photo, but of course, no technical info (length, trhead, width etc).

Short of going back to MacGregor, does anyone have a lead on where I can purchase a replacement hook? I don't want to re-rig my lines, nor do I want to re-swage (don't have the tools).

Thanks.

[James V]

Please call Bill at the factory and he can help with the right part number.

[Frank C]

Welcome home, Navy !!
& welcome ab'd Heath's forums.

James is correct, Bill Snedeker (Gen'l Manager?) at Macgregor Yachts will be able to help you. Sometimes they ask you to mail an advance personal check, occasionally he'll just replace it for ya ... worth the phone call!

Macgregor Yachts
1631 Placentia Ave
Costa Mesa, CA
(949) 642-6830

[NiceAft]

Navy Doc,

I had the same problem. I called the factory and they replaced it for me. It helped that the boat was not a year old. Try it! You have nothing to lose. If there is any hard time given you, I would mention that you were away for an extended period and you could use some help.

Welcome aboard.


Ray

[c130king]

Navy Doc,

Same thing happend to me today on the St. John's River. The Ringding pulled out and I was unable to "unlatch" the pelican hook for the port side cockpit lifeline. Then later today when folding up the bimini as I was pushing the support pole around the aft stanchion there must have been just right the pressure on the life line. The clip popped open and the spring loaded pin popped out...(insert sound of pin hitting the water and sinking here... ).

So please let me know what method worked out for you to get a new lifeline pellican hook and I will give it a go as well.

I am USAF but sail out of NAS Jax right now. But I am headed for NAS Norfolk for 2 months of JPME (mid April to mid June) and will be trailering my . Looking forward to checking out the sailing in your neck of the woods.

Thanks,
Jim

[delevi]

Those hooks aren't very good. I had the same thing happen three or four times and I got fed up. I got better hooks w/o springs from West Marine. I had to replace my cockpit lifelines in the process to be able to swage the new hooks on them. I was kind of wanting some padded lifelines, so I got the 1/4" cables with vinyl exteriros. Had to use the swage tool at West Marine, but all in all, a great mod. Better lifelines, more reliable hooks, and no more worries about loosing springs, etc. Approx $100 for hooks and lines.

[Frank C]

I recall that for the 26M, Roger is now including pelican hooks~!
We X-owners had to do it as a mod.

This is the way we were able to add pelican hooks without swaging ... combine a Pelican hook body with a turnbuckle's toggle screw. Couldn't you just use the body from We$t, and screw it onto your existing lifeline? IIRC, you can find pelicans with either RH or LH threaded body. Guess I've never really looked at those M-style lifelines.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I implemented Frank's mod a couple years ago and it has worked great. I guess Roger must have used pretty low quality Pelican hooks on the 26M from the sounds of it.

[Andy26M]

The pelican hooks on my 26M look almost exactly like the ones in Frank C's picture above. I think Frank, too, may find that if he takes the ringding off of his pelican hook while it is open, the little movable pin and spring in there will fall out - this is a very common design for these sorts of small pelican hooks.

- Andy

[ChrisP and Pam]

Ours sunk too. I'll add that to the list!

[Frank C]

... I think Frank, too, may find that if he takes the ringding off of his pelican hook while it is open, the little movable pin and spring in there will fall out -

I'm sure Andy's correct, but I've never removed the ringding.

It never occurred to me that OP's ringding was removed~! Fact is, that particular RD is very stiff, should be difficult to remove. You can buy a little webbed lanyard to attach to the rings, easier to yank them.

This is a standard size of Pelican hook that should be available in all boat stores for about $25. They are sized as 1/8" due to the lifeline wire they will accept. Body threads vary, so you'll need to keep your receipts for possible exchange.

[mtc]

Apparently this is a common problem as my ring dings and pins have come out a couple of times. I'm planning on replacing them with p-hooks with retained pins so when the dings come out for what ever reason, the pins won't.

Have any luck getting replacements? The idea of combining the p-hooks with the swivel shanks is excellent! May just try that.

Michael

[Trav White]

I did the same Mod that Frank did. Used nice stainless ones from Johnson. They may be a little larger, but they have very smooth action. I did notice that the pin is spring loaded, but held in with the RingDing. So I can see where this coud fall out, but I can't see where one would undo the ringding. Maybe a little tape to keep the ringding closed?

One thing that concerns me is the locking nut seems very loose. Does anyone have any great ideas to keep it snug against the pelican hook?

[mtc]

Trav,

Perhaps locktite, or safety wire - which would require drilling.

[kmclemore]

Yeah, I'd just use Loctite - easy and quick. Or replace the nut with a nyloc nut.