baby stays on the 2003 M

Québec 1 · Post by **Québec 1** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:54 am

My boat did not come with baby stays . It also does not have the mast raising system with the crank.

I used 3/8 inch weaved rope to use as baby stays. This did not work..mast took a swing to the furler foresaiil side while coming down..bent plate which bolts onto the boat . Got help from an old sailor guy. he stood on the roof of his car and held the mast as I winched her back up and straight.

The plate will be fixed (its a slight bend .......... on monday..no problem)

The solution as I see it is to:

1. Order a set of wire babystays which clip on to the mast and the stanchion
or
2. Make a set of baby stays(in which case what lenght should they be?).
or
3. Get a new crank style mast raising system with the baby stays.

Any body out there with a 2003M with a helping comment?
Q1

p.s. since I started putting my Mac in the Saint Lawrence absolutely everybody thinks its the cats meow. I keep getting praise on its good looks and versatility and especially wonderment when I pick it up and retrieve it with my Buick Lesabre(only at high tide tho).

But I need help with the mast raising cause it was not a nice show last night at the marina.

K9Kampers · Post by **K9Kampers** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:18 am

Q1-

I did the same too, in the beginning. Had to bend my mast hinge back to shape.

IMO - your best option is to order the mast raising system WITH baby stays. Short of that, you can (with planning / help / caution) walk up your mast with homemade babystays. I can walk up my mast by myself, but only with the babystays. For homemade stays, use the Pythagorean theorem. Your "a" should be approx. 72". When making your stays, incorporate something adjustable, such as turnbuckles.

puggsy · Post by **puggsy** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:45 am

By all means get the baby stays. I have modified mine somewhat by leaving the 'C' shaped bale on the mast all the time and have added small short SS straps, one on each side, all held by the bale bolt. The baby stays are shackledto these and not removed. The rope from the winch, has a solid clip at the end and this clips onto a small shackle that slides on the bale. Giving a bit of lateral movement. In preparing to lower the mast, the babystays are clipped, not shackled, to the rings on the side staunchions. Slack is removed by a good strong [flat] 'occy' [stretchy] strap that is bound twice around the lower end of the winch pole and hooked onto the stays. All the hooks and clips make for easier setting up and no chance of dropping shackle pins.
My previously posted mod of raising the furler drum and adding another turnbuckle and hifield lever makes attaching and detaching the forestay much easier.
I do plan to raise the height of the mast crutch just for bridges,,, The mast really does not have to drop so low.

Puggsy 06

hart · Post by **hart** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:03 am

The PO of my boat added an extension of about 12 inches to the mast crutch to clear the stern arch. It also seems like it takes much less effort to get it up from that angle. Even if I take the arch off I think I'll keep the extension on the crutch.

Highlander · Post by **Highlander** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:35 am

Q1

I only paid $108. for my mast raising system when I bought my boat new in Nov from my dealer I think you'll find it will cost you more than that just to get the baby stays made ! ? I'd opt to buying the complete system comes with baby stays have you checked under your interior seats thats where I found mine stowed I thought they had forgot to put it in the boat

J

K9Kampers · Post by **K9Kampers** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:25 am

Highlaner says:

...have you checked under your interior seats thats where I found mine stowed I thought they had forgot to put it in the boat

Good point! I didn't know about the babystays until after a wayward mast incident! The PO of our boat never used them & showed us how easy? it is to raise the mast with FOUR

people! I eventually found mine under the dinette seat in the bilge!

Québec 1 · Post by **Québec 1** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:10 am

Thanks guys. I found the lazy jacks lines under the galley seat. Think I will just go with the new winch type mast raiser...looks better for a solo guy and it will be something I will use very often as I have no slip. . Now to find someone who can get me one out here asap

This is it on theM site:

Mast raising system, with brake winch, side supports, pole and all hardware-- $135

Q1

p.s. I don't care about the price I do care about having a good time setting up and taking down my riggings. I have only done it 4 times and can say that overtime setting up and preparing this incredible boat for the road should easily take less than 45 minutes. Every time I do it (without incident) I really feel good ..... Also it so confuses the real sailors to see a mast going up on a 26 foot sloop 10 minutes after It arrives on the marina parking . What a wonderful boat

word to the wise .Don't talk to the bystanders when setting up and setting down it leads to problems everytime.

Boblee · Post by **Boblee** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:48 pm

I wouldn't even contemplate trying to raise the mast without the raising system nor would I try to make my own or use any other method , it is just too easy and for the price cheap.
I am going to try leaving the baby stays on as an extra insurance if one of the shrouds lets go (may help) but have till now always removed them but then used to remove the boom too for trailering, with my high mast support find it a real breaze to leave it on with some care.
This board is fantastic for finding ways to cut corners and save valuable water time.
Re temporary baby stays these could be rigged with rope lines by attaching the mast foot and laying the mast square on the support, the correct length will be with the ropes taut from the bale to the fixing point on the staunchions.

Mistral · Post by **Mistral** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:08 pm

I am with Boblee. We have to lower the mast to go under several bridges and raise it then on the water. Could not do it without the mast raising system. We also leave the baby stays on as the genoa goes outside the main shrouds anyway.

Oskar 26M · Post by **Oskar 26M** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:17 am

Get the mast raising system. Its well worth the cost for the speed and ease of use.

And, as hvolkhart demonstrated in another thread, it can be modified to double as a foredeck davit - great for dinghy launching and retrieval

Boblee · Post by **Boblee** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:20 am

Not my dinghy it's a 12' tinny with a 15hp Honda

Québec 1 · Post by **Québec 1** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:49 am

Oskar 26M wrote:Get the mast raising system. Its well worth the cost for the speed and ease of use.

And, as hvolkhart demonstrated in another thread, it can be modified to double as a foredeck davit - great for dinghy launching and retrieval

Sold

A foredeck davit and mast raising system all in one. I think a rule for buying stuff for the boat has become...if it can do 2 things or more its a good investement.

I have e-mailed Russells marine in Maine. He sold me the boat (excellent transaction and all around nice guy type of service)and maybe he can get me a mast raising system in a few days. If not, I will try the other Mac suppliers. I see Kelley Hanson has them too

Appreciate the feedback...it confirms my first ideal which was to get a new mast raising system, just did not know the price. Seems from looking around they sell for under 140$ with 50$ shipping and taxes ..Thats a reasonable price.

Q1

Québec 1 · Post by **Québec 1** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:28 am

Highlander wrote:Q1

I only paid $108. for my mast raising system when I bought my boat new in Nov from my dealer I think you'll find it will cost you more than that just to get the baby stays made ! ? I'd opt to buying the complete system comes with baby stays have you checked under your interior seats thats where I found mine stowed I thought they had forgot to put it in the boat

J

Just ordered the latest model Mast raising system from Russell's Marine in Maine for under 200$ shipping included and should be recieving it by the end of the week...depending on customs process time.
Q1

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:19 am

When I first got my 2003 M the dealer provided me with the X mast raising system that uses the jib halyard. I had rope babystays that tied to a hound on the mast and passed through the fairleads on the mid stantions then back to cleats on the cabin top next to the winches. The winches were used to raise the mast and I could tighten the babystays quite snug on the cleats. I have since upgraded to the new system with the brake winch and find it much easier to use.
If you bent the mast plate ( I once did) it does not cost much to replace and you may be better off replacing it than trying to bend it back. As for leaving the baby stays on, they just get in the way when going forward, I take them off and stow them below with the brake winch.

rockman · Post by **rockman** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:08 am

I got the mast raising system with my 2006 26M. It is still sitting in the corner of the shed - with the packaging tape around it. But I think I will get it out this year and see if it makes it any easier (following from the comments here).

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

baby stays on the 2003 M

baby stays on the 2003 M

MAST RAISING