Adjusting the forestay length

[cmeperform]

How about that?Has anyone tried to do that on the Mac furler?

[mikelinmon]

Well, the intention is that the forestay is the correct length for the rake designed intpo the boat. Tighten the side stays to tighten the forestay. If it seems like you need a different rake; look at other things first. Fullness of your mainsail, fullness of your jib/genoa, rudders all the way down and locked. Number one, seems like a new Macgregor from the photo so I think your sails are not blown out. Number two, are you useing the jib in light wind, that will give a boat lee helm, switch to the genoa. Do you have a suncover sewn onto the ggenoa leech? That will change the sail shape usually. Try the rudder adjustment screws, see the instruction manual. The screws are small but they really do change things around.
You know before even saying any of the above stuff, I shoud ask one question. Do you have lee helm or windward helm?
You might remember the older Macgregors and their instructional manual. They always give an exact forestay length to adjust the turnbuckle to. Same as the present boat but Mac now supplies the designed length for you.
Mike Inmon

[cmeperform]

I think this picture may help.You can see it loose.When I put the sail on it's worse.

[Terry]

Well, the intention is that the forestay is the correct length for the rake designed intpo the boat. Tighten the side stays to tighten the forestay. Try the rudder adjustment screws, see the instruction manual. The screws are small but they really do change things around. Hmm does a 2003 26M have these screws?
You know before even saying any of the above stuff, I shoud ask one question. Do you have lee helm or windward helm?
You might remember the older Macgregors and their instructional manual. They always give an exact forestay length to adjust the turnbuckle to. Same as the present boat but Mac now supplies the designed length for you.
Mike Inmon

Sounds like there is no longer a forestay turnbuckle on the new boats or perhaps it is a function of the factory roller furler to not have one. Is there a turnbuckle for a new boat without the roller furler option? I used the turnbuckle to adjust mine. Actually I had to get a new 5/32 forestay for my Shaefer Snapfurl CF700 so I also got the next size up turnbuckle which was 5/16.
I used the forestay and turnbuckle to set the rake then did the shrouds after the forestay was set and held. A preset forestay would help to achieve better rig tuning but if you get an aftermarket rollerfurler then you may require a means of adjusting the forestay somewhat like I did. Some folks install those highfield levers to attach the forestay easier so that may entail adjusting the forestay length. A preset forestay with no turnbuckle may inhibit future changes. I think I would prefer a turnbuckle of sorts.

[mackatt68]

Unless Roger has really, really improved quality control at the factory, I wouldn't trust anything to be accurate that's been preset during production. My 98x didn't have the necessary reinforcement around the centerboard pivot pin, luckily I became aware of the problem thru sites like this one and was able to repair it before the board fell out of the trunk from wear because the hole had gotten very egg shaped. Mast rake has such an important effect on sailing performance that I would want to be able to adjust it to fit my sailing style. It took me the better part of the first two seasons to get the helm balance to the point where the boat became a pleasure to sail. BTW, no sailor worth his salt ever refers to the shrouds as side stays

[cmeperform]

LOL-I never heard of a side stay until today. anyhow,here in this picture the boat is rigged & very visible

[kadet]

The MAC furler has two nuts on the bottom one is the adjustment nut the other the lock nut, there is a third one but it is pinned as a terminator. to shorten the forestay just wind up the adjustment nut then lock off with the lock nut. Pretty simple but you only have about 1 inch of adjustment before the threaded swage end blocks off the chain-plate clevis pin hole, unlike a turnbuckle with 2+ inches of adjustment. I think my next mod will be a proper forestay and turnbuckle .

[cmeperform]

thank you kadet..I did adjust it then.I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something else to adjust..
yes,my next mod may be to trash this fuler all together..Crap

[kadet]

cmeperform I hear you I was getting one of these until the fridge and the wifes vacume decided to blow up at the same time.

http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemd ... lutePage=1


May be in the new year.

[cmeperform]

yes,thats a furler one can use.Nice.I wish we could have known about the cheap sails,cheap furler & a few other things before we baught the boat.
One could go ahead & order the things that work proper instead of going through all this.Oh well, it's still a great boat.I would love to go ahead &
defect to your country by the way.. I drive big trucks so I'm sure to find work.Trouble is Australia has more since,cents, than let to many people
come in so as to keep there own people having work.Our once great country has all but gone down the tubes forever.GREED
Craig

[DaveB]

Looks to me that the furler was furled with slack in the line , both sheet line and furler line has to have equal tension when furled other wise the furler line will wrap around drum any way it wants to.
On my Mac.X I have the CDI 2 furler and if furled other than fully open the line would shafe on the stainless caseing that had sharp edges. I rounded out those edges with a dremel tool stone bit.
Also very important to have the furlers lead line 90 degrees to headstay.
Dave

How about that?Has anyone tried to do that on the Mac furler?

[cmeperform]

Thanks Dave,
I just have the line wrapped around so it won't drag the ground in this picture.
That was before Mark helped me put the sail on.I didn't realize both lines
had to have an even ammount of tension,thanks

[Kelly Hanson East]

Looking at that picture I have to ask how much tension is on the foresail sheets? The forestay looks loose, but if the sheets are cleated off they will pull the forestay into that curve of course

[puggsy]

Yes...I fitted a second 'hound' on the mast about 28 cm above the standard one...this raised the drum higher off the deck to allow better vision and better access to disconnect the forestay...the gap being taken up by a Hi-field lever and extra turnbuckle.



With this I did not have to alter the forestay length.

UPPER HOUND

[puggsy]

Here's an extra one...