I did it!! I bought the Mac 26X!

[bscott]

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post. 3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy. 4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out. .....

OK, Matt, let's go the whole way into the future.... 40th time in the water 30 min in and 45 out, 80th time in the water 1 hour in and 1 hour out, 100th time in the water 2 hours in and 2 hours out...... I guess someone could graph this.

It has something to do with the aging of the skipper and the lack of need to rush anymore after retiring.

X2

Bob

[TFlight]

Please do read through the experiences of other first-time launchers on this board! Your first launch and retrieval will take more time than you expect, and so will the retrieval.
Matt

Congratulations and welcome to a great forum site full of knowledgeable helpful sailors providing a plethora of information, help and ideas. I have learn so much and met some of the best people here, "Thanks Mac Sailors"

Matt (mastreb) is right on the money! I could have used that advise when I started.

Here are some of my first launch issues: Search post "26M launch HELP & tips please"
The rigging gets easier each time but my time doesn't get any shorter as I keep adding mods to make single handed sailing easier and as someone noted getting older, wiser I hope, and more safety conscious.

Have fun with it,
Tony

[DaveB]

I did, and tho most won't agree with me I still launch in 15 min. and retrive same time.(this is when I arive at ramp and boat is ready to sail in water)
I am 61 (with a pot belly) and girlfriend a decade or more behind but if younger in my 40's would do it in 10-11 min.
First time took me 45 min. to figuare what to do, second time 30 min., 3rd time 25 min. rest of time was just makeing it easier to rig for the 15 min.
I would not own a Mac. if it took me over 20 min. to Launch .
I will add, all stays are conected and Jib is on a roller furler with a 10 inch sail cloth protecting it fro UV damage secured with Bungie cords. Sail is attached to boom and stored in cabin. Bimini is in back of pickup under a cap.
Dave

1st time into the water: 2 hours to rig and launch, 2 hours to un-rig. Post here regarding desperation and disappointed admiral time into the water: 1 hour to rig and launch, 1 hour out. No post. 3rd time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here as to newly discovered methods for making rigging and launching easy. 4th time into the water: 30 minutes to rig and launch, 45 minutes out. Post here claiming 15 minutes in and out. .....

OK, Matt, let's go the whole way into the future.... 40th time in the water 30 min in and 45 out, 80th time in the water 1 hour in and 1 hour out, 100th time in the water 2 hours in and 2 hours out...... I guess someone could graph this.

It has something to do with the aging of the skipper and the lack of need to rush anymore after retiring.

[mastreb]

Dave I know it's possible. my best time from parking brake to rigged for sail and ready to go is actually about 15 minutes--but that was during the height of the season when I was putting on and off the trailer once every two weeks. I fully expect that after a few months of winter I'll be back up to 45 minutes until I get the callouses back on my hands. My "typical" time is 30 minutes to rigged and 45 minutes to stowed.

My two biggest time savers are doing the removable spreaders mod and my method of putting the mainsail cover open on the deck and dropping the vang, boomkicker, mainsheet, boom, and mainsail all into it, then closing it upside down and dropping the package down into the cabin sole. Then I dump all sheets, lines, and stays down into the cabin so I dont' have to spend time tying them up or untying them. I've got a single shackle hanging from the mast halyard and holding the stays that keeps everything managed up top. Works a charm, and the only things I have to untie to rig are a tie around the mast at the roller and a trucker's hitch I tie between the forward cockpit stanchions over the mast to keep the mast tied down.

I also have my "all lines aft" package setup to simply unshackle or untrack and go into the bag as well. That's all going to change shortly as my next mod is to get the Inmon roller reefer I bought last fall installed.

[DaveB]

Mastreb,
When I said 15 min. from time to arrive at ramp and launched. It was with 2 persons as previous stated. If I was to Launch alone I would need my Mac.M gin pole and would take me 30 min. as the set up time for the gin pole would add 10 min. for setup and take down.
Single handed does require double amout of time at least.
I did try the MacM gin pole once and it is way over power to lift the mast and way to heavy.(took baby finger to crank only the 1/4 to 2/3 way up and rest could be man handled, Big joke).
My old lady lifts my mast as i help pull at the headstay roller furler without a grunt.
Dave

Dave I know it's possible. my best time from parking brake to rigged for sail and ready to go is actually about 15 minutes--but that was during the height of the season when I was putting on and off the trailer once every two weeks. I fully expect that after a few months of winter I'll be back up to 45 minutes until I get the callouses back on my hands. My "typical" time is 30 minutes to rigged and 45 minutes to stowed.

My two biggest time savers are doing the removable spreaders mod and my method of putting the mainsail cover open on the deck and dropping the vang, boomkicker, mainsheet, boom, and mainsail all into it, then closing it upside down and dropping the package down into the cabin sole. Then I dump all sheets, lines, and stays down into the cabin so I dont' have to spend time tying them up or untying them. I've got a single shackle hanging from the mast halyard and holding the stays that keeps everything managed up top. Works a charm, and the only things I have to untie to rig are a tie around the mast at the roller and a trucker's hitch I tie between the forward cockpit stanchions over the mast to keep the mast tied down.

I also have my "all lines aft" package setup to simply unshackle or untrack and go into the bag as well. That's all going to change shortly as my next mod is to get the Inmon roller reefer I bought last fall installed.

[vizwhiz]

My sweet, darling Admiral lifts my mast as i help pull at the headstay roller furler without a grunt.

There ya go...just helping out a little...

[capncarp]

Happy to have you onboard. My X didn't look that good when I bought it new in 99. By the way, is an M mast raiser different that an X riser?

sail safe,
capncarp
99

[dlandersson]

FYI: Newest owner has to buy the pizza.

It was a long day, 210 mile drive and then a good 3 hours checking out the boat and all the paper work.
Everything looked good, we talked price and the next thing I know I’m on my way back, 210 miles home
with a MacGregor 26X. in tow!!, Wow what a day!!!
Jim

[Tomfoolery]

By the way, is an M mast raiser different that an X riser?

On an raising system, the live rigging is between the gin pole and the deck, and brought back to one of the cabin roof winches, while the static rigging is normally the jib halyard. The gin pole pivots with the mast as the mast is raised.

On the system, the live rigging is a small winch mounted right on the gin pole, with the live end attached to the mast, and the static rigging is a line between the gin pole and the deck roof. The gin pole doesn't move as the mast is raised, and you can leave it while sailing if you like, though I don't know how sail-friendly the winch is to the sail as you come about.

Edit: You can see how to use the system in the manual (pages 9 & 10), at MacGregor's web site. http://www.macgregor26.com/instruction_ ... CTIONS.pdf

[Sea Wind]

Congrats on the new boat!

Sea Wind

[jassr4848]

I did! and it was good...

FYI: Newest owner has to buy the pizza.

It was a long day, 210 mile drive and then a good 3 hours checking out the boat and all the paper work.
Everything looked good, we talked price and the next thing I know I’m on my way back, 210 miles home
with a MacGregor 26X. in tow!!, Wow what a day!!!
Jim

[DaveB]

Be careful in how you add to a quote, I may want to own your boat for free.
Dave

My sweet, darling Admiral lifts my mast as i help pull at the headstay roller furler without a grunt.

There ya go...just helping out a little...

[vizwhiz]

@DaveB