Total newbie questions about running rigging/sails....

[parrothead]

I agree that replacing the mainsheet blocks is a valuable upgrade. While you're at it, consider going from a 4:1 rig to 5:1, which results in a 20% decrease in the effort required to sheet in the mainsail. In the case of my , the standard mainsheet was long enough to make the extra pass and still allow the boom to be fully extended when sailing downwind. See http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1091

[Tomfoolery]

Those look like the same blocks BWYachts sells. Nice job on adding the 5th part of line, too. I have a number of little blocks laying around, and I'm going to give that arrangement a try. I like being able to control the main sheet with one hand while steering with the other in a good breeze, and cutting the force on the live end would be very helpful. Thanks for the idea.

[parrothead]

Yes, I'm quite sure they are the same set of Garhauer fiddle blocks that BWY sells. You could probably tie the line off directly to the top block without using a shackle, but I think it would be less aesthetic. The key to the upgrade is having the small 5th block sit at 90 degrees to the lower fiddle block so there's no line-on-line drag. Enjoy

[Tomfoolery]

How's that Gemini working out for you? <he said with just a hint of jealousy>

My next boat will probably be a trailerable trimaran. With this big outboard, I'm developing the need for speed. Always had sailboats, and a tri may just scratch that itch while maintaining the free fuel supply I so love.

[parrothead]

Funny, the multihull search that led to our purchase of the Gemini began in December with my desire to check out a Contour 30 trimaran that was {and evidently still is} for sale in Deale, MD. That's reportedly a very fast-sailing boat, but we were not able to coordinate a time when the owner was available to show it to us, so we started exploring catamaran options. The Gemini may not be as fast as the Contour, but whereas the accommodations on the tri are probably inferior to the , the Gemini is like a small apartment! We love it {some recent photos follow}, but - as you can tell - I haven't been able to stop reading this great Mac forum.

Regarding free fuel, one of the aspects of the Gem that we have truly come to appreciate is its solar panel array.

Presenting: Island Time

[Tomfoolery]

Now that's a sailboat the admiral could warm up to. Large, high cabin with lots of glass above decks, sails flat, isn't a slug. Niiice. Coincidentally, I'm going to be in Newark, DE on Wednesday. If you see someone sniffing around your boat, shoot him - it's probably me, and I can't be trusted around nice things.

Glad you're still coming here, though. I wouldn't have found the main sheet mod unless you pointed out your own work. Starspun should take note, too - that arrangement would be good for her, especially with five parts of line.

[StarSpun]

Catigale, haha! Yes, I do think we will try and put the jib up instead. Maybe someone at the marina can help us figure it out for a bottle of wine! And sailing with your 14 y/o kids....haha oh my, are they that crazy? HEHE!

captronr, holy moly, that's crazy! Thank you for sharing your story, the more of these I hear, the better I feel actually. I'd be open to replicating it, but only with someone VERY experienced onboard. And after I get everything put away nicely;-) The microwave has gone over a couple of times already. As has my Nespresso machine and all my cups! LOL!


tkanzler, thanks for the pics! Very interesting....
Ahhh, so many thing to figure out! I am looking up what everything means as I read your description. Gotta brush up on all the sailing terms, etc!
I LOVE shopping for the boat, there is no doubt about that. You can help ANYTIME;-) Thanks for the link and advice, I think we'll be doing this! If there is any other upgrade you recommend, please let me know! I think we should also get the mast raising system, but apparently it has to be modded for the X? Wow, my list is super long, where to begin!


Whipsyjac, ahhh that's what it's called. Clinomter! I am going to find one now. Great idea!


RussMT....very good points! I think the story of that capsize in that MAC really affected me....maybe a bit of the reason why I am so scared when the boat tilts. Seeing that picture you posted however, I understand how the water doesn't get it.
What if the sails fill with water? That would be terrifying!


bscott, I think a sailing lesson is the best idea. Very much looking into this!


Kevin, it has been a bit eh? How are you doing?! Sorry to hear about your engine....I hope you get it sorted out! Sucks when things aren't running right.... :-/
So as for sailing the little sailboats, I did that maaaany years ago as a camp counsellor. We used to tip them over on purpose, the kids loved it. That's pretty much the only sailing experience I've ever had....ha ha!


Parrothead....thanks for the link to the mod! I think I am going to post everything I have been looking to get/do, and see if anyone recommends something better/different.
I am not sure how we'd install it though....! Maybe we can pay someone with lots of MacGregor knowledge in the area to help. We're such newbs, haha!

And BTW, that boat is GORGEOUS!!!! Wowza!



Ok, I took some pics of the setup we have now. Maybe y'all can have a look and tell me if anything needs to be replaced or done differently?

Also, we saw another MAC X anchored at Hanlans Beach....went over to say hello. I noticed that they do not have two of the lines we have. One from the top of the mast to the back end of the boom, and one from the top of the mast tied to our front rail. What are these, and are they needed?

I am still trying to figure out what lines to get. I just really don't know where to start....ack!


Thanks everyone once again for your help! Here is my little album of everything boat related so far....if you go to the very end, you can see the pics how things are set up.

You can also see the beginning of the mods somewhere in there:-) I'll make a separate post for those. Still waiting for stuff to arrive in the mail....wheee!

https://plus.google.com/photos/11210238 ... 8619187569

[Catigale]

Top of mast to aft end of boom is topping lift.
Two uses...holding up boom when main sail is down, also adjusting boom in very light air...used by most Mac owners to display burgees...

Mast to front rail ....hmmmmm.... Are you sure it's top of mast? If its about 3/4 the way up, It is the jib halyard....you don't need this with the furler since it has it's own halyard....

[Whipsyjac]

Went through your picks and Wow, am I ever jealous. It's gonna take me a few years to get my boat close to what you've got.

Mast to bow rail is your jib halyard. Very handy to control the mast this way when raising or lowering, so many just leave it tied off since the roller furler doesn't need it.

Your bulkhead compass is very similar to mine, you could print a sticker or have a graphics shop do it with the angles marked off and put it on the lower semi circle of the compass, your lubber line ( long needle that tells your heading) would touch the angles at the bottom to serve as your clinometer.

There's a cheek block at the end of your boom, but it looks like its mounted forward of the horn cleat, I'm thinking it should be on the boom end side of the cleat. This would allow you to take the outhaul on the mainsail around the block then back to the cleat to make it fast. BWY has a mod for this with a good pic, check and see if your's is set up the same. Or have an experienced sailor look at it. Also the knots on the horn cleat are kinda messy in the picture, being neat here can really help when you need to make changes quickly to deal with weather. If there's only a minimal amount of line on the cleat you'll be able to make your reef fast to the cleat over top and in a jiffy.

You've got 2 sets of block cars on your cockpit coaming, forward set had the genoa lines on it. If you're not using the others it would be good to stow them so there's less to snag clothing or lines on.

I didn't know you could get stern seats for an , where'd you get them?

Shore power, jealous
Marine head, jealous
Motor control, very jealous (mine is mounted so the throttle is sticking back instead of up and it's almost on the cockpit floor)
Chartplotter, jealous

Plus all the new gear you're getting from Judy, Super Jealous.

Congratulations, glad to see you're enjoying the boat along the way,

Willy

[StarSpun]

Catigale, ah yes, the topping lift. I want to get a new line for it as well I think.
Is this the thing you can take away if you get a boomkicker?
The line at the front I think is 3/4 up....so that is likely what it is!



Whipsyjac....haha thanks so much for the kind words. We are constantly on the boat modding it up, planning stuff. Now we're getting in to the storage ideas, which are perplexing because of the angles in this boat! I think we're going to try and keep it simple, yet functional and nice looking:-) I just came back with a bag full of IKEA stuff for the walls, ha ha!

Whoa, good idea for the compass, except we JUST moved it to the pedistal, ha ha! Right near the bottom, but not so low that you can smack your feet on it. Bryans dad is a lobster fisherman, and apparently has a compass in a similar spot so Bryan didn't mind moving it there....now there is a second outdoor speaker in it's place:-)

Looking around trying to see where I'd like to put a clinometer now....

I will have to look into the cheek block thing. I have no idea what any of that stuff does there....I will for sure have someone take a peek at it and tell me how it works:D Thanks so much for the tips!

As for the seats, I originally had Genco doing them, since they did our bimini, interior upholstery, lifeline covers, gas cubby covers, mainsail cover, and window shades! However, they were having some serious issues figuring out how to make them. Everything got delayed during this time, but they decided to get Dowser in on it....apparently the man who installs it is the one who mods a few 26M things to fit an 26X....he is contracted by Dowser. I think I'll be getting him to install the mast raising system in the future. The seats were worth every penny....I was originally SHOCKED at the price for them. But after getting them put in, I'd have to stay it's one of the BEST things we've gotten on the boat. Everyone fights for those seats when we take friends out, ha ha!

As for the rest of the things you mentioned, the boat came with them....shore power, marine head with tank, chartplotter. I think we got a great deal on it. What is this motor control thing? Do you have a picture on how yours is different?

We are for sure having a blast. I'm getting impatient when it comes to getting things JUST SO....aaaand I hate hate hate dealing with all the tools and stuff piled under the table. But I am sure it will be worth it. Bryan has the entire galley pulled apart right now, I don't even want to look....stresses me out!

I just love love love this boat. I have become so incredibly attached. I can't even imagine life without my <3

Thanks once again for everyones tips and advice!

[Tomfoolery]

What is this motor control thing? Do you have a picture on how yours is different?

Ignoring the potential for sophomoric double entendre, here's mine.

Before: (tilt/trim button on the outside where it gets bumped all the time, up/down handle action, neutral idle lever that comes up on its own and locks out shifting, can't see the indicator lights, and handle arranged backwards for a right handed person)



After: (tilt/trim button on the thumb, where it was intended to be, and handle open to the outside, making it easy to work with the right hand, plus fore/aft action instead of up/down, and I can actually see the indicator lights now!)





Since these were taken, I've made a cover for the throttle shaft (die-cast socket with dried white grease around it), and maybe I'll update that pic tomorrow since I'm taking my son wakeboarding tonight. New engine cables completes the rework, and with proper adjustment (per the Honda installation manual), it all works super smooth now. Too smooth sometimes, as the throttle comes on a bit quick when driving it like I was used to driving it (ham-handed), though that's not Honda's fault.

[Catigale]

Cat...the boomkicker does replace the topping lift except burgees don't look as good from the boomkicker...

Fat Cat

[Whipsyjac]

Thanks for posting picks of the throttle tkanzler, mine is similar except mounted lower than your before picture. Also have everyone touching the motor trim accidently with feet etc. Trim is not keyed so as long as the batt switch is on the engine moves if the button is bumped. I also have sticking controls and steering, must lube(hopefully not replace).

Willy