Lowering the mast on a 26M

[BlindGoofy]

The admiral and I just bought a 2003 26M in near mint condition, and we love this boat! Not only are we new to sailing, but to boating in general. What a great thing!

Anyway, when it came time to pull the boat out for the winter (we live in southeast Alaska), we didn't see any detailed videos on lowering the mast specific to the 26M. We decided to make our own, hopefully for the good of the community. Remember we are novices, but I think we covered all the bases.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FS0FGonmYUI

Hope this helps someone out there!

[cptron]

Well done video, however why did you not use the mast raising/lowering system and I disconnect the electric prior to lowering just in case something might hang up on it. Like the pelican hook idea for the main sheet and boom vang. Will probably copy that ourselves.

[BlindGoofy]

Thanks, cptron! I'll remember that note about unplugging the electric. Would have used the winch if I was doing this alone, but seemed like extra work for two. Would like to hear other's opinions on this subject.

[Divecoz]

I as well always use the mast winch. IMHO Not Using The Mast Winch is like substituting a 5 gallon bucket for a ladder when that ladder is just a few feet away.. Have I done just that in a pinch when no ladder was readily available? Yes .. Would I ever suggest others do it? No.. I am glad all went well for both of you. However this video could have EASILY ended with the caption.. How Could This Accident Have Been Avoided??

[BlindGoofy]

Thanks, divecoz! I appreciate your mild admonishment, and will definitely take it to heart. As noobs, we are all ears! I think my reasoning for not using the winch went something like this: the winch is an optional purchase, the manual says it is totally doable, then something inside just needed to know for sure. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I know we'll use the winch for raising, though.

[yukonbob]

Welcome aboard. I think we have enough Macs in SE Alaska now to do a meet (we keep ours in Skagway from April to Sept). I just have to convince some of the Mac sailors in the Yukon to come down to the salt water. Hope to be down in the Hoonah area for a long time this summer. We'll have to keep in contact and do a get together.

[Russ]

Pretty boat.
Well made video. Very clear close ups.

Now you have to raise the mast again.
If your boat didn't come with a mast raising pole, I would suggest this is THE most important accessory you should have. It makes raising/lowering the mast supereasy. Worth every penny and back ache.
Can be bought here:
http://www.bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%2 ... ng_kit.htm

I also remove the spreaders. It takes a few more minutes, but makes dealing with the rigging so much easier once lowered.

Youtube DOES have several Mac videos on the topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5i0nLon1aA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuPta_2uhY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bektxtfBKdY


Manual for the 26M
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/manuals ... l_2003.pdf

[Tomfoolery]

If your boat didn't come with a mast raising pole, I would suggest this is THE most important accessory you should have. It makes raising/lowering the mast supereasy. Worth every penny and back ache.

Second that. Even the original style, which uses fiddle blocks instead of a winch. I retrofitted mine for 5-parts of line using ball bearing sheaves, and can raise the mast without using the cabin roof winch. For road trips, I lower the mast, and just leave the gin pole in place to save time at the other end when the mast has to go back up. And as Russ suggested, I too pop out the spreaders, using pto pins to keep them in their sockets (nickel plated, which still haven't started to rust after two seasons, but ss versions are available ). If I was younger, I might not bother with the gin pole, but I'm not, so I do. Whoa . . . wait . . . bummer.

Oh, and baby stays. Best thing ever invented, they are.

[BlindGoofy]

Yukonbob - Absolutely!!

RussMT and Tomfoolery - Thanks for the advice and links, guys! As mentioned above, we will definitely be using the winch to raise the mast again. I wouldn't say bringing the mast down without it was a bad experience, but I hope I have enough common sense to know when choice b is better than choice a. How could I aspire to be a sailor otherwise.

[Tomfoolery]

A big advantage of the gin pole is that you can crank it down overtight to make the forestay pin, then let it off. I put the mast up myself, even with crew (it's better for all involved that way), and being able to just crank it and pin the forestay without any messing about is great.

[beene]

re Using the mast raising system

What others have said..

Also... I love that you can stop at any time, do a walk around to make sure everything is still all clear

Take as long as you want

Rigging should never be a race

Too much at stake to rush the job and miss something

G

[Russ]

Right, getting that forestay pin back in there without the added "bend" the gin pole provides would be difficult. And as mentioned, we often find the shrouds are twisted or tangled somehow and have to stop midway and straighten them. Can't imagine that with someone holding onto the mast.

Oh yea, you are the new guy to the club, so you buy the pizza and henway.

--Russ

[BlindGoofy]

So... Do you you like your henways at about 3 or 4 pounds then?

[Russ]

So... Do you you like your henways at about 3 or 4 pounds then?

BTW, love your avatar.


Your boat looks like it came from Blue Water Yachts originally. The grab handle on the hatch, the jib sock, lines led aft, shackles on main sheets. Your table probably folds also. Mods that that dealer did that I assumed were factory.

If it was a BWY boat, I'm surprised it didn't have a mast raising pole.

Also, have you ever noticed you can almost take the entire boat apart with a 7/16, 9/16 wrench and a Philips head screwdriver? I'm thankful for consistency in hardware.

--Russ

[BlindGoofy]

One pizza with chicken!