another mainsheet traveler and/or rigging question

[dogodell]

Hey all and thanks in advance for the help! I recently acquired my first Mac 25 on a trade that needs some work here and there. Right now my biggest concern is the fact that none of the stock mainsheet rigging exists. It looks like among his other "customizations" the po had it set up to use the genoa blocks and a small single block about 1/3 of the way back on the boom. For obvious reasons i don't want top leave it like this and am leaning towards a traveler set up since that is what i am most used to. I have done a lot of searches on here which answered most of my questions but one remains.

Its there any reason not to mount a stern mounted traveler on a short custom arch? I am thinking something like what the catalina 22s had... I don't know how to post pics but here is a link. http://www.chipford.com/traveler.htm

Its not ideal because its still behind you but at least you wouldn't trip over it. Sorry for such a long first post and thanks again.

[bobbieaw]

Hello and Welcome to the forum!

I'm another classic MacGregor owner, who loves to tinker with them as a pure sailing fun machine. While my current Mac is a toy and fits inside the garage, I have owned other classic MacGregors and spent 7 seasons sailing on Lake Superior (I was off all summer so spent like 70 days sailing.....in a row ) in a full keel sailboat. I'm still a novice, but hey you asked so here is my opinion.....

Give it a try! A traveler in front of the seating is a pain (I had that on my Venture 23), my Grampian had a modified traveler behind the seating (better) my current Mac 22 is the factory rig over the tiller with ropes. So what has 1,000s of hours taught me about travelers, very rarely does "my" sailing require a minimal offset of the mainsheet Yep....I'm a lazy sailor....there I said it. I don't race, I don't pinch the wind, I sail for the fun of it, so the factory set-up over the tiller with ropes (technical term would be sheets), is just fine. The pictures you sent with aluminum tube floated system may be a bit light for a Mac 25. You could beef it up or run boards from the gunnels across, using a fiberglass or laminate process, but sailing gain IMHO is minimal...UNLESS YOU CRAVE THE BEST PERFORMANCE!

Enjoy the new boat, again welcome to the forum, and if you master the best traveler modification ever....don't forget to post a picture....Scott

[dogodell]

Thanks for the quick reply! I like you am less concerned with performance as this will just be a fun cruiser for the wife and I. My reasoning for a traveler was to keep things down to a one point of attachment kind of thing. I supose some sort of an arch etc with an eye would suit my purpose too.

Guess its time to hang the rudder get some measurements then its of to the drawing board and the fab shop. I will make sure to post some pics when I get it figured out and installed!

[81venture]

I have a traveler if you need one...cheap

it's 57 inches long and complete...brand unknown, The sticker is worn

but it's all there and I can't use it on my venture23

Dave

[dogodell]

I may be interested. How much is cheap and can you put up a picture? If need be pm me and i will send you my email

[Catigale]

Tell him you have a crack boat to trade and he will be putty in your hands...

Have fun guys and show us pix when you get finished..

[81venture]

Sorry it took awhile

Getting ready to leave for New Orleans for the Weekend

Here is a pic...It looks complete...I can't make out the sticker...it is 57 inches long






As far as how much? I was thinking



However you could also make an offer..It's nothing I need

Cheers
Dave

[81venture]

Oh, and if you want the rope that is attached to it that will cost extra

[Catigale]

I got one for my Island off ebay for 30 bucks, a new Schaeffer is 160 from defender on sale.

Line extra.....

[Judy B]

Are you going to fabricate the arch yourself or pay somwbody to do it? If you have to pay somebody, it's an expensive item. It would probably be rather heavy too, on your stern.

You might consider using a set of risers and a piece of hi-beam traveler track (made to span an opening). That will get the traveler above the tiller on your Macgregor 25. Put a pivot point in the tiller straps, forward of the traveler, so you can pivot it up and out of the way when need to lift the tiller. The erogonomics of a transom traveler are pretty good. If you don't have room for a traveler spanning the cockpit, and you want to single hand, this is a good way to go.

Garhauer Marine sells a set of Stainless steel risers for $161 (as of this past summer). Harken and Schaefer make lighter weight risers with MSRP of about $700.
The biggest drawback to the $161 garhauer risers is that they weigh more.

The picture below is my traveler : Garhauer risers, a Selden hi-beam traveler with 4:1 controls, and Selden 4:1 mainsheet blocks. Super easy to operate. Ergonomics are fine and. Sorry it's a crummy picture, but it's dark outside right now.

Fair winds,
Judy B
Sailmaker

[dogodell]

Hey all sorry ive been away for awhile and thanks for all the replies. Dave thanks for the offer but i managed to pick up a traveler locally at a price i couldnt pass up. Judy B your set up looks like what i was planning on I was just going to do a home made version since i an very much on a budget for this project...

However, plans seem to always change... As its been said to get an arch made is very costly and even though i do have the ability to fabricate one myself i didn't have the metal lying around at this point in time what i did have is a lot of resin and fiberglass mat and cloth left over from another project... So a few rounds of liquid courage and encouragement from some eager bystanders a few minutes with a sawzall and i now have a stern notch/tunnel that the tiller goes through. This allows for a stern mounted traveler setup that its still low profile and uses all standard track etc.
I will post pictures once i get back into town and once i get all the details sorted out i will let you know how it works out!

[dogodell]

So... got caught up in some family stuff and work so its taken me awhile to get back online but here is what the boat looks like now if people are still interested. Its not too big of a job if you have the know how and happen to have the materials lying around! So far it works great guess I will just have to wait and see how long things hold up. Oh and sorry in advance for the not so good cell phone camera pics. Its not all fuzzy and lumpy just looks that way for some reason in some of the pictures

[81venture]

Pretty Good

I doubt I will ever use this traveler...I also sail for the fun of it, and very little interest in speed or "performance" as long as the boat moves and I have a drink in my hand I am happy....I didn't move from powerboats to Sailboats because I was in a hurry

That said, if anyone else wants this traveler I still have it...PM me

Cheers

Dave

[dlandersson]

Is there a traveler kit/accessory for the 26X?

Hey all sorry ive been away for awhile and thanks for all the replies. Dave thanks for the offer but i managed to pick up a traveler locally at a price i couldnt pass up. Judy B your set up looks like what i was planning on I was just going to do a home made version since i an very much on a budget for this project...

However, plans seem to always change... As its been said to get an arch made is very costly and even though i do have the ability to fabricate one myself i didn't have the metal lying around at this point in time what i did have is a lot of resin and fiberglass mat and cloth left over from another project... So a few rounds of liquid courage and encouragement from some eager bystanders a few minutes with a sawzall and i now have a stern notch/tunnel that the tiller goes through. This allows for a stern mounted traveler setup that its still low profile and uses all standard track etc.
I will post pictures once i get back into town and once i get all the details sorted out i will let you know how it works out!

[dogodell]

Thanks! And it actually performs rather well so even better

As far as a kit for the 26x goes i am new to the mac family so i can't answer. The search function can bring up more info than you would ever dream ofand if that doesn't work you may try posting a new topic for someone knowledgable to find.

Good luck thanks again all and happy sailing!