New sailer and 26X owner - Running rigging help

[FLMac26x-2021]

JimmyT, Tom, Ray….many thanks for your thoughts and reply’s.
I am in Deerfield / Pompano Beach (SE FL) area, just bought boat from Alabama over TG. It’s in need of some TLC, so have been busy doing gel coat patches as dings all along both sides. As I said, previous owner (since 2012 from what I can see, removing all the registration stickers that were just stuck on top of each other). Also in peeling away the numbers, I see outline of other registration numbers with MI, so assume it was in Michigan, possibly originally. Also interesting, peeling/scraping away name/location at back, I see Crystal Springs, MS was here also.
Anyway, thanks for replying, it’s helping me try to figure it out.
I get the point about bigger picture, will take some overall view today.
I am pretty sure it has a boom vang now, deducting the 3x block/tackle in a box of rope etc and now seeing “U” brackets on mast and boom.
Mast raising system. As I said, no pole when I bought boat, but I think one of the block/tackle is for MRS. I quickly built my own pole ($50) and did quick test 2 days ago, seems to be working ok, although will refine. Will make the”baby stays” in next couple days.

[Tomfoolery]

The top one looks like the vang, since the line is so short.

The middle one might be for the mast raising system (MRS), and without the cam cleat, you’d use the rope clutch on the cabin roof. I wouldn’t use that cruddy carabiner for the high loads of the MRS, though; use a screw shackle at the cabin roof end instead, like an anchor shackle or twist shackle if it doesn’t like up correctly with the deck fitting.

The last one is probably the main sheet, but that’s a lot of line for a main sheet on an X. There’s also a halyard shackle on one of the blocks, which I hope is just being stored there and not actually used for the sheet system.

[Be Free]

The centerboard line runs through a turning block next to the jib car track then straight back to the fairlead and the the cam cleat next to the sliding hatch. My cam cleat and fairlead are in a straight line just outside the hatch slider (about where your fairlead is). Do either of them look like they have been repositioned?

The line should be running just outside the jib car track. It should not be running through rope clutch like you have it in the picture. That clutch is lined up about where the main halyard would run back to the cockpit

[FLMac26x-2021]

Thanks Tom.
I revisited these this morning.

#1 Smallest has 10' line and locking cleat.
#2 next one has 40' line and locking cleat.
#3 has 50' line, no locking cleat and the crapy carabiner (that I will throw away) and replace with SS one if I actually need this.

I downloaded and read the 26M manual, a bit clearer and photos little better.
Reading that, and the descriptions, I am convinced I have the Boom Vang option on mine. It has the "U" shackle on mast and 2 on the boom, plus one of these "block and tackle" above.
#1


#2


#3

[Tomfoolery]

I don't personally care for any of those carabiners. The load ratings are pretty low compared to other types of similar size, like snap shackles, but at the very least I would look them over carefully.

That top block and fall set seems to be missing the becket pin and sleeve, making it three-parts instead of four but you could use any kind of sleeve with stainless pin and ringding.

The eye snap in the second photo is also not a good idea. They're typically not load rated, and I wouldn't use one on any critical load path item. I do use one on the end of my topping lift, but the load is light even when I'm laying on the boom in rough water.

Same with the halyard shackle, though that's probably just being stored on the other block (I hope). It belongs on the end of the main halyard, or even the jib halyard including the small line on the jib furler.

[FLMac26x-2021]

Thanks Tom.
As I said, new to sailing (ASA training 101,3,4 completed in early October) and definitely new to 26X.
Any suggestions are welcome.
I am also going to be a single sailer - single handed, so recommendation also welcome (safety first), like dump the carabiner and get real SS Shackles etc.

I had hoped when buying (the 26X) it was from a knowledgeable sailer and would have been shown the 26X setup, unfortunately as I said, previous owner (since 2012) did not sail at all, so no "walk through" on settings or setup! And a box of lines to figure out myself.

[JaxMacX]

Hey FLMAc26X.. new owner as well. Up in Jacksonville. I've found that the guys over at blue water yachts to be very helpful as well. You might send them the pics and descriptions. They could help (if they aren't in this forum already ) Definitely feeling you on the TLC part. It took us a month before we even put the mast back on because I was unnerved with some many wires and lines.

[Be Free]

JimmyT, Tom, Ray….many thanks for your thoughts and reply’s.
I am in Deerfield / Pompano Beach (SE FL) area, just bought boat from Alabama over TG. It’s in need of some TLC, so have been busy doing gel coat patches as dings all along both sides. As I said, previous owner (since 2012 from what I can see, removing all the registration stickers that were just stuck on top of each other). Also in peeling away the numbers, I see outline of other registration numbers with MI, so assume it was in Michigan, possibly originally. Also interesting, peeling/scraping away name/location at back, I see Crystal Springs, MS was here also.
Anyway, thanks for replying, it’s helping me try to figure it out.
I get the point about bigger picture, will take some overall view today.
I am pretty sure it has a boom vang now, deducting the 3x block/tackle in a box of rope etc and now seeing “U” brackets on mast and boom.
Mast raising system. As I said, no pole when I bought boat, but I think one of the block/tackle is for MRS. I quickly built my own pole ($50) and did quick test 2 days ago, seems to be working ok, although will refine. Will make the”baby stays” in next couple days.

The top picture is the boom vang. It goes from the loop at the base of the mast up to the boom.
The middle picture is for the mast raising system. One end hooks to the pole, the other just in front of the hatch.
The bottom looks like a main sheet but it looks a little long to me.

There are two flat loops on either side of your mast. Those are where your baby stays will attach to the deck. There is a hole through the mast (port/starboard) where the baby stays attach to the mast. You can purchase them ready-made from Blue Water Yachts.

You mentioned downloading the "M" manual. There is an "X" manual on the site as well.

[FLMac26x-2021]

Thanks Bill, I already repositioned the keel line (I assume previous owner just put there as never sailed or used it).
Thanks also for letting me know what the different block and tackle sets are.
I do not need the mast raising one now as I made a winch version myself a few days age and did initial test to check it worked ok raising and lowering.
Baby stays, seems they might have been here originally at some point, mast has “arms” about 6 feet from base, and I see marking in gel coat on roof where I see the small “L” shape bracket slots in. I will just remake new lines and order brackets from BYM.
Thanks for everyone’s help.

[Tomfoolery]

I am in Deerfield / Pompano Beach (SE FL) area, just bought boat from Alabama over TG.

Yikes! My inlaws are in Highland Beach, just down the street from you. I may be driving there on my way to Houston this winter in fact.

[NiceAft]

Seems like every time I go somewhere and visit someone I end up doing work ha ha.

[FLMac26x-2021]

Thanks for everyone’s help and advice. I took boat out at weekend for “test sail” and managed to figure out most of the systems, although not 100% sure they were all correct, seemed to work.
I made a few mistakes for sure, learnt what to adjust or change, especially single handed. Luckily a couple of local cruisers assisted me in raising mast and in recovery of boat onto trailer on boat ramp without any dock.
I’m sure I will be back here asking about something else soon, but at least for now with all your advice I got both main sail and furling jib up and running.
Thank you all again, great community.

[NiceAft]

Now you need to post photos of your yacht on the water doing its thing

[FLMac26x-2021]

Spent a week in the Keys over holiday (Miami to Marathon Key and back), everything worked out well and thanks to everyone’s help, got the sails / rigging configuration ok.
Jib broke 1st day (webbing where ring attached broke) even though winds were only 8-10 knots, so assuming it was weak/perished. Waiting for new webbing and UV cover material to ship to fix it.
Finally, tilt/trim motor failed (luckily after I returned home and couldn’t lower engine at home). $782 for rebuild and new electric motor!

[leftwing24]

I was looking for tips/suggestions on how to mount cockpit-controlled reefing hardware and stumbled across this thread. Nice job getting everything sorted - the pics look good!

I just had the same thing happen to my jib yesterday (clew ring tore out under moderate load). I had been on the fence about replacing my jib, as it was the original (or at least OEM) sail, and has needed several (fairly cosmetic) repairs over the past few years. I can also recommend Blue Water Yachts (https://bwyachts.com) as a preferred vendor for MacGregor parts.

Regarding the operational failures: it comes with the territory. If you're not fixing something, you are upgrading or doing maintenance. They say that if you can set a $100 bill on fire without crying, then you're ready to own a sailboat...