Brand new and having problems

[KEVIN'S OWN]

Hello - as so many have said previously, we have been on the outskirts reading and learning from this terrific group of MacGregor owners.

We've been looking at the Mac 26M for about a year and finally the "Captain" realized that the time was now to think about himself and get the boat! That being said, we are brand new 26M owners - just picked up the boat yesterday (7/8/06) and after missing the morning tide got the mast up, the boat launched, and tied to it's mooring around 8:30 PM last night. Thank goodness we have friends who are long time sailors who helped put up the mast and set the wires (still not sure of the correct language for these things but hope it comes in time).

We went out this morning to get the sails put on and have everything ready for our eventual first sail. Once again our friends were with us to aid and guide us. Well the first problem was that we could not raise the mainsail fully to the top of the mast. It went up but jammed with about 10-12 inches left to go, leaving a bunch of sail at the boom level. Gazing up the mast it appeared that everything was straight and could not see any kinks in the channel where the sail went up the mast. Any ideas on what could be restricting the sail?

The next question we had was - what keeps the sails from "falling" out of the channel when you lower the mainsail? It seems that everything just comes out of that wider opening at the base of the mast.

Any assistance and thoughts with this problem would be appreciated. As mentioned we are brand spanking new to this boat - the only thing I sailed, when I was much younger was a sailfish (don't think they make them any longer - gee, am I dating myself ?

Thank you all for being there.
Kevin's first mate (but I like to think of myself as the admiral!)

[DLT]

Search this forum for "sail slugs". They, and a stop, will allow you to drop the mainsail without everything coming out of the slot... Pay particular attention to the posts dealing with 'proper spacing' of the slugs...

They should also make hoisting the sail easier.

A common issue I found when trying to get the sail all the way up, is to keep the mainsheet (the line attached to the boom) loose. If you don't, it won't let the boom rise all the way that it needs too, which will in turn keep the mainsail from going all the way up... I've done it several times myself...

[They Theirs]

Welcome KEVIN'S OWN
I can relate to DLTs description of why your mainsail is not going all the way up. I too find myself in the same position. Our Mac spent some time on the hard to our enjoyment, as we explored its amazing design. We made our best attempt to level the boat and used the halyard side to side to help center the Mast, while building our best guess at mast rake and shroud tension. Scott shared some great ideas on setting up and tuning your mast. We sailed many hours bending the sails and adjusting rigging at home. Even after hours of getting ready, there is still the need for your learning the Mac rigging and combined motoring benefits.

[Catigale]

Welcome Kevin and Admiral...

WHere is Douglaston btw??

If you route the main halyard on the wrong side of the pulley on an it can hang the main...BTDT..

the working end of the halyard (attached to the sail) should come straight down the mast track when it is correct..

[KEVIN'S OWN]

Thank you DLT for the recommendation of "sail slugs" I'll do some checking. Appreciate knowing that others have the same or similar problems.

CATIGALE - Douglaston is located 17 miles east of NYC on Little Neck Bay, it's one of the last towns in Queens County (just before Nassau County on Long Island). My sister used to live in Delmar so I am familiar with your neck of the woods.

Again we appreciate this membership's knowledge and experience, we are sure to tap into it often.

[baldbaby2000]

I know on ours at times the halyard can get caught aroung the bolt head holding the upper attachment for the shrouds and jib halyard. This doesn't seem like your problem because I don't think that would let you get even within 12" of the top. Make sure you're halyard is going through the top pulley properly. As mentioned the end you pull on to raise the main needs to be routed through the forward part of the pulley.

[RandyMoon]

I know on ours at times the halyard can get caught aroung the bolt head holding the upper attachment for the shrouds and jib halyard.

This Fall when I get the boat out of the water, I am going to lower the mast and figure out an elegant solution for keeping the halyard from being able to get hooked on the bolt head.

Several times I have been out in the lake and the wind whipped the halyard around the bolt head and it can sometimes be tricky getting it unhooked.

[Frank C]

... I am going to lower the mast and figure out an elegant solution for keeping the halyard from being able to get hooked on the bolt head ...

Hmmmm - sounds like an issue that deserves factory scrutiny

[delevi]

Kevin,

Welcome and congratulations on your Mac! I think others have already pointed out the problem. Make sure the main sheet is loose and uncleated, as well as your boom vang. Either of these, if cleated, will keep your main sail from going up all the way. My first week having my boat, I had the same problem as well. If you don't have sail slugs, don't worry about everything falling out. You will need to feed your sail through the slot every thime you hoist, and pull everything out when you drop the mainsail. It took me nearly 9 months to decide to get sail slugs and main halyard led aft to the cockpit. It's a tremendous improvement for both convenience and safety. If you get slugs, or have them already, you will need a stop at the bottom of your mast track to keep the slugs from falling out when the sail is dropped. It's about a $10 item. If you don't have slugs and want them intalled, you will need to take your sail in to a sailmaker. Unless you have the right skills and experience (I don't) you shouldn't attempt this intallation on your own. You're looking at abouty $100-$150 for labor and materials. Hope this helps. Have a great time on your Mac. I'm sure you will.

Leon

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Another possibility is that the halyard is wrapped around itself (can happen if you hook the inside end too). This would cause a wrap up near the pulley that could cause it not to go all the way up. But the others are right in the fact that if you don't have the vang and mainsheet loose, you can never get the wrinkles out of the sail but it seems it would be up further than what you described.

I used to have one of those stopper thingies for the track. Came with the boat when I bought it and it went overboard during the first day out on the boat! Now I just lash a small piece of rope around the mast, under the sail slugs and above both the cleats. Holds everything in just fine and costs a lot less.

[Sloop John B]

Anything that can hold the boom down should be loose and your halyard not fouled as mentioned. Have the mate hold the boom up a little and give the halyard three wraps on the winch if and when you get the line led aft. Keep an eye out for a batton getting kinked in a spreader if it's wild out.

Sail slugs are good. I use a 'sail caddy'. It's a basket like contraption that folds out from the boom and catches the mainsail. Some guys use jack lines to catch the sail. You'll find this stuff on a search of the archieves.

If you're moored out with the mast up all the time, slugs will probably be the best bet.

There are dozens of inexpensive improvements that can be made to get out quicker and get back off quicker. When you recognize something slowing you down, just ask about it.

[Richard O'Brien]

I used to have one of those stopper thingies for the track. Came with the boat when I bought it and it went overboard during the first day

I lost my first sail stopper, and then attached it to a 1' long 1/8" piece of cable from the hardware store. It's screwed into my mast now. I also have trouble getting my halyard up. Making sure my vang and traveler are loose helps considerably. If the winds up it can be difficult.

[KEVIN'S OWN]

This week we'll have to go down to the boat and check out the things you are all suggesting. I'm hopeful that we'll get to have our first sail this weekend!

Regarding the "boom vang" is this what others refer to as the "traveller"?

[DLT]

Regarding the "boom vang" is this what others refer to as the "traveller"?

No.

The boom vang is a line and set of blocks (the same ones as used for the mainsheet) that go between that little hole at the bast of the mast and a bail on the boom closer to the mast. Look for a hole through the boom somewhere around 3 feet (guessing) from the mast. This lets you keep the boom down, regardless of mainsheet tension. For begining sailors, you don't really need this...

The traveller is the track accross the companion way. Basically, it allows you to change where the angle of the mainsheet's force on the boom. Again, for begining sailors, you can just center it and forget it...

[Catigale]

Apologise if this is too basic, but if you are trying to raise the main in wind, and you dont have the boat luffed up, or pointing directly into the wind, you might not be able to get that last bit of main up with everything ok!!

I mention this as it sounded like you were raising on a the sail on a mooring, and Macs tend to dance on moorings, so there would be tension on the main most of the time..