Foresail only?

[Loefflerh]

First, let me introduce myself: New to the board, but not new to the Macgregor: bought a new 26x in 1999 - one of the first 2000 models and sold it 3 weeks ago. Used it mainly for day sailing in the Naples Florida area, boat was kept in the water the first 2 years and thereafter I had it on a lift, the fight with barnicles inspite of bottom paint was hilarious! I live at a small canal (Gordons River) with brackish water, sometimes its like freshwater and sometimes saltwater.
To get out to the Gulf, I have to pass thru a low bridge (US 41), which presented a problem at high tide even with the mast lowered: I solved it by attaching a rubber stop to the right side of the mast support with an U-bolt, and that gave me about 4 inches lower at the mast support and enough to clear the bridge at high tide.
And that brings up the first question, since I am about ready to order a 26 M which has a different mast support: is there any way to lower the mast a bit more, like shorten the legs of the mast support?
Question # 2 is bout sailing with a 150% Genoa or Spinnaker only. So far (till I found that board 2weeks ago again after 8 years) I wasn't aware that the M does not have a backstay, and somehow I don't like it. Most of my sailing was just by myself, and most of the time for convenience and beeing lazy (semi-retired) I only used my genoa and that was just fine for me. Is it save for a 26m to do the same or is that putting too much load on the mast (without backstay)???

Hans

[Frank C]

Welcome Hans,

Sorry, I can't help on your main question. But, I also have an early model 2000, and I've always wondered, "How early?"

Do you recall your hull number?

[marsanden]

you can sail your boat ,only with a genoa, with or without backstay.
It doesnt a matter if there is a back stay on your sailing boat or not.
The backstay let you ceck only the position of the top of your mast and,
doin it , you can change the shape of your main sail.
Often ,sailing with main and spinnaker, any sailors leave - without force -the backstay.

[eric3a]

..

[David Mellon]

There is clearance to lower the gallows on my The spreaders would cause the biggest headache. Many would say you could dance around the mast to tuck them under the safety cables. Others would slack the safety lines. In my opinion using clips to hold the spreaders in place would serve best. You could get another few inches clearance off the deck with them disconnected. Try a clip like this.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

If you are concerned about the a-spin (or genoa) with no backstay you could always fit running backstays on each side as many M owners have.

[ALX357]

The X sails ok fine with the Genoa alone, and is balanced reasonably well that way. I find it easier to jibe about in light air than to head upwind for the tack, but it sails fine with the Genny alone.
My information concerning the M boat is that it will not balance well with the headsail alone. It DOES sail with the main alone, and is balanced much better than the X if sailed with the main alone. The X seems to need a fore-sail at all times to do well, but be prepared for a possibly difficult time sailing the M without the mainsail.

[Divecoz]

You should have no difficulty modifiying your mast support to raise and lower to your desire. I cannot say many But I sail My M with a main alone. Very easy one handed very nice day of doing a little . . . .sailing.
I have hit just over or was it under 6 mph on my gps with main sail alone.

[baldbaby2000]

There is room to lower the rear support. I can't say off hand exactly how much without looking at my boat.

There's been previous discussion on sailing on the headsail only. The argument against it is that the main sail provides a lot of support to the mast and without the mainsail things could get overstressed. I can say for sure that the main pulls significantly back on the mast by looking at it's effect on the forestay sag.

I've never heard of a 26M failure so maybe the rigging is strong enough but I would be careful anyway. I did watch a non-Macgregor break his mast while sailing only on the headsail.

I did add running backstays on my boat but not for that reason. I just wanted to be able to take some of the sag out of my forestay.

[Loefflerh]

Thank you with all the replies, where can I find more about how to install a running backstay?
Frank, my serial # was Macx3140G900 - does that help? It's sold to Punta Gorda / Fl.
Hans

[parrothead]

To see a running backstay setup, go to the Mac Mods page - it's currently 2nd from the top of the list of recent mod additions.

We have sailed our under asym spinnaker alone, and it works fine. With the main furled, and the boom suspended from the topping lift, if you tension the mainsheet you get a similar stabilizing effect to a backstay. The advantage to running backstays over either a fixed backstay or the topping lift approach is that the balancing force is exerted directly at the point where the headstay meets the mast, rather than at the otherwise unstayed top of the mast.

I do plan to try adding runnning backstays this season, primarily for their pointing benefit when going to windward - am going to try terminating them at the stanchion bases near the winches, as our bimini would be in the way of running them to the aft corners.

[DLT]

I've often sailed jib only. I have sailed Spi only as well, but only in light winds as I am single-handed 99% of the time...

[NautiMoments]

Hans, it is no problem running an M with just the foresail or spinaker. I have sailed with a 150 Genoa only several times and I do not have running backstays. As parrothead said, with the boom straight the topping lift and main sheet to the traveler act as a backstay. You could try it first and see how you like it then add running backstay if you wish later. Best of luck with the new boat, the M sails great, and the blue hull is very very fast .

[Loefflerh]

......and the blue hull is very very fast
Thats why I prefer sailing......slow. quiet, relaxing. I am getting the white one and go slower......speed is what I had in my active life, 2,7 x the speed of sound.

But again, thank you all: all my worries are gone now!
Hans

[baldbaby2000]

There's some discussion http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... &&start=15