MacGregorSailors.com

I'm lost on the pin for the rotating mast, never did see one. But I do know about the little bearing from BWY for $20 because I bought one, just put it in but haven't had a chance to try it yet, perhaps this weekend. It is just a small little part but when I put it in I got the impression that it would be a big improvement, especially when I took those two honkin big teflon washers out, they seem like such a gunnysack installation that anything would be an improvement. Yet another Macgregor refinement, why they couldn't make the bearing a factory item totally escapes me. Well I have it now so no more whining. Can't remember where they had it featured but it is small enough to send via regular post. Time for that little upgrade, $20, you can't lose.

Interesting. I had a Hobie and a 27 foot Stiletto catamaran and used to grouse that the rotating mast didn't seem to help performance as much as I expected.

A rotating mast will provide a better overall airfoil shape but I believe the speed improvement will be difficult to measure. The best way would be to get two similar boats sailing together at the same speed and then rotate the mast on one of them. It may take several minutes to see the difference. Don't be disappointed if a 1 knot speed improvement (approx 20%) is not realized. If that were possible most monohulls would have rotating masts.

Without scientific testing, Wilson says he cannot give an accurate assessment of the performance benefit, but adds, "it is significant enough to make a tangible difference - particularly in reaching conditions."


Perry Design Review:All that is really nice, but perhaps the most significant aspect of the new 28's rig is the fact that the mast is rotating. Consider this: Regardless of how carefully shaped your mast extrusion is, if it does not rotate it is operating backwards to what the mainsail's leading edge would like for attached flow. Improving the efficiency of the mainsail by cleaning up the leading edge means you can sail faster upwind and lower downwind.


FAQ - The vast majority of the questions I answer are related to KSS build. Kelsall stands for experience

What about rotating wing masts on cruisers?
The first rotating mast we did went onto race tri Trifle (1966). The section was aluminium but a good rotating section. The rotating system used was no more elaborate than used on the Hobie day cats and this has proved to be good for lots of similar since. We soon learnt that sailing without rotating the mast correctly was like sailing with a brake on. I would choose rotating every time for myself. One of the reasons that rotating has not become popular is that most spar makers choose to design over elaborate systems. There is also the factor of section shapes. Few standard sections are particularly good rotating sections. Trifle is still sailing and I believe with original rig. When rotated the section is the most efficient for stiffness and, with runners, the fixed rigging does not need to be tight.

I wonder if keeping the mast pinned in strong winds would reduce heel i.e. depower the part of the sail which is powered up by rotation, or would that portion just create drag

As for the pin, my boat came with one. There is a hole at the base of the mast allowing for a detent pin to be put in. I always pin the mast when motoring. I have the stock setup and haven't had rotation problems except for very light winds, but it doesn't take much force on the boom to rotate it manually. Don't really see a need for the BWY upgrade.

Leon

Don't really see a need for the BWY upgrade.

It is only $20.00 and incredibly easy to install. Just looking at it one can easily visualise an improvement over the mookaheep teflon washers, but on the other hand it may just be a perceived improvement. Still for $20 bucks and a 5 minute change over the phsycological benefit more than justifies it.

delevi wrote:As for the pin, my boat came with one. There is a hole at the base of the mast allowing for a detent pin to be put in.


Don't really see a need for the BWY upgrade.

Leon

Wonder if the hole was put in at the factory or dealer? Either way, ours (04) did not have one. It is nice to have the option of pinning it or not.

The metal washers on our M seem to work quite well. I have thought about the bearing upgrade..but have not seen any reason why at this point, as with a squirt of SailKote every so often, seems to make it rotate quite well.

The pin was a dealer mod at Arena Yachts.
B

I used to race a Hobie 18 which has a rotating mast and an adjustment for rotation range. We would let it rotate more in strong winds because it would allow more mast bend if I remember correctly. I don't know if the Macgregor would behave the same.