MacGregorSailors.com

I am thinking of replacing all of the lines/rigging on my 11 year old . it has the original, I believe, and it is looking kind of ratty/worn and I was wondering if anybody can tell me if they have seen or used this gear http://www.cajunrope.com/rigging/MacGre ... %20aft.pdf and do I need the shackles and swivel snaps etc...already done or is it easy to buy new line and use my existing hardware:?: and is it worth the expense saving and trouble to do it myself? or can I even do it myself? What is the SOP when you guys replace your lines Thanks

When you say rigging, are talking shrouds, forestay & backstay or just the ropes? The site you posted is just rope. No experience with those guys but when I replace line, I just get the length I need from West Marine or Defender. If you're repalcing cables, you can order directly from MacGregor or a rig shop. Probably much easier from MacGregor since you don't have to worry about measuring precisely. Doing it yourself? Why not? It's straight-forward, just somewhat time consuming.

I am in the process of what feels like a total rebuild of my X,im replacing the mast,shrouds and standing rigging,ive bought directly from Macgregor in the UK and for my running rigging,im replacing,all of the running rigging and have bought it ether from MacG or KH.I did not want to screw up a new mast or the rigging by going down the DIY method.

thanks, not sure which route i'll take.

There is:
Standing rigging... the hardware that keeps your mast intact...
Running rigging... the hardware that controls your sails.

You´re talking about running rigging, me thinks.
The X´s lines are 3/8¨ from the factory and are a kind of line known as ¨double braid¨. If you ever hold a nice brand of line like StaSet in your hands you probably won´t want the cheap stuff. It is pliable, strong, and has a kind of waxy texture that makes using it
Cordage Examples

The Good Stuff normally comes from a boat store, the hardware store stuff really scares me, I tried some.

Now, shackle or not. It´s really up to you, there´s no single correct answer unless you find yourself at a table full of beer and yachties.
Looks like your place sells a halyard (sail raiser) that has a loop formed in the end and a shackle attached ready to go.
Very seamanlike. Do you need it? Of course not. Tie a knot in a piece of line from the store and use a bowline if you want to be able to get it out later. Your sail will still go up and down.
A shackle is a nice thing to have because it makes it faster to detach and stow the sails, and possibly helpful if and when your halyard jumps out of your hand and heads for the clouds unless you want some mast raising practice.

You could use your existing shackle if you have one, tie it to your new line.


Mac Cordage Lengths

Note these lines assume a stock config, in other words if you have lines led aft your line lengths can be different from stock, I´d check the lengths before ordering.

5/16¨ can also be used too, both will tie and cleat fine. I like the heft of the 3/8¨ line personally, when the jib whips in the wind the heavier lines are a little less wild if they are heavier line and I just wanted a single line size for everything.

I had to replace my main halyard when I ran both halyards aft to a sheet stopper. Granted you can just tie a the shackle on with a knot, but get some fids and make a proper eye splice like the factory ones have. That way the yachties at the marina won't have another reason to make cracks about Mac owners being psuedo sailors. Fortunately the old main halyard was long enought to use for the jib halyard. My nerves couldn't have stood making a second splice.

Thanks again guys, yes I meant the cordage/rope/line,for now. I will replace the standing rigging hardware next year. I have looked at the double braid from West Marine and Fisheries Supply and actually wanted to buy from Blue Water Yachts but they only stock white and I thought since I haven't handled any sails,rigging,lines, in about 40 years I was thinking color coded would be better,especially since I'm on the north side of 50 and green,red,blue,black, might help prevent me from pulling on the wrong thing at the wrong time I also thought the pre-done line with the shackles/eyes/whip already done might be worth the expense. I assume Cajun is reputable since they have the Mac setup as one purchase. I'm going to be out 3 days on this weekend so I will tackle subject, make decision when I get back. Hopefully, nothing breaks And yes,all lines are led aft for handling from cockpit. To be safe I think I'll bring some extra line I have laying around in case I need it.

Kelly Hanson has pre cut lines for the and either for direct replacement or longer lines led back to the cockpit lengths. Various colors and excellent pricing--check out their web site. Mauri also has a selection of pre cut lines.

bscott

Thanks bscott, Now if I can find KH in my Mac26x bookmarks page that in a couple of months has grown to 3 feet of scroll

www.kellyhansonmarine.com

b.scott

mackatt68 wrote: ...(Get) some fids and make a proper eye splice like the factory ones have. That way the yachties at the marina won't have another reason to make cracks about Mac owners being psuedo sailors.

ON THE OTHER HAND ...

I couldn't get the luff taut on my new C2000 main. When I looked up at the masthead through binoculars, I could see that the eye-splice in the halyard was getting stuck in the block! Now, what do I do about this? Invite the "yachties' derision" for a knot in my halyard? Or suffer the degraded performance of a slack luff?

To heck with the yachties!

The real reason for an eye splice is strength - a proper eye-splice holds up to about 90% of the breaking strength of the line. But a "double bowline," that is, one with two bights instead of one in the standing part of the line (not a bowline that forms two loops), is good up to about 75-80% of the line's breaking strength. And if you're worried about it coming undone, you can lash the tail of the bowline to the side of the loop (right below those two bights in the standing part).

A set of splicing fids is about $35 at We$t Marine; a headboard shackle is maybe another $30(though you can use the old one). A knot is free, and in 3/8" StaSet it's at least 8 inches shorter than the thick part of an eye-splice (above the shackle).

Tell the yachties that "the REAL old marlinespike sailors did it this way, where's YOUR sense of tradition?"