MacGregorSailors.com

I have a 92 26c that I have trailered in dry storage at Lake Mead. Recently, I was attempting to put the boat in the water when something kept catching on the back of the trailer. I backed my pick up way too far (the carpet is still drying) trying to get the trailer low enough to set it free. I pulled the boat back on the trailer to examine the hull and saw nothing that would catch. The only thing I can think is that the centerboard line has become disconnected. So when the centerboard clears the support on the trailer, it drops and catches the rear support of the trailer. Obviously, I can't put the boat in the water to fix it that way. Is there a way to fix this without finding a boat lift? Any help would be appreciated.

Tie a line from your port side cabin top winch, under the boat to the starborad side cabin top winch. This will hold the centerboard up in the trunk.

Once you get the boat in the water, you can drop a new line in or whatever you need to re-attach the lifing line.

Had to do this on an Ensenada with a 250 pound swing keel, needed a much heaveir line to hold it up.

bcassel1 wrote:Tie a line from your port side cabin top winch, under the boat to the starborad side cabin top winch. This will hold the centerboard up in the trunk.

Once you get the boat in the water, you can drop a new line in or whatever you need to re-attach the lifing line.

Had to do this on an Ensenada with a 250 pound swing keel, needed a much heaveir line to hold it up.

Thanks. I like your idea of the winch to winch line. I thought about running a cargo strap around the hull, but didn't think of using the winches.
The issue I'd have then is reattaching the centerboard line. The line drops into about a 2" diameter hole through the hull. I am not sure how it attaches to the centerboard. Can I reattach from the cabin or do I have to be below the boat? I've scoured the internet but found nothing. If you, or anyone else, knows how to reattach it that would be a tremendous help.

Thanks again!

Mine is just a 5/16" line, same as the halyards and sheets. It runs through a series of sheeves under the galley and down the tube into the centerboard trunk.

The centerboard is just like the rudder, a cross drilled hole with a hole that comes into it from the rear. A simple stopper knot holds the line in the centerboard.

At least that is how mine is set up.

Thanks bcassel1.
I think I am just going to beach her, and tie a line to the top of the mast somehow and pull her over far enough to pull the keel out and reattach the line.

Better yet do it in shallow water. Remove your Battery before you do, else it will leak battery acid all over.

Same thing occurred with my prev boat, a 92 Mac 26-S. The centerboard line pulled through the fiberglass, and the boat wouldnt unload from the trailer in the water. I put the boat at a marina lift for $25, pulled the board, fiberglassed it myself, reinstalled, and it worked fine.

First of all, Macgregor designed the trailer to fit exactly under the dboard so it could not drop on the road while trailering. Is your boat situated somewhat forward of the trailer crossmember?

Secondly, the dboard can be removed while on the trailer and out of the water. If you have a pully over the daggerboard well, remove it and pull up on the adjusting line or the restraining tether. You really should inspect your dboard at least annually or any time you have struck the bottom with it.

Because of the way the deck to dboard well is laid up, you may need shims of plastic or metal to "shoehorn" the top of the dboard past the lip at the top of the well. Good Luck John S

oreana123@cableone.net wrote:First of all, Macgregor designed the trailer to fit exactly under the dboard so it could not drop on the road while trailering. Is your boat situated somewhat forward of the trailer crossmember?

Kraney mentioned that his boat is a 1992 model, which has a swing centerboard rather than the daggerboard. It can't be removed on the trailer like the later 26X centerboard can, as far as I know.

I have a 1991 26C, and rather than the rope, I use about a 3' length of 1/8" stainless steel cable with a rope attached to the cabin-end. That way, the only part of the centerboard line that touches the water is the steel cable.

Jared

Whoops- my bad