MacGregorSailors.com

Do any of you fellow Mac 26 owners know anything about the new roller furling for the
main that is posted on the Mac factory site? As my wife and I get older it would be
a real plus to have roller furling on the main as well as the jib. If anyone has
purchased this new offering by MacGregort or know of experiences from someone who
has purchased this I would like to know. Issues of specific concern are:

1. how does the roller furling change the current main rigging; e.g., vang or boomkicker,
main sail rigging?
2. is it an addiiton to my current boom, or does it required me to purchase a new boom
that has the rigging self-contained within the boom?
3. what is the cost of the mail roller furling?

Any information would be helpful.

Charles
Kansas City
2007 Mac 26M

Check this link, http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =7&t=14659 for a recent discussion on the subject. It's disappointing the unavailability of a boom furling unit for the 26X similar to what is made for the M.

I just bought a used Hi-Low Reefer I'm very impressed with. The cost for a new one was beyond my budget.

I believe Tom at CDI in Homer NY also offers a main furling system for the - you can find him on the web easily enough.

When I bought my 26x it had a Profurl mainsail boom furling system that the original owner had installed, this particular system (MK O) is far too heavy for a Mac even though it is recommended by Profurl for a 26 footer and was the smallest one they produced.
It regularly jammed up and could kill you in an accidental gibe. Definately one to stay away from, lets hope the macgregor system is an improvement on this.

Good post. I too am interested in any experience/comments on the factory offered mainsail roller furler system for the 26M. I am a newby in a "tough love " learning environment (high mountain lake in Colorado) and the wind speed/gust change dramatically within a few minutes. Two weeks ago I had my two grandsons on the boat and the winds when from dead calm to 30-40 mph gust within about 20 minutes. Therefore very interested in any aid to help me reef and reduce sail area as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. Currently rigging is a jib on a roller furler and a main with with sail slugs. Lines for main are ran aft but still find I have to go on deck to drop and secure the main.

Hi dca81,
If you are the moored at Grand Elk Marina, Granby I would be happy to show you my rigging which has been "wind sheared tested" numerous times, "Huff n Puff" is on B-8. I am at the lake mid week. PM me if you want to hook up or want to discuss over the phone.

Bob

Bob,
Sorry, but I'm at a different Mountain Lake. I'm at a slip in Dillon, but if I had the opportunity I would appreciate a look over your rigging. I am sure I could learn a lot. I have not seen any other M at Dillon Marina; however, there is an X in the slip across from mine, but the rigging seems to be quite different with no rotating mast.
This has certainly been a real challenge so far. My wife and I almost put the boat over with one stupid mistake in sudden gusting wind conditions. This was only on my second time trying to sail the boat, water was up to the port side gunwhales and boat was not under my control. Not something I ever want to repeat. I will PM you if I get an opportunity to get to Grandby.
Thanks
Bob

dca81 wrote: I am a newby in a "tough love " learning environment (high mountain lake in Colorado) and the wind speed/gust change dramatically within a few minutes. Two weeks ago I had my two grandsons on the boat and the winds when from dead calm to 30-40 mph gust within about 20 minutes. Therefore very interested in any aid to help me reef and reduce sail area as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible. Currently rigging is a jib on a roller furler and a main with with sail slugs. Lines for main are ran aft but still find I have to go on deck to drop and secure the main.

dca81, read the post by Ray, if you have to, turn into the wind to reduce the possibility of a knockdown. Dealing with sudden gusting wind conditions has been discussed many times on this site, do a search. With experience comes confidence, just don't ever let yourself get over confident while sailing, that will most times be when mother nature will teach you a lesson that puts you back in your place. PS: I've been over to the point of being unsure if I'm going to recover, scary but exhilarating, but I also don't have young ones on board to worry about. Rob
by NiceAft » Fri Aug 20, 2010 4:36 pm

Kitcat,

I single hand sail most of the time.

Because I do not have any lines led aft to the cockpit, one learns to be very efficient, or at least nimble while standing on the deck. If, while underway, you need to reef, then turn into the wind, and do what you need to do. The boat is very forgiving. You just need to build up some experience, and confidence.

Ray

I don't see and mention of roller furling for the main mentioned on the factory site. Got a link?

dca81 wrote:Bob,
My wife and I almost put the boat over with one stupid mistake in sudden gusting wind conditions. This was only on my second time trying to sail the boat, water was up to the port side gunwhales and boat was not under my control. Not something I ever want to repeat.

In heavy winds, always keep the mainsheet halyard in hand as releasing it will instantly de-power the mainsail instantly. Turning into the wind is a little more advanced and in big gusts, will not likely work fast enough.

What likely happened, in your case ,was that the boat heeled heavily in the gust and then round up into the wind. You will notice the boat's tendency to round up in heavy winds as you spend more time with it. With the ballast in, it's not real likely that your 26M will completely lay-down unless someone's body weight is helping - as in grabbing and hanging onto the mast or life lines on the lee side.

Reefing is only effective if you know the heavier winds are coming.

Good Luck!

Jim

Thanks for all the helpful advice. The out of control experience was a result of my spousal crew member not uncleating a jib line while simutaneously trying to wind the jib up on the furler and a novice captain to occupied with the changing wind conditions (and a screaming crew person) to note this error. Result was gusting winds on a backwinded jib, when boat rounded out (360 degrees... twice) the wind would catch the fully deployed jib and take off. Not fun...but still here. The grandkids were on the fifth or sixth sail and we quicly dropped the jib, was able to keep the boat relatively flat (20 degree heel was the most) and return to the bay to drop sails without any major incident. Its just reflective of the dramatic changes in winds that we get on these mountain lakes Which sort of brings me back to the original subject of this post...a roller furling mainsail for the . Has anyone had any experience with the Macfactory Roller Furling Mainsail listed for $2990 on their website ( http://macgregorsailboats.com/macgregor ... icing.html ).
Thx

Just to clarify, that is not a MacGregor Yachts Corporation product. "MacGregor Sales at the Factory" is a independent dealership run by Mike Inmon. He has a desk at the factory but is not an employee of MacGregor Yachts. The factory web site is here http://www.macgregor26.com . As you will see they do not mention a mainsail furling system at the factory website because it is a dealer add on product, not a factory product.

Resurrecting an old thread.

Did this roller furling main ever go anywhere?
Did Mike Inmon sell any of these?
Where is Mike? Still selling this?

I'd love to see this and Vic's sub$600 autopilot.

The only one I have ever seen used successfully is Sailing R.E.D, www.sailingred.com
Scroll down thru the pages and you will find the image their mast with furler.
https://sailingred.com/?s=furler

I own one of the furling booms. There were a couple of iterations of them. I know at least one other sailor that has one.

Did you have a particular question, or just curious if they sold any? They did sell some of them. Basically an add-on to the stock boom.

The sailingred furler is behind mast furling. Different concept from the boom furler in the video.