MacGregorSailors.com

Hi all,
I am a very new owner and have noticed that when I stow the mast on the back stay the spreaders rest on the lifelines.
This makes them bend considerably.
I bought this boat second hand and that's how the guy who sold it to me did it.

Is there a better way ?
I have tried removing the spreader arms but this is a bit of a pain to do every time.

Phill

Hello Phill,

Welcome to sailing a !

When I ready the boat to move, I follow these steps:
1. Lower the mast and let it rest on the aft support.
2. Remove the bolt from the foot of the mast.
3. As I move the mast forward, I swing it first to one side then the other to tug the spreaders under the lifelines
4. Secure the mast as usual, fore and aft.
5. Secure the rigging.

Reverse for raising the mast.

I hope this helps you work out your own protocol.

Finn

remove the bolts holding the spreaders. replace with quick pins, remove spreaders when mast is lowered and lash them to the mast. MUCH easier! No unclipping lifelines, no swinging the mast to get under the lifeline.

see this thread http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9103

fireant wrote:Hi all,
I am a very new owner and have noticed that when I stow the mast on the back stay the spreaders rest on the lifelines.
This makes them bend considerably.
I bought this boat second hand and that's how the guy who sold it to me did it.

Is there a better way ?
I have tried removing the spreader arms but this is a bit of a pain to do every time.

Phill

Yes, an alternative is to get a couple stainless steel carabiners and use those to attach the lifelines to the stantions. Then you simply unclip the lifelines with the carabiner, put the mast down then re-clip the life lines once the spreaders are in place. Your spreaders may already be bent and need replacing. The SS carabiners are the cheapest and easiest method to deal with it.

We have an so the lifelines are run a little different, but I had the same issue.

I replaced the aft end of the lifelines with Pelican clips. I undue the clips and lower the lifelines, the spreaders then sit above the lowered lifelines when tailoring.

I also have an and do the same as Wind Chime, I think putting some kind of quick clip on the life lines is a better solution to removing the spreaders because I can do this procedure while standing on the ground when getting the boat ready to put into the water. I also don't like removing the spreaders because I find it takes more time to sort out the rigging if the spreaders have been disconnected. Just MHO.

I don't have any quick connectors on mine yet so it's a bit of a pain to deal with the ring dings, but other than that it helps a lot to not have the life lines in the way. The quick clips are on my "Mods to do" list.

Welcome, and good luck.

Paulieb

Paulieb wrote: I also don't like removing the spreaders because I find it takes more time to sort out the rigging if the spreaders have been disconnected. Just MHO.

? They only go on one way

When mine are removed, the left shroud goes to the left side of the mast, right to the right. They are oriented top and bottom already. Slide into the slot, pin it. done. 4 seconds each side taking your time!

I also remove my spreaders using a quick pin and find its a lot cleaner when towing with everything tight to the mast.

It also makes me check how they are attached every time I raise the mast.

Paul S wrote:

Paulieb wrote: I also don't like removing the spreaders because I find it takes more time to sort out the rigging if the spreaders have been disconnected. Just MHO.

? They only go on one way

When mine are removed, the left shroud goes to the left side of the mast, right to the right. They are oriented top and bottom already. Slide into the slot, pin it. done. 4 seconds each side taking your time!

True, but when they are disconnected I have to follow the rigging to ensure they are on the correct side. The life-lines are a no-brainer, just find the end and clip. Just personal preference I guess.

I disconnect the lifelines, too, when I drop the mast on Bossa Nova. My lifelines run to the bases of the bow pulpit rails, and they have the same pin-bar shroud adjusters on their forward ends as MacGregor uses on the rigging. They were originally secured to the rail bases with clevis pins, but I replaced those with small screw-pin shackles because they're easier not to lose.

This removes the need for that hazardous 'foredeck dance' of trying to slip each spreader-tip under the lifelines, from the butt of the mast.

I used to do what is known as the "MacDance" (The act of moving the mast forward as well as putting the spreaders under the lifelines). PITA! I learned (too late) that quick connects for the spreaders are much better.

Rick

PS Man - - - this sounds like A LOT of work I don't know if I could handle it anymore

I was doing the same thing, swinging the mast from side to side and tucking the spreader arms under the life lines. I agree with pokerrick1 a PITA! So we added these Pelican hooks and works easily now. See my mods http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=1360 I found a good place for these and other SS hardware items. http://www.marinepartdepot.com/tuja.html

Thanks very much everyone for your helpful advice.
I will probably go for the quick pin in the spreader arm method as I too think the lines are a bit messy and would be better tied to the mast.
The spreader arms are indeed bent and will have to be replaced.
Cheers.
Phill

You could probably lash the spreaders to the respective lifelines with those one dollar yellow boat hook Velcro ties from WM to keep them straight as to which side they belong

I do the Mac dance as it turns the Admiral on

Like others I had this problem as well. So I installed gate clips at the front end of my life lines (on the bow pulpit) to slacken them up so that I could more easily get the spreaders below. However, my experience was that even once below the life lines the spreaders were lightly sitting on the boat and rubbing. I covered them with the foam pipe insulation and that helped but I was still concerned about them having too much pressure on them from any bouncing the boat might do on the trailer so now I removed them every time and bungee them to the mast. IMHO this makes for a much neater "package" when eases the process of moving the mast base forward to the pulpit or back to the mast mount...especially when doing it solo as I frequently do.

I don't really think it adds more than 10 minutes max to my rig or de-rig time. However, make sure you are aware of the locations of any lines (halyards, lazy jacks, etc...) and especially the forestay/furler when you put the spreaders back on. It is a bit of a nuisance when you start cranking up the mast and determine that the furler is on the wrong side...or so I am told because of course I would never do something that boneheaded...

And just FYI and so that you'se guys can tell me I am doing it wrong...I don't use quick disconnect pins or anything. I have about 2" bolts with lock nuts that I can take off and put on with my fingers...finger tight only. To be honest I don't even think I need the nuts...the end of the bolt sticks about 1" below the spreader (the nuts are not up tight agains the spreader) and then never move.


Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König