I have raised my mast on my 26S 3-4 times a year for 15 years, most of the time solo. I keep thinking I will install a mast-raising system but never got around to it. Learned a couple of things over the years about doing it solo. I used to get under the mast while standing in the floor of the cockpi...

The rudder tie-down on my 1994 Mac S was originally a cable, which broke, so I replaced it with a 1/4 inch line. That works fine for about 2 years then needs to be replaced. The trick is threading the line down the rudder post tube and preventing the line from chafing by passing it next to the littl...

I've had my 1994 26S for 14 years, and something unexpected happened this year. I keep the boat at a dock from April to October, and after I launched in April, a couple times I noticed a lot of water in the lazarette (aft compartment). I thought that rain must somehow be getting in, since it would s...

As I understand it, your mast essentially is now bent aft at the top - same thing happened to me, only it was when my wife (now ex-) was holding the mast up by hanging on to the jib halyard on the dock, and she for some reason thought I told her to let go. The mast came crashing down, and bent at th...

Just joined the forum today and have been posting here and there. Have had my 1994 Mac 26 S since 1998, when I bought it from a guy in Bay City, Michigan who had moved from Nebraska. The boat still has the name plate on the port side from the dealer in Nebraska. Always wondered what the sailing was ...

I've had my 26S with the swing centerboard for 14 years. I am a "newbie" to this forum, although years ago I used to follow the e-mail lists, until I ran into too many "flamers" - keelboat sailors who told us we were crazy and would all kill ourselves with our water ballast, plus...

Hi, I know this is going to sound a bit amateurish to all the old-hand pros out there, but when my swing keel cable came loose 14 years ago, I replaced it with standard 3/8" rope, same as the running rigging, and it's still there. I went diving with a mask, and it took about 30 dives. The key i...

Hi, I have a 1994 26S. Same thing happened to me 1st year I had it, 14 years ago. This was not an easy repair, but it can be done. Look under the sink, and at the port-side, stern-side corner is a tube where the cable goes - the cable is attached to a rope which goes under the counter and comes out ...