Newbie needs advice

[Zazoozaz]

Hi folks,

I'm a Mac26x newbie and I need some good advice. Can anyone oblige me?

1. Order of operations: I've launched and then crancked up the mast on the ginpole and then rigged. Is this incorrect? Should I raise the mast and rig before I launch?
2. The hardest part of rigging is getting the forestay to hook up. It always seem too short. Any suggestions?
3. The weight of the jib furler makes getting the forestay on a real chore. Can you give some advice?
Thanks, for any help.
EZ Ray
An Foilean (the seagull) Mac 26x 2000

[carriacou]

There are far more knowledgeable folks here on the board than me, but in the 4 years we have had our and the 5 years we sailed our Mac 222 we found it a 100% easier to do the set up on the trailer and then dump it in the water. And for some unknown reason 300% less time for the Admiral to get mad at me cause I said something I shouldn't.

Several folks use the rope on the furler to make it easier to attach the forestay. The rope I have is about 3 feet long with an 8 inch loop at each end.

I pull one ends loop thru it’s self and put it around the furler; I step in the other end while I’m standing on the trailer ladder. This "mod" has made the difference of me getting all bent out of shape and saying bad words that the Admiral punishes me 4 and just slipping the pin in and having a great launch.

In my opinion it’s the best mod on the board at least one of the cheapest…. I already had the rope in the garage.

Good winds to ya

don

[K9Kampers]

Zazoozaz -
All basic questions that have been asked & answered many times before. Searching the archives will yield a wealth of diverse opinions & ideas on those topics. But for a quick start...

1. Rigging before or after launching is entirely up to you and / or dictated by where you are launching. I do it both ways depending on what ramp I'm at. Mostly after launching tho. Falling off the boat while rigging hurts less when in the water, but is harder to recover things dropped over.

2 & 3. More downward tension on the Mast-Raising-System will make handling the RF & attaching the forestay easier. Carriacou's method accomplishes the same thing and works well for those who do it that way.

Good luck.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

EZ Ray,

I slip my 'X' now, but previously I had the same problems before using Carriacou's solution described above. The rope loop around the furler spool, and the other loop for your foot gives a lot of "pull" in order to slip in the forestay pin. This method can also be done sitting on the bow deck, putting one foot into the loop with a grunt'n leg-push and then slip in the forestay pin.

I used the trailer winch a couple of times with a rope looped on the winch hook, and other end looped around the furler spool. (thats a little dangerous since so much "power pull" could break something--especially if some kinks are unseen in the 'stays').
Single handling the mast, furler, stays, is a real chore. IT sure helps with at least one helper.

Happy Sailing

[SailDog]

"Based on my experience" (ah hem, a month) Rigging on the trailer, assuming no overhead threats, gives me one less thing to worry about. A couple extra clicks on the mast raiser and the furler pin slides in easy. Single handed dealing with the furler, spreaders, strouds, lifelines... is a handful but doable. Keeping the furler centered over the mast while raising is key. Having a helper makes it 3 times easier.
-Pat

[James V]

On anchoring from the stern -

What I do -
(I have 25 feet of chain and I always tie off the end of the rode (rope))

Have enough scope already out and the line cleated on the stern cleat.
Deploy anchor from stern
Set the hook.
Take another line about 25 feet or more
Pull in the line until you can grab the end of the chain (you may use the motor for this)
Attached the new line to the end of the chain.
Slowly let out.
Take the end of the 2nd line over to the other cleat making sure that you clear everything.
Pull in until the "Yoke" is centered and cleat off.

When reterving the anchor, let out the 2nd line first to release the "Yoke"

With winds and current and a well set anchor, getting the anchor up can often be too much. Use engin assist - start and slowly reverse being careful not to run over the rode and not getting it tangled. Cleat off when all slack is out and motor out in the reverse direction. If pulling up a lot of bottom - just motor some more at slow speeds and it will wash away.

This will put a lot of wind in the cabin as well and keeps one off the bow.

When singlehanding, you can put the anchor within 2 feet of where wanted.