Crazy idea

[bcleme01]

I've got a wild and crazy idea I want people's opinions on. I’ve owned a 2002 Mac 26X for about 8 years. We’ve had lots of great memories with the boat and like a lot of its features – but…. we’re really getting tired of the effort and time it takes to rig the boat and derig it afterwards. I’m getting older and don’t like moving around on the top of the boat during set up and take down – trying not to trip on wires and various lines. Plus I can't do it myself and my wife has bad knees so she can't help much. So we always need additional help when we take her out.

We’ve been down to Blue Water Yachts in Seattle and got all the latest labor saving devices so I think we’ve streamlined the process somewhat. To set up the boat so that it’s ready to launch still takes about 45 minutes on a good day which seems consistent per this forum.
We’re almost to the point of selling the boat and getting a power boat, but we really like the option of sailing, even if it isn’t fast. In fact most people who come on board don’t like to heel much while sailing. But they like quietly moving through the water under sail – very relaxing.
So here goes……please forgive me for my crazy idea.

What about shortening the mast on our 26X by about 10 feet so that set up would not include unbolting the mast and sliding it back. The mast would permanently stay in the same place and set up would just involve lifting the mast up and attaching the boom. We may not need as many stays such as the spreaders. And with the shorter mast the boat would heel less under sail. Of course we would need new sails and new stays but they’re starting to get a bit old anyway. And we would go much slower under sail but I said earlier, we’re not worried much about speed.

One last change would be to upgrade our engine to maybe a 60-70 HP outboard. They appear to be about the same weight as our existing Honda BF50.

What do you think? Would this be feasible? Has anyone ever done anything like this.

Your feedback is coveted – just don’t report me to the sailing police.

[jbousquin]

bcleme01,

Your idea is so crazy that none other than Joshua Slocum himself did it! I just finished readhing Sailing Alone Around the World, and it had some detailed diagrams about how he kept shortening the spar on the Spray until he got it just right.

I think if it was good enough for the first guy to solo circumnavigate in a sloop in 1898, it ought to be good enough for us wee little Mac owners. I'm interested to hear what other folks say, but you have my hearty encouragement in at least pursuing the idea, especially if it better fits your needs. As my friend Geoff says, that's why sailing is so cool, everyone can do it their own way....

[Saxacussionist]

Just keep the boat in a slip if you can, i'ts worth the $$$. Just hop on board and sail.

As far as heeling, for people like that, I usually sail close hauled and keep the mainsail sheet in my hand. Find their comfort zone by trial and error then control the sheet to keep it just on the edge of their limit!

[gyroplanes]

I like your idea a lot.

I may have a slightly better idea than chopping your mast. I looked at a MAC 25 years ago and the guy had an ATV winch mounted on the fore peak. The cable to the top of the mast, was also his jib stay. The boat was on a river with a non-opening bridge on the way to the lake.
After he passed the bridge, he would hit a cockpit button raising the mast. The Jib was already hanked on.

I don't know what a mast costs, but I do know that little 19 -22 foot Ventures and South Coasts can be had for almost nothing. A friend of mine gave away his MAC 25 recently.. and he had the coveted stow away galley.

I don't see why one of these couldn't provide donor parts for the project and maybe leave you with parts to sell.

I'll bet a sail maker can lop the bottom off any sail to fit your mast.

You could then return your boat to original should you opt to move on.

[mastreb]

If you're going to do this, you'll need new sails and you should consider a gaff rig. Google it and what it looks like. Essentially, instead of a triangular main sail, you have a quadrilateral with a small spar at the head of the sail. This rig would allow you to loft nearly as much sail square footage as the stock Mac main, and it's simple and easy to install. In theory Gaff rigs don't point as well as bermuda rigs, but Macs don't point well anyway so I doubt there'd be much difference.

If you don't mind a bit of a mod, you might consider making the bottom 3' of mast a permanent tabernacle, and putting a hinge right above the gooseneck. This preserves 3' of mast, allows you to keep the boom and flaked mainsail on while trailering, and makes the mast horizontally level when lowered (it will be angled up if it remains stepped as you indicate now). You can continue to use the existing lower 3' of mast by cutting it between the gooseneck and the boltrope feed slot, and then using a stainless steel strap hinge that would be custom made. You'd have to stay the tabernacle section with new baby stays, but that's not a big deal. Now instead of a 22' mast you have a 25' mast, only 2' shorter than the stock mast if I'm not mistaken.

I'd be interested in helping you come up with the rigging solution for this to see how well it works.

Worst case, (and if the gaff rig doesn't work) consider simply de-masting your Mac if you're going to go to a power boat anyway. With the mast and rigging off, you've still got the smallest full cabin cruiser on the market. Saves a lot of money vice selling and buying another boat.

[kevinnem]

well in a way , we all do this all ready. - we call it reefing, cause we like fancy sailor terms for stuff.

I would maybe suggest you should build a new mast for it (leaving the current mast intact for later sale.electric winches is something I often think of. I also wonder if you might be able to run the fore stay to the cockpit, so that you could lock it off without heading fore.

Clearly there are tradeoffs, some that even land in the area of safety, ... though consider how the balance of safety tips in the debate of "forestry run aft, VS walking up front to do it.

At the end of the day, you maybe should go with a power boat, .. even consider a pontoon boat. At the end of the day, what makes you most happy?

[RobertB]

I too would suggest a gaff rig. Suggest using a new mast so boat can be sold as stock some day. I would hesitate to leave 3 foot of mast vertical for fear of hitting low bridges while trailering. The idea to leave a short upright mast is good, I would try to keep it below 10 feet (the lowest bridge I have gone under).

[captronr]

Most likely I won't do anything different, but I was thinking.........................

I've seen info (not in person) on the com-pac boats with their mastender system. From online info, I'd sure like to look at the 19 ft Eclipse. I view it as having a lot of the good features of the X, be faster to rig, sailing better, and lighter to tow. Of course, the downside is less cabin space, and I do enjoy using a wheel instead of a tiller), and you won't have any high speed get off the water runs.

Cost is a big obstacle for me, and lack of used com-pacs in the midwest.

If I had to go to a non-Mac boat now, I'm about 95% sure it would be com-pac.

Disclaimer: Absolutely no affiliation in any way, shape, or form with com-pac (Unless they'd like to give me a big discount).

Ron

[mastreb]

The com-pac mastender system is exactly what I'm proposing you do in my earlier post regarding a tabernacle. Perhaps you could simply buy one of their masts and rig it on your Mac with a fixed foot.

[Tomfoolery]

. . . consider simply de-masting your Mac if you're going to go to a power boat anyway. With the mast and rigging off, you've still got the smallest full cabin cruiser on the market. Saves a lot of money vice selling and buying another boat.

That's my plan for my next trip in the Erie Canal. I've always just left it on, in travel position but with the crutch extended an extra foot to keep the mast away from my head. But tripping over rigging is a pain, and sliding the mast sideways down a couple of 2-bys to get it off the boat (at home) should be pretty easy, and make for a much cleaner deck. It's a LOT of cabin for such a small boat, and with the water ballast in and the centerboard down (to reduce rocking), the boat should be very stable in the canal with 6 adults on board.

I just have to rig another steaming light in case I get stuck on the water after dark.

[Tomfoolery]

For sailing, a catboat might be an easier rig to handle, if one were available with a folding mast. No forestay, mast base already in position, minimal rigging. If such a thing existed, that is.

[Russ]

Kind of crazy. As mentioned above, you will be changing your boat so that resale might be seriously affected. And it will sail even worse in normal to light winds. Try reefing your main and sailing a while like that. If you like it, then go ahead and buy a shorter mast and stays and go for it.

Frankly, I'd opt for mast up lot storage or a slip if rigging is such a chore. That's one of the reasons I slip our boat. I hate the bother of rigging it.

[mastreb]

For sailing, a catboat might be an easier rig to handle, if one were available with a folding mast. No forestay, mast base already in position, minimal rigging. If such a thing existed, that is.

That's exactly what a Com-Pac is.

[Tomfoolery]

Ah, did not know that. The only Compacs I know are sloop rigged, and are really nice (but expensive) boats.

[dlandersson]

In fact, someone has a business just setting up Macs as travel cruisers.

http://economycruisers.com/

. . . consider simply de-masting your Mac if you're going to go to a power boat anyway. With the mast and rigging off, you've still got the smallest full cabin cruiser on the market. Saves a lot of money vice selling and buying another boat.

That's my plan for my next trip in the Erie Canal. I've always just left it on, in travel position but with the crutch extended an extra foot to keep the mast away from my head. But tripping over rigging is a pain, and sliding the mast sideways down a couple of 2-bys to get it off the boat (at home) should be pretty easy, and make for a much cleaner deck. It's a LOT of cabin for such a small boat, and with the water ballast in and the centerboard down (to reduce rocking), the boat should be very stable in the canal with 6 adults on board.

I just have to rig another steaming light in case I get stuck on the water after dark.