26X swingkeel

[mikedoz1]

Hello my Mac brothers. I took my 26X out on SF Bay yesterday on a picture perfect day. I went to lower my keel and could not get it down more than one foot of the rope attached to it. I have only sailed it a few times and I thought I remember it taking up much more of the lowering rope. Is it maybe too stiff to drop easily? Is there a way to loosen it up so it swings down easier? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

[Egress]

The easy way is to start your engine and put it in reverse and move straight back. If that doesn't work turn side to side while backing. Either the rope knot or the slide hinge is hung up and this technique usually works for me.

[DaveB]

One foot of line should bring the centerboard fully down.
MacX has wire to rope line, many of us has changed to all rope.
The attachment to centerboard has to be a tight loop braided hole as the channel slot will only allow this.
You may be bounding the lift line at the channel exit.
You will most likely never raise or lower the centerboard while heeling at any degree.
Always try to keep boat at no movement when lowering or raiseing centerboard.
I highly recommend you to drop the centerboard and ck out your fitting. This is done by removing the bolt in mast support (Sampson Post bottom plastic cover) cap in cabin.
Other info how to remove the center board bolt is found under search .
Dave

Hello my Mac brothers. I took my 26X out on SF Bay yesterday on a picture perfect day. I went to lower my keel and could not get it down more than one foot of the rope attached to it. I have only sailed it a few times and I thought I remember it taking up much more of the lowering rope. Is it maybe too stiff to drop easily? Is there a way to loosen it up so it swings down easier? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

[Herschel]

I, too, have had intermittent problems, in the past, lowering my centerboard due to the occasional interference from caught fishing line and other foreign materials. One relatively easy way I found to lower the board when stuck, if at a slip, is to secure a mooring line to the forward stanchion on the side away from the pier and then run the line under the boat at the stern. You can then walk the other end forward on the pier until it catches on the board and pulls it down. I have, also, donned a mask and snorkel and swum under the boat and released it manually. My experience with my rig (1998 26X) is that the line to the centerboard takes about 18-24 inches from full up to full down. I'll measure it next time I go out to the boat and see for sure, but it seems like it is more than just one foot.

[Wind Chime]

We use a thin fiberglas 7' collapsible tent pole, push it down the compression post from the deck onto the top of the keel. The compression post exists at the bottom onto the keel aft of the keel pivot bracket.

See this other thread.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 24#p273124

[sljury]

Hi Mike
I recently took out my keel (center-board) to repair some gel-coat chips and digs.
I found in the center-board itself was hollow and it has two holes at the top of the board
and two holes at the bottom.
I do believe these are to let the water into the center.
The keel was made in two halves and joined together, thus space in the center has trapped air.
As the keel is lowered down by releasing the rope air is let out of the top side of the
keel.
As this may take a about a minute it seems like the keel is not lowering at all,
Until all of the air is expelled from the center of the keel. Once it has water inside
it should be no problem going up and down.

If you note taking the boat out of the water and water comes out of the keel
under the trailer on the ramp.
Steve
Australia

[Seapup]

I found in the center-board itself was hollow and it has two holes at the top of the board
and two holes at the bottom.
I do believe these are to let the water into the center.
The keel was made in two halves and joined together, thus space in the center has trapped air.
As the keel is lowered down by releasing the rope air is let out of the top side of the
keel.
As this may take a about a minute it seems like the keel is not lowering at all,
Until all of the air is expelled from the center of the keel. Once it has water inside
it should be no problem going up and down.

That hollow is where the lead shot goes

About 75lbs fits perfect, she lowers right down every time then Just takes 8:1 to get it back up

Or try one of the other methods

[jim nolan]

Is there really enough room in that hole with the rope in to push a tent pole down?

[Wind Chime]

Jim,

Yup it fits.

I'm not talking about aluminum poles, but skinny fiberglass collapsible ones with the shock cord inside that holds them together. Just need to be careful when pulling out because they want to come apart. It breaks down neatly into about 18" long and stows nicely.

We sail out of a bay with the bottom mostly of eel grass. It's great for the crabs and gray whales, but the grass sometimes gets caught up in the keel-well when pulling the board up. We have tried driving backwards, round in circles pounding over our own wake, banging the inside of the keel-well trunk, best solution so far is the tent pole


http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/ ... t106666380

by jim nolan » Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:18 pm

Is there really enough room in that hole with the rope in to push a tent pole down?

[mikedoz1]

Thank you all so much, I'll try backing to see if that works, if not I like the idea of running a rope from back to front at the dock, and I have plenty of tent poles from all my different tents that I'm sure I could find one that works. You all are the best! Happy sailing. Mike

[Newell]

I think Tahoe Jack posted on here the lift line distance was 23.5". Thats what I just used to when changing out my fraying line to Amsteel. It's hard to see how a CB could drop a foot then stop, unless it's something to do with the line itself.

[ronacarme]

What year Mac X? Our 2001 has all rope centerboard line ( no wire as in the early X). Ron

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Same with my 2000 model. It is already on the second rope CB line and this one is starting to fray now a bit too. Maybe I should try a different rope type.

[Seapup]

Same with my 2000 model. It is already on the second rope CB line and this one is starting to fray now a bit too. Maybe I should try a different rope type.

I was planning on going with dyneema as a couple others had and stopped by out local sailing consignment shop to pick some up. The salty dog said he would gladly sell it, but recommended staying with regular double braid and replacing it as needed. His reasoning was the dyneema does not "like" making sharp bends and thought it would break the fibers down where it makes the 90 deg bend coming on to deck.

[mikedoz1]

Hi All, My 26X is a 2001, and like I said I have only had it since early this year. The rope is fraying just a little where the cams lock into it, but not anywhere else. Again, thanks for all the great ideas out there.
Mike