Mast Raising trick

[Tomfoolery]

the mast is bent like a bananna toward the back when we are done. I don't like it at all, I hate it so much . it gets in the way of the joy we should have.

Yeah, I can imagine. It should take ten minutes. Max.

Sounds like you have the backstay connected while raising the mast - a big no-no. Also sounds like the shrouds may be too tight.

Go to the "Resources" tab at the top of this page, and download the manual for the vintage of your boat. Adjust the mast per the procedure (by the numbers - don't cheat), then disconnect the backstay to lower and raise the mast. The backstay isn't very taught when it's adjusted correctly, but I have a turnbuckle in mine anyway, so I don't even have to disconnect it. A Johnson lever would be even better, as all you do is flip it and stick the pin in.

Use the MRS to put extra forward pull on the mast to pin the forestay, then when you slacken it, the rigging should be just right. It's stretchy, like all wire rope is, so overtensioning it in order to pin the forestay won't hurt it as long as you don't get carried away.

I do this by myself, by the way, with zero assistance from anyone, even if someone else is present. Another person really is no help.

We are at the point where the women just will not want to go anywhere with teh boat, because only of the mast.[/quote
Well, that's not good. Get it set up correctly, and it will be easy.

is my rake to far back .. should I loosen the sides. (top or bottom). I don't know how to set up the standing rigging, but my world is not anything like what you guys are talking about now .. my world is horrible crappy painful hours of getting the mast up.

See comments above about setting up the rig per the MacGregor manual. It should be pretty easy and painless, especially with a MRS. If you have the help available, there's no need to crank the winch on the cabin roof. Use it as a ratcheting unpowered capstan (take a few turns around it so you can hold the line with the mast load on it easily), and have someone push the mast up while you pull with both hands. Once it's up a bit, it gets easier, and you should be able to just hand-over-hand the MRS line until it's all the way up. Cleat it off with both the jamb cleat, and cleat the tail to the stern cleat (slack, but positively cleated) if you have to let go of it for any reason.

You DO have baby stays on that mast while raising it, don't you?

[Spector]

That doesn't sound right at all. If I recall you sail at Ghost don't you? Maybe a second set of eyes might help find a better way. I usually sail there although we are leaving the boat on a mooring in Mara Lake for August. I will be back next week in Calgary

ug.. the forum just ate my post.


recap . IO hate raising the mast, we use 26x and 26x mast raising system. I may be doing something very wrong, but I kill myself getting the mast up .. like 2 hours of mast raising and then 3 hour rest, if I don't collapse in the heat first (seriously, not exaggerating here, I am often worry IO push so hard I will fall of the trailer/boat).

we need 4 people usually to raise the mast, .. 2 girls in teh cockpit, me up deck, buddy with the pin. and even with INSANE tension on the MRS the fuller can barely be put in.

the mast is bent like a bananna toward the back when we are done. I don't like it at all, I hate it so much . it gets in the way of the joy we should have.

We are at the point where the women just will not want to go anywhere with teh boat, because only of the mast.

is my rake to far back .. should I loosen the sides. (top or bottom). I don't know how to set up the standing rigging, but my world is not anything like what you guys are talking about now .. my world is horrible crappy painful hours of getting the mast up.

Kevin.

[Kazar]

Hello,I agree you should start with manual to ensure shrouds are going to chain plates properly,not a huge difference. Mark on your stay adjusters the pin location and move all four out about 1/2 inch to start. If you have a cdi furler there is a turnbuckle inside the drum. Look at manual and loosen it back from toggle. Go to backstay and mark then move it about 1 inch. Our 26x mast will stand safely without backstay. Set up your raising pole and hoist away. With you furler loosened it will be easy to pin forestay. You can then sight up mast for rake angle. Lift the furler drum and holding forestay cable with locking vice grips ,use a flat screwdriver to tighten turnbuckle. If you can not get mast to have only a slight bend lower mast and move all shroud pins. It will be a learning lesson to get the setup.
26x requires a tight forestay, ensure all standing rigging is tight and then wire your turnbuckle and lower your furler drum back down. When you have proper setup all you need to do to lower again is lift drum ,tighten up your mast raising system and remove safety wire at forestay turnbuckle ,loosen ,remove pin, lower and inspect mast,rigging.

When you are ready to improve your setup,I recommend a new forestay cable with toggle at top. New adjustable backstay ,boomvang kicker, and the upgraded spreaders if they are not on.

I think you will find it more enjoyable and your sailing will also improve.

[Catigale]

Something isn't right, Kevin. It does sound like the rigging is too tight. Make sure also all of your thimbles are straight and not kinked in the chainplates.

[SENCMac26x]

You said the mast was bent back like a banana, I'm wondering if your backstay isn't too tight? Trying letting it out a notch or 2 and see if it's easier. Once it goes easy, you can then start taking it in again until you get that balance.

[Sea Wind]

Before messing with the side stays, why don't you just detach the backstay and give it a try? You should be able to lift it by yourself with the MRS.

[arvid]

For many years i have used my selfinvented telescopic mastfoot so i can adjust rigtension between zero and guitarstrings in seconds so i take mast up and down fast and easy. Every sailboats should have my system but i ned some to produce it. Check my pics on magc gregor owners group on Facebook

[Highlander]

Here I thought U were gonna tell us u were on something other than vgra-xd !!

J

[RobertB]

Arvid, welcome to the board - but please, if you have pictures to offer, please post a link. Not everyone is on Facebook (or I am the only one in the world who is not). I personally do not partake due to my concerns with the ever changing privacy rules and my desire to stay employed.

[beene]

Mast raising takes me 10 min

Just to get the stick up

After that, rigid vang, boom, main, jib, sheets, bumpers, mooring lines, bimini, wind sensor, vhf antenna.

About another 50 min of work

Ready to launch in an about an hour

G

[K9Kampers]

For many years i have used my selfinvented telescopic mastfoot so i can adjust rigtension between zero and guitarstrings in seconds so i take mast up and down fast and easy. Every sailboats should have my system but i ned some to produce it. Check my pics on magc gregor owners group on Facebook

Arvid - I found your other stuff on the MacGregor Sailboat Owners group on Facebook, but not your telescopic mastfoot.

[Wayne nicol]

yea i wanna see trhe pics too-
i too dont face creep!!- too many rantable opportunities , and i just cant let them slip by!!

[beene]

What the heck is a telescoping mast foot...

This should be good

Lets see where my Mac brothers take this one...

G

[seahouse]

I envision a jackscrew at the mast base that gets turned up to increase tension after mast raising and forestay is pinned, and turned down for lowering and pinning the forestay. Totally feasible IMHO.

[Dirko]

I'm confused about your method.
You are straddling the sail? So you're behind the bow, facing forward, over the forestay?
How do you use your foot? esp. if the loop is out of sight over the bow?

I guess a guy could hold on to the pulpit and face sternward, but you'd have better balance than me to do it.

I tie the rope to the drum, sit down straddling the foresail facing the bow, put my foot through the loop, then swing my foot with the loop over the bow. Then I can use my foot to pull down the foresail and furler via the rope around the drum, while both my hands are free to pin the assembly to the boss.

Kevinnem - I was waiting to see if any X owners would respond. I've sailed on a few Xs but haven't raised the mast on one. If your mast is bent that far back, I'd guess something is out of kilter. Seems most guys have 2-4" of rake if they are in heavier winds and less in light winds. Usually the upper shrouds are too tight when you have excessive rake. You might also be pulling against your backstay. I would guess that your backstay should be connected after your mast is raised and foresail is pinned. I watched a guy on Youtube raise his mast on his X in half the time it takes me to hook up my winch system. Add some pictures and someone might spot what's gone awry.