sailing with pop-top up, and about that rudder pin

[mdbrown]

Hi all...

I'm a new owner of a MacGregor 26s. I've got two seemingly simple questions. After a search of the forums and other sites, I'm still seeking answers!

1. Can you sail with the pop-top up? It sure looks like it would interfere with the boom or at least the boomvang.

2. To pin the rudder down, do you use a dowel rod with some type of key or wire on the end to keep it from just falling back out? Or do you use something else?

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[grady]

Hi all...

I'm a new owner of a MacGregor 26s. I've got two seemingly simple questions. After a search of the forums and other sites, I'm still seeking answers!

1. Can you sail with the pop-top up? It sure looks like it would interfere with the boom or at least the boomvang.

2. To pin the rudder down, do you use a dowel rod with some type of key or wire on the end to keep it from just falling back out? Or do you use something else?

Thanks for the help,
Mike

Yes you can sail with the pop top up! Until you install a boom vang! If you are out relaxing in light wind just remove the vang. You just will not be able to control your main sail shape for optimum performance.

My rudder is different from yours. Take a pic so we can see.

[Hamin' X]

I think that a "Delrin" pin is used to lock the rudder down. This is a sacrificial plastic pin that will shear if you ground the rudder.

~Rich

[Interim]

The manual says sail with it up, unless conditions get bad. Water getting in could be an issue depending on the seas, but also that little bit of added weight up high might also be a concern if you are heeling too much anyway.

Regarding the rudder, I have two wires that run from the front of the rudder, up the rudder post, and attached to a cleat on the tiller with a bungee. This lets the rudder give way if it grounds, but otherwise stays in good trim. The reason for having two is in case one breaks, the back up is installed already.

--john

[dlandersson]

I drive an X, but feel free to come see how NOT to sail

Hi all...

I'm a new owner of a MacGregor 26s. I've got two seemingly simple questions. After a search of the forums and other sites, I'm still seeking answers!

1. Can you sail with the pop-top up? It sure looks like it would interfere with the boom or at least the boomvang.

2. To pin the rudder down, do you use a dowel rod with some type of key or wire on the end to keep it from just falling back out? Or do you use something else?

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[mdbrown]

Thanks everyone....good info on the pop-up. I'll give that a shot.

I'm going to try an oak dowel rod for now and pin it on the ends. If that doesn't work I'll try a plastic rod. I like the bungee idea as well but I'll need to think about that some more to see how I could make it work.

[MacFromWayBack]

I have a down-haul cable rigged similar to how John describes above but instead of a bungee, I use a breakaway cleat. I got the idea from discussions on this forum. Works like a charm. Since i regularly sail in shallow waters, this is far preferable to a plastic sheer pin for me as I would be replacing that nearly every time I went out.

I've grown used to the snap of the breakaway cleat popping loose and usually react with a "sh~t - where did that channel go". I'm definitely not ready for a full keel boat.


Discussion of cleat usage: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread. ... Jamb-Cleat
one verison for sale: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/cl ... /index.htm

[sailboatmike]

Unless the conditions are very light and smooth I wouldnt sail with the pop top open, if you get knocked over or take a wave over the top the water could flood in, water in the cabin is hard to remove once its in their and can make the boat unstable if it can slosh around.

Another point is that it will limit you standing area if you need to stand on the cabin roof to adjust halyards etc or need to go forward

[Sumner]

I have a down-haul cable rigged similar to how John describes above but instead of a bungee, I use a breakaway cleat. I got the idea from discussions on this forum. Works like a charm. Since i regularly sail in shallow waters, this is far preferable to a plastic sheer pin for me as I would be replacing that nearly every time I went out.

I've grown used to the snap of the breakaway cleat popping loose and usually react with a "sh~t - where did that channel go". I'm definitely not ready for a full keel boat.


Discussion of cleat usage: http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread. ... Jamb-Cleat
one verison for sale: http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/cl ... /index.htm

Yep...


http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... ing-1.html

... use the same thing and it works great. Not that much and a great mod.



I don't sail with the pop-top up. Besides some of the comments above I just don't like looking through it,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

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