Rigging hardware

[Dean Shipwash]

I just got my 1st. Macgregor 26m had a hard time hooking up the front sail (jib) sail I think that's what's its called. I really don't think I have the right hardware??

[Dean Shipwash]

It has 4 D-rings from sail to bracket

[Dean Shipwash]

This is my new to me 2006 macgregor 26m

[Inquisitor]

Congratulations on your new baby!
I think pizzas and cigars are in order.

As to your multi-link night mare. It really should be more directly connected. Mine has no extra links... furler directly to deck bracket. Either the forestay cable was cut too short or your back shrouds (all four) are set too tight and are pulling your mast too far aft... causing the forestay not to reach.

I'm not sure if there is a suggest back rake of the M's mast. I've never read such, but then there are far more knowledgeable performance sailors on the forum than I. If you get the water line fairly level and the mast is already nice and vertical, your forestay is too short... if you see some back angle to the mast then you'll be able to adjust the backstay adjusters to allow the mast to move vertical and thus allow you to remove the "extra" links.

[C Buchs]

Go to https://macgregorsailors.com/resources.html and download the manual for your . I don't know what year your is, but at the top of page 11 of the 2003 manual, there is a picture of the forestay connection. I know that this picture doesn't look much like yours, but under that drum of your roller fuller is a turnbuckle very similar to the one in this picture. As you can see, there should be a single pinned connection. I wouldn't trust the connection in your pictures!

Jeff

[NiceAft]

I just got my 1st. Macgregor 26m had a hard time hooking up the front sail (jib) sail I think that's what's its called. I really don't think I have the right hardware??

That is definitely not correct. There should not be any shackles involved at all. The connection should be direct, and fastened with a locking pin.

If you have a mast raising system, have you been sure to have raised the mast to its most forward position? It has already been mentioned, but is your mast practically straight? It should have a slight rake backwards. If the mast is not straight enough, are your stays able to be adjusted?

Without seeing the boat, it will be hard for anyone to give anything other than a speculative answer.

[Tomfoolery]

What everyone else said about those shackles. Yikes!

If the mast is vertical or nearly so and the shrouds are snug, then perhaps there was a quick-release shroud lever in there, like this one. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/c-sherma ... ecordNum=8 People use them to make it easier to tension the stays after the mast is raised.

Something to look around the boat or box-o-parts that came with it for.

[svscott]

I've had my shroud hardware get a twist at the cable eye, essential shortening the stays and keeping the mast from getting all the way forward. The twisted bit always seems to be right where the side stays connect to the mast brackets.
Even when my rigging is perfectly aligned though, I need to use a halyard from the mast head to a bow cleat on the X or 4:1 block from the front stay's triangle plate to the bow on the D to bend the mast forward enough to connect the front stay to the front chainplate. The front stay should be pretty tight.

[Jimmyt]

Here are are the dimensions you need to set up mast rake.



And when you get everything set correctly, it will look like this.



I would order the forestay pin from Bluewater Yachts. This is what pins the furling drum at the bow (unless, as Tom said, the PO incorporated a Johnson lever).



You need to set the mast rake properly, then figure out where the forestay lands.

[Dean Shipwash]

Thanks guys !!!

[Jimmyt]

While you are sorting all of your standing rigging, make sure to check the crimps for broken strands, corrosion, kinks, etc. that might lead to failure.

Keep us updated on what you find as you sort it out. Not only is it helpful to you to get feed back, but it helps everybody to get exposed to whatever you find. That's the beauty of this format.

When I first got my boat, my rudders were cracking around the raising line attachment point. I posted a pic of the damage and a wider shot of the rudder, and was told by a forum member (thanks Dave- dthiesmeyer) that the rudders were rigged wrong by the PO. He told me how to rig them properly.

We're all just building/maintaining the forum knowledge base.

Good luck!