Considering going to roller furling - comments/pointers?

[Be Free]

I think that the mere fact that we own a or proves that we don't really care what anyone else thinks about our sailing choices.

[OverEasy]

As boats are being hauled out and placed on stands, frames and some very ungainly tall trailers here at the marina on Lake Champlain several owners of other similarly sized sailboats are fascinated (and more than a bit envious) that we can self launch & recover with a Dodge Caravan and then easily tow it 1500 miles each way back and forth to/from South Carolina and New England.

Local Haul outs and launching with the crane cost about $250 each way for a 26ft vessel. More for longer ones. And then being lake bound (but being lake bound on Lake Champlain isn’t really a limitation as it is an exceptionally beautiful and HUGE lake!!! ).

The aspect we can sail/motor/trailer/camp and have a 26 foot vessel that performs reasonably well at all of those features AND can accommodate 6 people has sparked several nice conversations. Though we’ve had to dig out the demo videos of the water ballast stability to convince some of its capability. ( The one curmudgeon groused “well you better not forget to fill it” to which another non-Mac sail boat owner replied “would forget to put your pants on again?” )

Others have really liked the very easy to use layout and spaciousness of our Mac26X even though thier boats are longer and broader. Many have mentioned that having a wide beam vs being a competent cautious sailor isn’t even a contest, narrower and smarter would always win. Even several of the motor cruisers (that’s a different league entirely) have been complementary of our (comparatively tiny) Mac26X and helpful with cruising suggestions. Some have mentioned how advantageous it is to be small and how that facilitates in even being able to get a marina slip in transit and that the shallow draft helps as well in that aspect. Deep and long and wide slips are at a premium in many places on lakes, rivers and the ICW.

The cruisers also complement the ability we have with our Mac26X to self transition by road to differing locales rather than by commercial haulage or circuitous waterways or prohibitively time consuming motoring.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[PSNA]

I returned to drumming after a 3-decade hiatus, but did so in stealth mode. Started off with a cheap electronic kit, then upgraded to a good one, and as soon as we moved into a house with a dedicated music room, I switched over to regular acoustic drums. It created a little friction, but at that point I was getting old enough not to give a sh*t!

Ha!

I played the drums in high school and college and walked away from them once I had to earn a living. The noise factor would have the neighbors in an uproar.

But a couple of years ago, I spent some time looking at electronic kits. Always thought they were overpriced toys.

Boy was I wrong. Sunk a ton into a set of Yamaha's and have been banging on them since. One of the best decisions I have ever made as there were decades of music I now can play along to.

I actually prefer them over an acoustic kit.

Although there is nothing good about the pandemic, it did allow me to spend the time doing something I loved as a kid.

[dlandersson]

I think that the mere fact that we own a or proves that we don't really care what anyone else thinks about our sailing choices.

[Stickinthemud57]

As boats are being hauled out and placed on stands, frames and some very ungainly tall trailers here at the marina on Lake Champlain several owners of other similarly sized sailboats are fascinated (and more than a bit envious) that we can self launch & recover with a Dodge Caravan and then easily tow it 1500 miles each way back and forth to/from South Carolina and New England.

Local Haul outs and launching with the crane cost about $250 each way for a 26ft vessel. More for longer ones. And then being lake bound (but being lake bound on Lake Champlain isn’t really a limitation as it is an exceptionally beautiful and HUGE lake!!! ).

The aspect we can sail/motor/trailer/camp and have a 26 foot vessel that performs reasonably well at all of those features AND can accommodate 6 people has sparked several nice conversations. Though we’ve had to dig out the demo videos of the water ballast stability to convince some of its capability. ( The one curmudgeon groused “well you better not forget to fill it” to which another non-Mac sail boat owner replied “would forget to put your pants on again?” )

Others have really liked the very easy to use layout and spaciousness of our Mac26X even though thier boats are longer and broader. Many have mentioned that having a wide beam vs being a competent cautious sailor isn’t even a contest, narrower and smarter would always win. Even several of the motor cruisers (that’s a different league entirely) have been complementary of our (comparatively tiny) Mac26X and helpful with cruising suggestions. Some have mentioned how advantageous it is to be small and how that facilitates in even being able to get a marina slip in transit and that the shallow draft helps as well in that aspect. Deep and long and wide slips are at a premium in many places on lakes, rivers and the ICW.

The cruisers also complement the ability we have with our Mac26X to self transition by road to differing locales rather than by commercial haulage or circuitous waterways or prohibitively time consuming motoring.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

An excellent encapsulation of what I love about the 26S. Sleeping 6 is a bit of hyperbole, I would say. 4 adults and 2 children as long as no one brings any gear! Of necessity, the V-berth becomes the pantry, sail locker, rope locker and general catch-all.

I like to browse through the available sailboats on Craigslist just for the fun of it. I have yet to find a boat I would rather own.

[OverEasy]

I didn’t say anyone could sneeze with 6 sleeping aboard…….

[pitchpolehobie]

As boats are being hauled out and placed on stands, frames and some very ungainly tall trailers here at the marina on Lake Champlain several owners of other similarly sized sailboats are fascinated (and more than a bit envious) that we can self launch & recover with a Dodge Caravan and then easily tow it 1500 miles each way back and forth to/from South Carolina and New England.

Local Haul outs and launching with the crane cost about $250 each way for a 26ft vessel. More for longer ones. And then being lake bound (but being lake bound on Lake Champlain isn’t really a limitation as it is an exceptionally beautiful and HUGE lake!!! ).

The aspect we can sail/motor/trailer/camp and have a 26 foot vessel that performs reasonably well at all of those features AND can accommodate 6 people has sparked several nice conversations. Though we’ve had to dig out the demo videos of the water ballast stability to convince some of its capability. ( The one curmudgeon groused “well you better not forget to fill it” to which another non-Mac sail boat owner replied “would forget to put your pants on again?” )

Others have really liked the very easy to use layout and spaciousness of our Mac26X even though thier boats are longer and broader. Many have mentioned that having a wide beam vs being a competent cautious sailor isn’t even a contest, narrower and smarter would always win. Even several of the motor cruisers (that’s a different league entirely) have been complementary of our (comparatively tiny) Mac26X and helpful with cruising suggestions. Some have mentioned how advantageous it is to be small and how that facilitates in even being able to get a marina slip in transit and that the shallow draft helps as well in that aspect. Deep and long and wide slips are at a premium in many places on lakes, rivers and the ICW.

The cruisers also complement the ability we have with our Mac26X to self transition by road to differing locales rather than by commercial haulage or circuitous waterways or prohibitively time consuming motoring.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

An excellent encapsulation of what I love about the 26S. Sleeping 6 is a bit of hyperbole, I would say. 4 adults and 2 children as long as no one brings any gear! Of necessity, the V-berth becomes the pantry, sail locker, rope locker and general catch-all.

I like to browse through the available sailboats on Craigslist just for the fun of it. I have yet to find a boat I would rather own.

So I'm not the only one.

[Be Free]

When asked, I tell people that it will sleep three comfortably and six if they know each other very well.

[Stickinthemud57]

When asked, I tell people that it will sleep three comfortably and six if they know each other very well.

...and all they bring with them is a toothbrush!

[NiceAft]

I’ve always told people that my sleeps six family members, or six very, very, close friends.

Last summer, the Admiral and I took a 13 day cruise on Nic Aft. We put 380 (611.5 K) miles round trip on the water. Slept on the boat every night. When it was over, she asked “Where are we going next year?”

[Highlander]

When asked, I tell people that it will sleep three comfortably and six if they know each other very well.

...and all they bring with them is a toothbrush!

That's fine with me as long as they look good in the Bikini their wearing & if they get cold I,m a good hugger so I,m told

J

[OverEasy]

Blue Skys, it’s sounding like Blue Sky’s….
It’s looking like Blue Sky’s ……

Keep this up and the Admirals are gonna find out and give everyone a time out….

[OverEasy]

Back to topic of “to furl or not to furl” that was the question I believe somewhere back along this thread

We’ve been watching the ease with which some of the boat up here on Lake Champlain are reefing their main sails and upon closer inspection have found them to be using main sail furling systems!

We’ve seen several that furl into the mast and a couple that furl into the boom. I recall MacGregor even had a promo video of a Mac26M with an above the boom furler system. And CDI has some advertisement on a behind the mast furling system. For old fogey with limited mobility and zero aspirations of “high performance” sailing these look very VERY interesting (as compared to clamoring upon deck to hoist or drop or reef or flake a main sail).

Remember the objective is to enjoy the sailing and not the pain of old decrepit joints and worn out vertebrae and discs…….

So there was something from MacGregor that was above the boom and I believe an all up/all down system. Does this still exist? How well did it work? Does anyone have experience with one?

Similarly there is the CDI behind the main mast system that is currently available. Does anyone have any experience with using one? Anyone know of someone who is using one of these CDI systems?

Ease of use and not performance is the primary concern here.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Jimmyt]

So there was something from MacGregor that was above the boom and I believe an all up/all down system. Does this still exist? How well did it work? Does anyone have experience with one?

Ease of use and not performance is the primary concern here.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

See my post, this topic: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=28559&start=15#p353496

I've got one. I like the furling aspect, but it's not an exceptional design. It does allow almost infinite reefing points, which comes in very handy at 20 knots plus; if you accidentally or intentionally find yourself in that condition. Don't know where you got the idea it only goes all up/all down - or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean. Its tad finicky to use, but super quick for setup and takedown when trailering. At some point, I'll take a crack at reworking it to make it a bit less finicky. Since it's usable as-is, it's currently a low priority.

And your performance thoughts are spot on. If you have a UV strip put on your sail so you can furl and forget it, that thick material makes the sail shape fairly interesting when significantly reefed.

Photo of me reefing and looking up close to see how things are working... thinking how can I mod this and make it better...

[OverEasy]

Hi JimmyT!

That looks like it works great!
You look like your having fun with it!
Thank you for sharing that!

Does anyone know where one can get one of these?
Will it fit to a Mac26X?

Best Regards,
Over Easy