Full disclosure: I'm replacng mine'
Nice comment re standing rigging
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Nice comment re standing rigging
Nice comment re standing rigging
Full disclosure: I'm replacng mine'
Full disclosure: I'm replacng mine'
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 2000
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Mine is also on the short-list for replacement. There are no signs of trouble but it's getting to be about that time.
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Ok, just replaced mine - all but the backstay. Took two people a few hours. Not hard.
I did notice that the B&W backstay had a single chainplate to connect to the right rear. My backstay has two ends, one connects to a pully (to adjust the backstay tension) and one allows me to secure the boom when not in use. Anyone know where to buy that?
I noticed that the existing forestay and sidestays showed signs of wear and tear, broken strands, separating wires, etc. Glad I replaced it.
I did notice that the B&W backstay had a single chainplate to connect to the right rear. My backstay has two ends, one connects to a pully (to adjust the backstay tension) and one allows me to secure the boom when not in use. Anyone know where to buy that?
I noticed that the existing forestay and sidestays showed signs of wear and tear, broken strands, separating wires, etc. Glad I replaced it.
- Be Free
- Admiral
- Posts: 2000
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:08 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Steinhatchee, FL
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I've not seen that type of backstay on the X. I have a vague memory that either the D or the S had a small "pigtail" on the backstay that could be used to hold up the boom.dlandersson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 2:48 am I did notice that the B&W backstay had a single chainplate to connect to the right rear. My backstay has two ends, one connects to a pully (to adjust the backstay tension) and one allows me to secure the boom when not in use. Anyone know where to buy that?![]()
A more useful mod to replace it would be a proper topping lift. That will give you the ability to adjust the height of the boom underway or at anchor.
Alternatively, you could attach a short line to the backstay using a Prusik knot (or something similar).
Bill
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
2001 26X Simple Interest
Honda BF40D
"If I were in a hurry I would not have bought a sailboat." Me
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Yeah, I use a 1/32 line as my topping lift.
Be Free wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 9:48 amI've not seen that type of backstay on the X. I have a vague memory that either the D or the S had a small "pigtail" on the backstay that could be used to hold up the boom.dlandersson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 2:48 am I did notice that the B&W backstay had a single chainplate to connect to the right rear. My backstay has two ends, one connects to a pully (to adjust the backstay tension) and one allows me to secure the boom when not in use. Anyone know where to buy that?![]()
A more useful mod to replace it would be a proper topping lift. That will give you the ability to adjust the height of the boom underway or at anchor.
Alternatively, you could attach a short line to the backstay using a Prusik knot (or something similar).
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Anyone know where to get the white plastic tubes that fit on the ends of the sidestays over the chain plates? My old ones can't be moved to my new sidestays. 
- Strange
- Deckhand
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2025 6:16 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Houston, TX
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Thx, wonderng how it goes on?
Strange wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2026 5:17 am Been wanting some maybe like this?
https://murrays.com/products/shroud-ad ... K4L3LhKjw
-
leefrankpierce
- First Officer
- Posts: 258
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:13 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Dallas Ft-Worth Texas
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I used to trailer my boat.
The additional side stresses on the forestay during trailering had caused many of the strands to break and wind up inside the fuller sleeve.
Only way I noticed it was, I decided to replace the forestay when I damaged one of the sidestays during transport.
Big shock when I pulled the forestay out of the sleeve.
Suggest anyone who trailers to replace with the bigger one on a regular basis.
One other thing I learned reciently.
Bigger boats have sidestays that pull forward as well as ones that pull backwards, this prevented my neighbors mast from dropping on him when his furler failed. Our design, we have nothing but the forestay keeping the mast off our heads.
Makes me want to run a 2nd forestay from the top of the mast, but not 100% sure where I would attach it to the boat.
Suppose if I put a moddified front (whatever you call where we pin our forestay), then I could have two forestays.
The additional side stresses on the forestay during trailering had caused many of the strands to break and wind up inside the fuller sleeve.
Only way I noticed it was, I decided to replace the forestay when I damaged one of the sidestays during transport.
Big shock when I pulled the forestay out of the sleeve.
Suggest anyone who trailers to replace with the bigger one on a regular basis.
One other thing I learned reciently.
Bigger boats have sidestays that pull forward as well as ones that pull backwards, this prevented my neighbors mast from dropping on him when his furler failed. Our design, we have nothing but the forestay keeping the mast off our heads.
Makes me want to run a 2nd forestay from the top of the mast, but not 100% sure where I would attach it to the boat.
Suppose if I put a moddified front (whatever you call where we pin our forestay), then I could have two forestays.
26X in Dallas Fort-Worth area Texas
Slip at Eagle Mountain Lake

Slip at Eagle Mountain Lake
- Russ
- Admiral
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I bought an extra tang from BWY and installed it above the existing forestay tang. I then simply ran a line from the upper tang to the bow pulpit.leefrankpierce wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2026 8:05 am Makes me want to run a 2nd forestay from the top of the mast, but not 100% sure where I would attach it to the boat.
Suppose if I put a moddified front (whatever you call where we pin our forestay), then I could have two forestays.
It's not elegant or pretty, but it provides some backup if the forestay should fail.

https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/3430-1m0.htm
--Russ
- Strange
- Deckhand
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Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I’ve seen a YouTube video of a blue hull installing something looking visually like these the same way as the shroud covers. If these are NOT split, I’m sure they could be split cutting at an angle longwise.
2004
WindChill
50HP Tohatsu TLDI
50HP Tohatsu TLDI
- dustoff
- Engineer
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:25 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Stevensville, MD
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I used about 12inch long pvc tubing that I slid over the side stays by disconnecting the stay adjustors when the mast was down. Just have to mark the pin locations before you take them out. I took them off a few years ago and just used rigging tape over the ring dings and pins. Felt like the pvc covers were putting lateral pressure on the stay adjustors. I didn’t really have any problems though.
Dustoff
Dustoff
-
OverEasy
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Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Just a suggestion…
Instead of white PVC tube maybe consider using clear vinyl tubing?
That way one can see the condition of the cable plus the vinyl tubing, depending upon the wall thickness selected, will be flexible and help preclude any side loading or potential chaffing aspects.
Instead of white PVC tube maybe consider using clear vinyl tubing?
That way one can see the condition of the cable plus the vinyl tubing, depending upon the wall thickness selected, will be flexible and help preclude any side loading or potential chaffing aspects.
- dlandersson
- Admiral
- Posts: 5052
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Michigan City
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
Thx, what size/width did you use? 3/4 inch?
dustoff wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:10 pm I used about 12inch long pvc tubing that I slid over the side stays by disconnecting the stay adjustors when the mast was down. Just have to mark the pin locations before you take them out. I took them off a few years ago and just used rigging tape over the ring dings and pins. Felt like the pvc covers were putting lateral pressure on the stay adjustors. I didn’t really have any problems though.
Dustoff
- dustoff
- Engineer
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- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:25 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Stevensville, MD
Re: Nice comment re standing rigging
I think they were 3/4 inch. The diameter was just barely wider than the stay adjuster widths. I like the recommendation on using soft vinyl.
Dustoff.
Dustoff.
