Help with fixing a 1980 SouthCoast Explorer 20' Sloop

[brent]

Recently, I saw an ad for a very nice Macgregor 26X and I thought several times about going to the bank for a cashiers check and buying it. And, I talked to Bill about getting a new Macgregor 26M. I have the money, but, I have another problem.

While my wife was still alive I saw an ad for a sailboat that had been damaged. The owner had ran it aground over a submerged tree. This had broken long holes in the bottom. The only thing that stopped the boat from sinking was that it settled balanced on the tree (no built-in bouyancy like a Macgregor). To get the boat back to shore they tied it between two larger boats. This did get the boat back to the trailer but it also further damaged the fiberglass on one side where presumably one of the supporting boats pressed against it. The boat repair shop had given him a repair estimate that was equal to the value of the boat so it was destined to be scrapped.

I bought it off of him for less than a thousand dollars. The boat is 20' long with a small cabin containing a vee birth, two quarter berths, a sink and a cooktop. The feature I like best about it is the wooden partition in front of the vee birth with the 3" thick arch that supports the roof under the mast. It has a swing keel that is heavy enough to need a winch. The ballast is concrete which fills the thick keelson where the keel retracts. It has a Y shaped backstay. It has good #1 jib, a genoa, a new main with reef points. Even th old main is in good shape. It has one small hole and one ripped batten pocket.

When I got the boat home I put up the mast, attached the boom, and hoisted the main and genoa so my wife could see what it looked like. She liked it. I'd like to get this boat back in the water. It seems to be in pretty good shape for a 1980 model but the manufacturer went out of business a decade ago. I can't find anything on the internet about it. I can fix the holes in bottom and the broken places on the side. However, the bow pulpit has broken brackets and it looks like the original tubing was flimsy aluminum. Even with the brackets replaced I'm not sure I trust the tubing. Also, both latches on the forward hatch are broken. The sink pump needs to be replaced. I'm not certain how the main sheet is supposed to be rigged. Also, the mast is almost more than I can lift alone. Perhaps someone here has some suggestions.

[brent]

I know the larger Macgregors use a lifting winch to raise the mast. But I'm assuming that people don't do this with the smaller Macgregor/Venture 19, 21, 23s. The mast is about 22' high. I'm probably just doing it the wrong way. I can easily push the mast up from the cockpit but then comes the acrobatic part of trying to push the mast higher while climbing on top of the cabin and moving in toward the base. I think I could lift the mast from the cabin roof if I started with it propped up. Once the mast is raised up a bit I can control it with the forestay. How does everyone else do it? I need to know this because I'll probably be singlehanding a lot and I don't want to break anything.

I'll post some pictures in a couple of days when it warms up a little and the snow melts off. It's under snow right now.

The forward hatch frame is plastic. I'm wondering if it would be possible to replace the whole hatch. Is there a place that sells hatches? The paddlewheel sensor on the speed log is also broken. I've looked at a few boat supply sites but haven't seen either of these.

Okay, on rigging the main. This is complicated to describe so I think I'll see if I can get some pictures. Thanks for any assistance.

[Mark Prouty]

I can easily push the mast up from the cockpit but then comes the acrobatic part of trying to push the mast higher while climbing on top of the cabin and moving in toward the base. I think I could lift the mast from the cabin roof if I started with it propped up. Once the mast is raised up a bit I can control it with the forestay. How does everyone else do it? I need to know this because I'll probably be singlehanding a lot and I don't want to break anything.

Brent,

This is my old boat - a Montego 20. I attached a block to the forward pulpit. I ran the jib sheet through it. I could lift the mast to a point then finish pulling it up with the jib sheet.

[DLT]

As for lifting the mast, you might be able to retrofit this:

http://www.macgregor26.com/mast_raising.htm

Alternatively, how easy does the boom come off the mast? Somewhere, a link in a thread on this board, I saw a mast raising system similar to the stock Mac one, but using the boom, secured to the front of the mast, as the Gin pole...

Thinking out load, there might be stability issues trying to use the normal gooseneck connection. But, you could probably rig up some kind of bracket on the aft end of the boom that would mate with a bracket in the leading edge of the mast. Any quick release pin should be fine, as it is a temporary use...

Then, just tie a line from somewhere near the masthead to the other end of the boom. Make the line long enough so the boom is about 90deg to the mast. You'll likel have to play with it to get it just right...

The other issue will be stability from side to side...

[Catigale]

Brent - I singlehandedly step the mast without the raising gear - Im not tiny but I am a geek scientist, not a weightlifter or anything...

Its not the weight as much as having a system for dealing with problems as you are raising it more often than not. Its not hard to lift her up, stand it upright, and grab the furler and bring it forward and pin the forestay - even easier since my 'Forestay on Quick Release Lever" in the Mods...

[Frank C]

Brent,

I use a gin pole with winch (as linked above) because the mast plus furler plus Genoa is very heavy, but it sounds like your mast won't call for that complexity.

Mark's idea of using jib halyard (I think he meant halyard) through a block should be ample for your boat. However, from sounds of your pulpit, you might need to anchor the lifting block to forestay tang or a bow cleat.

Side-to-side stability is a definite issue with our mast plus furler, demanding babystays out to each side of the mast. But again, since your rig is lighter in weight, simplicity might apply.

I cannot remember if the Macgregor 26 marketing video shows a full mast raising, but I think Jeff Stagg's video does. Even so, I think you'd find it a big advantage to simply visit any nearby Mac owner and watch him during mast-raising. It would provide you with valuable insight on these rigging options, and also on the process.

Best of luck on the project - it might bring a tear, I hope also a smile, to recall her reaction.

[Tom Spohn]

Brent,
Did you check this site?

http://southcoastus.tripod.com/

[Mark Prouty]

By the way, that was a ratcheting block you run the halyard through. It would only turn one way.

oops, thanks Frank

[Frank C]

Brent - I singlehandedly step the mast without the raising gear -

I didn't know that! Do you have a furler?

Im not tiny but I am a geek scientist ...

Nor that! I'd better go check out that member profile ...

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Hi Brent...have FUN with your project. Fixing up a BOAT is great FUN.
...sometimes very challenging...but FUN.

[Zavala]

Hey Brent. Welcome to the site.

Would love to see some pics of your rig, post some pics when you can.

On our , the mast raising system is really just a pole attached to base of the mast for leverage. You attach the jib halyard to it and the mainsheet on the other side. Works pretty good, but can sway side to side if you're not careful, so I usually tie it off to the deck for stability.

[brent]

I'm thinking that it can't be a Southcoast boat; it says Southcoast on the registration. I checked the Hull ID Number and the first three letters are TSA. When I check this I get this:

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/mic_ ... spx?id=TSA

Company:
EXPLORER YACHT INC

City:
OLDSMAR
State:
FL

In Business:
7/3/1975

Out of Business:
5/31/1983

This makes more sense to me; Southcoast are Alberg designs and I can't imagine that this boat was designed by Carl Alberg.

[Zavala]

Brent. Good choice on the avatar.

I guess it's official, we have you hooked. Next thing you know you'll be bantering on the President Bush thread like an old timer.

Now, where's those boat photos?

[brent]

Okay, here is the layout of the hardware on the starboard side. It appears there is a camcleat with fairlead missing from the wooden rectangle.



Here is the port side and you can see that it has a camcleat with fairlead on the same piece of wood.









This is obviously a fiddle block with camcleat. I could get a new one for about $71 for a Ronstan and $76 for a Harken from what I've seen. If I understand the process correctly you rig the rope through the upper and lower pulleys of the fiddleblock and through the two pulleys on the boom. However, I don't know where the base end starts. I'm assuming the tail end is secured in the attached camcleat.




The only image I could find was this one of a fiddleblock rigged with a double block on a boom vang. Would it work better if the fiddleblock had a becket to tie the base end to?

[Catigale]

Frank - I do have a RF genny which is a PITA when you are single handed stepping...but the tricks I use with this are keeping a low sailtie on the mast so it doesnt slip off

I heartily recommend the raising gear for those buying a boat - sometimes I think Im playing Russian Roulette with my back stepping the mast - I am a lot more comfortable raising it with the Admiral in the cockpit (off the mast axis of course) watching for snags

See also my Poormans Mast Raising System for another solution using existing running rigging

....I received my lifelong membership card in the Geek Squad when, in 1985, after a long night in the lab with flashing lasers, I was crossing the Arts Quad, a Victoria Secret Model stopped, got off her bike, and tore off her clothes, and said "You can take whatever you want" I took her bike as her clothes wouldnt have fit me.