Macgregor 25 main sheet rigging and a few other questions.

[Frank C]

. . . as I am not really up to reading all of those long posts.

. . . or even the shorter posts . . .

sorry Johnny, just funnin' ya.

[johnnyonspot]

[Jstephens2012]

Thanks so far everyone for helping out.

I don't have a pigtail to hang the boom from, I suppose I could make my own temporarily, but yes, in the long run I plan on installing a rigid vang.

I don't have roller furling on the headsail and I doubt I would use the "roller reefing" built into the mainsail boom. I will probably look into having reefing points installed in the future. First though, I think I would like to add roller furling for the headsail. I don't know much about them. I think it would be one of the things that would be used the most and I would get a lot of benefit from.

I appreciate everyone's input. I'll come up with some more questions later and add posts and pics to the forum as I progress. Thanks again.

Jeff

[noahvale]

I think the best thing about the roller mast is being able to roll up the main for storage. My boat came with a cover for the boom, so it's just a matter of rolling up the sail and putting the cover on. The pigtail from the aft stay makes it very easy.

[johnnyonspot]

I always just stacked mine on the boom and tied it up with ball bungees. Would have been a huge pita to disconnect my vang every time I wanted to roll the main up on the boom. How they came up with this concept, knowing it would make having a boom vang impossible, is really beyond me.

[Jstephens2012]

So do you guys usually leave the main on the boom mainly when you know you'll be sailing frequently or also during longer term storage as well?

And as for your Jib... if you don't have roller furling on your headsail, do you roll it up and put it away every time you drop it? I know it's best to roll it up and bag it for long term storage but what about just when you're anchored down or docking for a few hours or even overnight?

[johnnyonspot]

I always left my main on the boom all season when slipped. Would do the same thing if dry sailing. As far as the hank-on jib, mine I am pretty sure was the original, and had plenty of wrinkles already, so I would always just unhank, pull the sheets forward, and stuff the entire thing down the forehatch into the forepeak loosely and drop the sheets right on top. No folding. So when I wanted to go sailing it was a simple matter to pull the sail out, hank it on, run the sheets, and that's it.

[markaram]

I sail a Mac21 with a roller furling main and a boom vang.
the vang is only used with full sail on the main and when
reefing is needed, I quick disconnect the vang and roller reef
the mainsail around the boom.
with a greatly reduced mainsail, the need for a vang is also
reduced and sail shape is determined by the mainsheet and
by securing the clew area of the sail with a short line.
I use a nylon strap with velcro pieces to secure the clew area,
after tightening the main halyard. It holds strongly.
Id like to hear any ideas about how best to quickly roll the sail
around the boom with a handle or other gadget that would
make it easier than trying it with both hands in rolling seas,

thanks
Markaram
Toronto
lake ontario
Sea Monkey

[whamo_2]

I have a topping lift on my Mac 25, and find it so useful, I removed the pigtail from the backstay. Besides using it to hold the boom up when raising or lowering the sail, or with the sail furled, I shorten mine to change the sail shape for more efficiency in low wind. The two top battens on my mainsail are full, with tailtales on the end. In low wind, I shorten the topping lift until the tailtalis stream. I don't know if a boom kicker can do this easily. I also have a block and tackle boom vang, and reef points on the main, but very rairly have to reef.