mast raising

[caboswart]

Hello, I usually muscle my mast up on my 26s, but have found that I can no longer do this. Does the mast raising system really work, can I use the new 26M system on the 26s, and can the mast raising system be ordered from Macgregor?
Thanks so much.

[Finn]

Hello caboswart!
Welcome to the discussion forum. I raise and lower the mast on my M without any problems at all. So the answer to your first question is Yes, the system does work and it takes only a few tries to get it right. I do not have an answer to the other two questions.

Finn

[SkiDeep2001]

caboswart, Blue Water Yachts in Seattle,WA has raising kit. Don't know where you are located but here is info. Mast Raising Kit

This is the MacGregor factory mast raising kit for the new 26M which easily retrofits to the 19, 26, 26X, and a few late model 25's. Allows quick and uneventful raising of the mast, even with just one person. Comes with all hardware you will need, including the side stabilizing wires. This kit can be adapted to many other types of boats (including older MacGregors), but there are just too many possibilities for us to be able to give specific advise here.

All kits will be shipped with the new 26M style pole with a winch for raising the mast, this may be different than the pictures shown in your owners manual if you own a late 80's through 2003 boat, but is simpler and much easier to use than the older style system.

All Mac's from 1987 Thru 2002 $175.00 (includes all necessary retrofit hardware)

Mac 26M $135.00

[caboswart]

Skideep2001,
Thanks for the info. I will contact Blue water on Mon. Is this system really easy to use? I have seen the old mast raising system,
where one uses a gin pole, pulleys and a line back to the gib winches and this did not look easy or convenient at all. Does the M system use a different method?
Thanks

[Hamin' X]

Have a look at the 26M manual under resources at the top of the page. It describes the mast raising system in detail.

~Rich

[johnnyonspot]

Try this link if you are into building your own gin pole. Looks easy enough to do.

[Remedy]

Hello caboswart,

I just bought a used 26M a week ago(my 1st sailboat). The original owner went over rigging her with one time before I brought her home. Sine then I've rigged her twice using the mast raising system and I found it to be very easy. The nice thing is that the wench will hold it for you while you double check the stays, etc. for kinks. IMHO it great!

Jim

[skeedaddy]

You said, "The nice thing is that the wench will hold it for you while you double check the stays, etc. for kinks."


Man, my crew would kill me if I referred to her that way. giggle

[Remedy]

Hey Skeedaddy,
Just a little Fruedian slip...good catch!

[Sumner]

Skideep2001,
I have seen the old mast raising system, where one uses a gin pole, pulleys and a line back to the gib winches and this did not look easy or convenient at all.

Our 26S came with the factory system with the gin pole and we are new to sailing, but find it very easy and fast to use. Once you have the mast where you would shoulder it up clip the baby stays to the eyes on the deck and attach them to the sides of the mast. Put the jin pole in place, Less than 30 seconds. Attach the jib halyard to the jib pole and tie it off at the right position. Then snap the block and tackle on the other side of the jin pole and the cleat on the deck and run the line back to the winch. You can do all of this in less than a couple minutes. While raising if you need to check something just snap the line into the cam cleat behind the winch and if you are worried take a couple wraps arond a cleat further back while you straighten lines if needed. I've raise it by myself and it is easy and feels safe to me.

The parts could be made for very little and you can leave the jin pole attached to the mast if you want and the only thing you have to store is the block and tackle and baby stays, all of which takes up very little room.

I like the way with the M raising system you stand forward, but other than that I don't see it taking any less time to use. and you have a winch to store when done.

I have more pictures and a better description on my site...........

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

What ever you get you will enjoy it. I muscled it up the first couple times, but no more,

Sum

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