trailering

A forum for discussing issues relating to trailers and towing MacGregor sailboats.
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ray jones
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trailering

Post by ray jones »

:macm: when trailering the boat, the jib & furler hang over the bow by a couple of feet. what is the best way of supporting the furler when towing.
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c130king
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Re: trailering

Post by c130king »

Ray,

I have seen this topic before...but I couldn't find any posts on my first attempt at searching.

ON EDIT: Found a good link: Securing jib & furler for towing Must have mistyped the words on my first search.

Personally I use a 10' 2x2 that I strap to my mast using bungy cords. I let it stick out the top of the bow pulpit about three feet...and then I secure the furler to it.

Here is the best pic I have of my set-up.

Image

Others have used PVC.

Good Luck,
Jim
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
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Re: trailering

Post by Duane Dunn, Allegro »

My simple wood extension

Image

I also highly recommend a simple support at the mast step to stop all the bouncing. Mines just a hunk of ABS pipe with a couple cuts and holes.

Image
Hardcrab
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Re: trailering

Post by Hardcrab »

I also use the board splint idea, but others here will remove the forestay from the upper hound, slide the furler up enough so as to bungee everything to the mast itself. More work, but maybe worth it for a really long haul with no worries.
It's a very bad idea to do nothing and tie the overhang to the deck somewhere.
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Gerry the fish
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Re: trailering

Post by Gerry the fish »

My boat hook extended to about 6 feet works with bungies. (the boat hook can collapse twice to about 4 feet)
Also I learnt to put a sail bag around the furler end. This helps keeps the furling line, furler and end of gib sail cover all tied together and out of the wind.

Gerry
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Trouts Dream
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Re: trailering

Post by Trouts Dream »

Basically i do the same thing except I use my boat hook extended about 1/2 way. After over 4,000 miles of travel (at speeds up to 75 mph) there have been no adverse effects and one less piece to store. I try to make sure everytning does at least double duty. The garbage container is also our bucket for cleaning or filling the porta potty flush.
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Phil M
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Re: trailering

Post by Phil M »

Now there's a good idea! :idea: I'm going to try that ABS pipe thing for the bouncing mast.
I now unhook the furler and the shrouds and just slide the furler along the mast without using a mast support. It's better for travelling IMHO.

Phil M
Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote:
I also highly recommend a simple support at the mast step to stop all the bouncing. Mines just a hunk of ABS pipe with a couple cuts and holes.
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keith
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Re: trailering

Post by keith »

I like the boat hook idea.
I thru the bungees in the bin and use double sided velcro straps
We had a teenager killed here a couple of years ago by a bungee cord or ocky straps as they called here
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Gerry the fish
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Re: trailering

Post by Gerry the fish »

keith wrote:We had a teenager killed here a couple of years ago by a bungee cord
How?
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
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Re: trailering

Post by Duane Dunn, Allegro »

I have a about 20 of these, far better than bungees, adjustable to any length, useful for many things both when trailering and when out on the water. They are super secure yet go on and off in a flash. I take two turns around whatever I am securing then cinch it tight in the slot. Put the tail through the finger hole and it is locked in place.

They allow me to secure all my lines, stays, and furler to the mast for trailering. This is in part what lets me setup quickly. When I lower the mast and roll it to the bow pulpit I then tie everything up to the mast in exactly the place it needs to be for the next raising. The mast raising pole and line stays connected bungeed up under the mast, all the lines and halyards stay connected and at the right length. Nothing is removed and stored elsewhere. The boom is bungeed to the starboard stanchions. At the next launch All I have to do is release the bungees, roll the mast to the step, and winch it up. It has eliminated a lot of busy work at the launch and the special bungees are what make it possible and quick.

Image

Image

They come in both a 24" length and ad 36" length. Get some of both at BWY, search for "Bungee" or "Cinch It" in the description

http://www.bwyachts.com/BWYParts/info.htm
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davidbagnall
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Re: trailering

Post by davidbagnall »

I too have used the boat hook idea and also use multiple Oki straps like Duane for quick setups.
However I don't keep the furler on the boat and I take it off and store it under my house so I have found it quicker to undo the stay from the top of the mast and simply slide the furler up the mast so there is no overhang. This also helps me to ensure that the stay doesn't get bent where it attaches to the mast*.
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kmclemore
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Re: trailering

Post by kmclemore »

Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote:
My simple wood extension
Nice, Duane.

I'm not going to say anything more.

Really.
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keith
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Re: trailering

Post by keith »

Gerry
It happened at Karratha shopping centre a few years back when a trolly collector got hit in the throat by a flying bungee that was holding a stack of trollys together in the carpark.After that happened they started putting warnings on bungees about over stretching.It might of been about 10yrs ago i'm not sure but it did happen.

Duane
Do you leave the sail on the boom secured with bungees or sail cover or take it off when trailering?
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