Mac 26 Main Sail Hardare

*JMonda* · 10-28-2009, 02:44 pm

Hi Folks,

While sailing with a friend a few weeks ago my friend suggested that there is a way to modify the main sail so that it can be raised, lowered and stored easier. I have the stock Mac main sail that feeds into the main through the slot in the mast. My friend said that one can install suite of clips that attach to the sail and stay in the mast. You don't have to feed the sail as its already clipped into the mast. The sail also comes down easier and nearly folds itself over the boom when you put the boat up.

Has anyone done something like this to their boat? If so, did the devices work as advertised? I'm pretty happy with the way it is now...but if this is easier and, perhaps, safer I may consider a mod.

Thanks, Jerry

*MrBill_FLL* · 10-28-2009, 04:12 pm

that sounds like, sail slugs and a lazy jack system.

do you keep the boat in the water? (don't drop the mast)

I see you have a lot of questions about your boat... can you take some pictures of the hardware in question?

that will help describe what you need.

-on the spinaker, get someone that knows how to fly one... you'll need experienced help, and they should be able to figure it out.

*Nik* · 10-29-2009, 02:32 am

Mr. Bill's opinion on a sail slug and lazy jack setup. The "Slug" that is referred to is a slug that has a screw and a thumb nut that locks the bottom sail slug above the cut out. The Lazy Jacks are a set of lines / Bungies that help to controll where the main lays when it is dropped. BTW... I am keeping this in layman rather than technical terms. Picture a kind of reverse bolt that holds the bottom in place and a bunch of lines that form a kinda net that the main falls into and keeps it from blowing around. Is this what you are trying to describe????

*MrBill_FLL* · 10-29-2009, 06:34 am

The round ones fit my boatt: (#2350)

But, I've lost 2 of these, and now use a bungy around the mast as a stop...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...&classNum=272#

*JMonda* · 10-31-2009, 04:31 pm

Thanks Guys,

McBill: I do keep my boat in the water but have to remove it (probably in December) because we lose our water and its too shallow. The only other time I would take it out is if I want to cruise somewhere that is too far to sail to which I hope to do but haven't done yet.

Nik: That (lazy jacks and slugs) does sound like what he was talking about. I go out alone fairly often so anything I could do to make raising and lowering the sails easier would be a good idea. Do you recommend this system?

Thanks again everyone. Jerry

*Nik* · 11-01-2009, 01:19 pm

Jerry,

The link that Mr.Bill posted has the 1/2" dia. round ones on it, those are the ones you want. I made my own as I had access to a machine shop. Just try to hang on to them a bit better than Bill has in the past.

Conversely, I don't see any reason that Bill bungee trick wouldn't work either (good idea Bill). As for the lazy jacks systems, I don't use one, but I have seen them on others boats and they seem pretty good. Everyone has their opinions on them. I know some where on this site is / are discussions on them and how to make your own. Try a search for them or post another question about them, you may want to try going into the ask all sailors area. Hope this helps. Good sailing to you and yours.

*JDK* · 11-02-2009, 03:47 pm

Here's a 'quick and dirty' solution that works pretty well. I've lost the slug keepers, too, and this clip- with its retention cable swaged on- is pretty difficult to mess up or lose. It requires drilling a hole in both lips of the mast opening just above the entry groove, but that's pretty small damage for the good it does.

I took some pics while we were out today.

JDK

*Nik* · 11-03-2009, 11:57 am

OOOOO.... I like that. Nice easy solution.

*timebandit* · 11-04-2009, 10:43 am

I've taken a different approach.

After having slugs attached to my sail, I closed up the sail loading slot above the boom and opened another below the boom.

Now, with the main sail attached to the boom, I lay the boom on the deck and feed the slugs in the slot while hoisting with the halyard and attach the gooseneck.

Now with the slot below the gooseneck the sail can never escape, it actually allows the sail to stack shorter because the slugs are allowed to go all the way to the gooseneck.

No worries about losing a sale stop or pin.

Once the sail is stacked and tied on the boom it is a simple matter of just disconnecting the halyard and the gooseneck and sliding the sail off the mast altogether and if it's in the sail cover I just store it that way, no need to disconnect the sail from the boom.

*Sumner* · 11-04-2009, 04:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by timebandit

............Now with the slot below the gooseneck the sail can never escape, it actually allows the sail to stack shorter because the slugs are allowed to go all the way to the gooseneck.........

How do you reef the main? Does the gooseneck bolt have...........

......... the curved top to it to capture the reef point at the cringle? I have to drop the slugs below the gooseneck to get the cringle onto that catch (don't know what it is called).

c ya,

Sum

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*JDK* · 11-04-2009, 05:42 pm

Me too, Sum, although my reefing hook is a little different, thanks to the PO. Once I reef, I have to bungee the extra sail and slugs tight to the boom so they don't flog themselves (I hate it when they do that...).

JDK

*timebandit* · 11-05-2009, 08:27 am

I just have a hook on a line that I attach to the reefing cringle and run to one of the cleats on the bottom of the mast to hold the tack down.

My out haul line is long enuff to to reach the new clew position.

Remember that the holes mid sail are not to be tied tight they are just for house keeping to keep the bottom of sail from from ending up hanging down all over everything.

Oh, and the slugs don't fall out, ever.