Hi all,
I have just made and fitted new spreaders to our 26X mast. I have a question regarding the spreader tips and how the rigging passes through them.
Should the spreader tip "grip" the rigging wire or should the wire be able to slide through the spreader tip to "find" its own position?
My spreader tips have a groove in them that is not big enough to clear the wire if fully tightened so if the wire has be free to move I cannot tighten up the 2 securing screws fully. See photo which has the wire just lightly gripped.
20210506_111509
—
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Hi David
I'm in the same position as you - just made new spreaders and about to instal them
My thoughts were that the wire should be tight from the top of the mast to the spreader then tighten the screws. I guess it's important that the spreaders are at right angles to the mast not pulled up
I'm sure one of our Mac experts will let us know if this is the right way to set them up
Regards
John
Hi,
Page 20 of the manual has instructions on how to fit, looks like they should be clamped tight
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1004993/Macgregor-26x.html?page=20&ter...
Regards
Chris
'89 Macgregor 26D: Getaway
Correct, make sure they are firmly clamped. And be sure the 12' measurement is accurate both sides, noting the exact points to measure between as in that manual page.
Measuring can be tricky, as the shrouds can have some spring in them. It's sometimes easier to remove them from the mast head and lay out on the ground.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hhmmn.
The mast is horizontal on the boat just now. I measured 12' down the mast from the "inside of the loop" where the shrouds attach to the mast and made a mark. I then pull the shroud as tight as I can down the mast and transfer the mark to the shroud. This seemed easier than measuring with the shroud in fresh air.
I have to say that in order for the new mark on the shroud to be fitted to the centre of the spreader tip fitting leaves a lot of slack in the shroud from the spreader to the top of the mast. If I were to raise the mast now and connect the bottoms of the shroud to the chain plate on the deck, it would pull my new spreaders down by 2" or more. That does not seem correct to me.
It has to be said that there is something different about the upper section of my mast. A modification by a previous owner I think. A few extra holes seem to have been added, and the forestay attachment point has been raised. This, I believe, has been done in order to facilitate the addition of a forestay tensioner at the bow. It also raises the furling drum and foil up by about 11cm.
So, I am not so sure that the 12' dimension is correct for this boat. I think I will raise the mast with spreader tips loose and let them find there own comfortable position and then climb a ladder and nip them up. I assume that when the mast is up and fully rigged, the spreaders should be in their neutral position, i.e. not being forced up or down.
I have attached photos of the shroud to mast area and forestay tensioner.
20210506_141945_0
20210506_142035_0
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Hi David
That does all seem a bit odd. Raising the forestay hound should not in itself alter the geometry of the shrouds and spreaders.
The manual that Chris linked to is for the very early Xs, where the spreader fixings were pivots. From 1996 on they were rigid sockets. Is that what you have? You can find all the versions of the manual here: https://macgregorsailors.com/resources.html. All give a shroud measurement of 12'.
The lower shroud attachments should be at the same point as the spreader sockets, if that's how yours are (there's no spreader attachment shown in your pics) then the 12' measurement should be correct. For it not to work then either the entire spreader attachments and lower shrouds have been raised (which would necessitate longer lower shrouds), or the mast has been shortened!
Or have the spreader sockets been moved up to higher than the lower shroud fixings?
A bit puzzling, but however you do it you should make sure the mast-head to spreader length is the same both sides. If not your rig is going to be a bit lop-sided.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's a later X and I have now downloaded the correct manual from your link, but as you say, still the 12' measurement is quoted.
The lower shrouds and spreader mast sockets look original in position. photo attached. The "vernier" plates at the deck fittings have been changed for bottle screws / turnbuckles and they are set quite long, about 7" pin to pin.
Question: Normally, would the forestay hounds (new word for me) be fitted to the same bolt at the upper shrouds or are they meant to be separate as they are on mine (but perhaps not by the distance you see in the photos)?
20210506_155832
20210506_160303
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Hi David
I was trying to remember exactly how the rig goes as standard - I don't have a 26X any more!
The upper shroud top plates are normally secured with the same bolt as the forestay hound. See photo 2 on P4 of the manual (1996 PDF).
Looking at your first photo, it does look like there's been multiple attempts to move the position of the hound, and it could be that the shroud plates have been moved down. Otherwise I can't see why there are so many holes in the mast. I suspect the original hole is the one above where the shroud plates are currently. If you move them up you might find the 12' measurement works. But will your current shrouds then reach to the gunwale fittings? The original shrouds may have been replaced with shorter ones, in which case you may as well stick with what you've got. Why anyone would want to rearrange the rig that much is beyond me!
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Regarding Mac 26 X swing keels, a recent poss client was unhappy with 'play ' in the Macs swing keel. - obviously does not understand that some sideways slack is normal and that under sail the keel firms up due to water pressure - pity - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing !
Rick.
You are bang on the money I think. The later 26x manual that applies to my boat says the hounds and shrouds are fitted to the same bolt located 4' from the top of the mast. 4' is the distance of the 2nd lowest hole, which is now unused. The other 3 holes have been added I think. The lowest holes are 2" lower than the 4' ones so that would explain why my 12' measurement was out by 2"
Mystery partly solved!
Moving on .......
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
I've just spotted something else. The lower shroud attachment plates are underneath the spreader sockets, this is causing the spreaders to be angled upwards. These fittings should be tight against the mast, and the plate fitted on top, under the bolt head. See photo 4 on P5 of the manual. That slight angulation of the socket will make a big difference to the height of the outer end of the spreader.
Could account for the whole measurement problem.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Pages