Macwester 27 running rigging specifications?

[Nicholas123]

The much abused Macwester 27 I have bought has had the mast left practically abandoned for several years & though a strange assortment of halyards have remained attached to the mast.I have my doubts about their veracity.
There is one that is presumably the one for hauling the mainsail up the mast facing backwards that is about 8mm diameter x 20 meters long while there is one going through it's partner block at the top of the mast facing forward indicating that it went to a foresail which is about 15mm diameter & 3 meters longer (I have a roller furling system that would appear to need & indeed have it's own completely separate halyard)
Anybody know the correct dimensions & a recommendation for a good online chandlery where you can get ropes cheap would be greatly appreciated

Regards Nicholas.

 

[VicS]

There is a useful guide to rope sizes on Jimmy Green's website at http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/p/techn...icle-articles-/sheets-and-halyards-size-guide

I suppose I should then say buy your rigging from Jimmy Green!

However forumite "boatropes" aka Barry Edwards may well be worth checking out

http://www.ybw.com/forums/member.php?u=18030

Older types of foresail roller reefing did indeed have their own halyards, lead back down the spar and secured on the top of the drum (mine does !) Far from ideal but if that's the system you have that's the system you have. Later ones have the halyard attached to a swivel on the spar at the peak of the sail and can therefore be run back down the mast. A much better system.

You may still have the original foresail halyard on the mast or you may be looking at a halyard for a spinnaker or cruising chute

 

[Nicholas123]

Thanks for that Vic.I'm probably going to have to run a separate thread for my roller furling gear because it has still got me slightly mystified......yours does sound similar.
I'm curious to know how you secure it at the base?Mine has a wire halyard that runs up & over a revolving roller at the top of the forestay down to within a few feet at the stem when the sail is hoisted,then I have a sort of handy billy block & tackle arrangement that came separately & I presume is then used to haul down the foot of the sail & secure it to the revolving drum itself.The whole shooting match is then revolved & the sail wraps round it as you reef in.Does that sound familiar?

 

[VicS]

Thanks for that Vic.I'm probably going to have to run a separate thread for my roller furling gear because it has still got me slightly mystified......yours does sound similar.
I'm curious to know how you secure it at the base?Mine has a wire halyard that runs up & over a revolving roller at the top of the forestay down to within a few feet at the stem when the sail is hoisted,then I have a sort of handy billy block & tackle arrangement that came separately & I presume is then used to haul down the foot of the sail & secure it to the revolving drum itself.The whole shooting match is then revolved & the sail wraps round it as you reef in.Does that sound familiar?

Sounds about right. The tackle might be to tension the halyard or to tension the luff as you suggest.

Mine is smaller has a rope halyard and the luff is just tensioned with a lacing on the tack corner down to an eye on the top of the drum but it goes around several times so equivalent to a block and tackle

 

[Nicholas123]

Sounds about right. The tackle might be to tension the halyard or to tension the luff as you suggest.

Mine is smaller has a rope halyard and the luff is just tensioned with a lacing on the tack corner down to an eye on the top of the drum but it goes around several times so equivalent to a block and tackle

Thanks,I am getting there slowly.I don't suppose you know how the various sections of the foil are traditionally held together? Mine is a diamond shape & fits together very neatly in about ten foot sections but then was just held together by a tatty old jubilee clip clamping the two sections together at the foot.There is'nt anything to stop the whole foil riding up the forestay the foot or so that it is short & it is'nt actually clamped to the forestay so only the halyard stops it revolving as you furl in the sail.

 

[VicS]

Thanks,I am getting there slowly.I don't suppose you know how the various sections of the foil are traditionally held together? Mine is a diamond shape & fits together very neatly in about ten foot sections but then was just held together by a tatty old jubilee clip clamping the two sections together at the foot.There is'nt anything to stop the whole foil riding up the forestay the foot or so that it is short & it is'nt actually clamped to the forestay so only the halyard stops it revolving as you furl in the sail.

Different makes vary.

The two sections of the foil of mine are pop-rivetted onto an internal joining sleeve.. I have no idea how its all held into the drum.

Mine rests on a bearing block at the bottom of the forestay and is prevented from rising up the forestay by a couple of small lashings on eyes on the underside of the arm that carries the furling line fairlead.

 

[Nicholas123]

Different makes vary.

The two sections of the foil of mine are pop-rivetted onto an internal joining sleeve.. I have no idea how its all held into the drum.

Mine rests on a bearing block at the bottom of the forestay and is prevented from rising up the forestay by a couple of small lashings on eyes on the underside of the arm that carries the furling line fairlead.

Thanks for that Vic.Mine is obviously very different but you have given me a good idea with that lashing business for not only holding the two sections together but also preventing it from riding up the forestay.
PS: & preventing it from rotating

 

[Nicholas123]

Thanks for that Vic.Mine is obviously very different but you have given me a good idea with that lashing business for not only holding the two sections together but also preventing it from riding up the forestay.
PS: & preventing it from rotating

I think it may also explain a little strop thing that I had connected between the stem head fitting & a sort of fitting on the rubbing strake that if it were bigger you would normally associate with a bowsprit.

 

[VicS]

Some photos of your "system" might help to get some relevant advice from people with the same or similar systems.

Any makers name on it ?

 

[cimo]

sounds similar to the rotostay system.
they've ceased trading and my only information is currently on the boat unfortunately.

something that may be of use here though.
http://www.catamaransite.com/rotostay_furler.html

I use a turnbuckle to tension the hallard, although rotostay suggested a lashing I believe.

my foil is free to move up and down the forestay also, a few inches. The foil sits down (unfastened) on the drum over the stud terminal and spar shaft (3 & 10 in the link). Their cross section's match, which ensures everything turns together. never had a problem with it riding up.

Something I did learn the hard way - the eye on the end of the wire halyard (7) has a thimble with a compression type collar. Taking off the sail once, I let the deck end of the halyard off too much and the collar got jammed in the top sheave. It fits in there beautifully and no amount of flicking on the tail (8) will get it out. It's an up the mast job. (A few turns of self amalgamating tape around the collar has kept it out of there since).

I wouldn't be surprised if your mac27 and the Atlanta Viking (1979?) have common gear. If I can get any information your way, just hollar. (There are a few other mac and atlanta owners here too). good luck with the project!

 

[Nicholas123]

Some photos of your "system" might help to get some relevant advice from people with the same or similar systems.

Any makers name on it ?

I uploaded some photo's yesterday Vic but for some reason though I can see them if I search for them I suspect others can't.Maybe they are still being moderated?
Hav'nt been able to find any makers mark on it & it looks increasingly like I shall have to run a dedicated thread related to it.Thanks.

 

[Nicholas123]

sounds similar to the rotostay system.
they've ceased trading and my only information is currently on the boat unfortunately.

something that may be of use here though.
http://www.catamaransite.com/rotostay_furler.html

I use a turnbuckle to tension the hallard, although rotostay suggested a lashing I believe.

my foil is free to move up and down the forestay also, a few inches. The foil sits down (unfastened) on the drum over the stud terminal and spar shaft (3 & 10 in the link). Their cross section's match, which ensures everything turns together. never had a problem with it riding up.

Something I did learn the hard way - the eye on the end of the wire halyard (7) has a thimble with a compression type collar. Taking off the sail once, I let the deck end of the halyard off too much and the collar got jammed in the top sheave. It fits in there beautifully and no amount of flicking on the tail (8) will get it out. It's an up the mast job. (A few turns of self amalgamating tape around the collar has kept it out of there since).

I wouldn't be surprised if your mac27 and the Atlanta Viking (1979?) have common gear. If I can get any information your way, just hollar. (There are a few other mac and atlanta owners here too). good luck with the project!

That is a similar system but the features you highlight bullet points 3 & 10 are the bits mine dos'nt have .I can see I will have to run a dedicated thread.Thanks.

 

[VicS]

I uploaded some photo's yesterday Vic but for some reason though I can see them if I search for them I suspect others can't.Maybe they are still being moderated?
Hav'nt been able to find any makers mark on it & it looks increasingly like I shall have to run a dedicated thread related to it.Thanks.

You used the album facility for you photos ??
Useless ... you have to email the admin people and specifically ask for them to be moderated!

The attachment system is better in as much that the pictures are instantly viewable but even that has its shortcomings.

By far the best method of posting pictures is to use an independent photo-hosting site such as Photobucket ... or if you needs are minimal Tiny Pic