Help with Mackay 470 rigging

Steam Flyer

Sophisticated Yet Humble
48,053
11,714
Eastern NC
One problem is that there are a gazillion different ways to do it, and it's changed over time. If you got the boat in Florida, I'm guessing it's a 1975-ish Vanguard. What kind of mast does it have?

Since there is no value in "restoring" this boat, and not much of a racing class, all you need to do is set it up for practical fun sailing. That's fairly easy... halyards and sheets and sail control lines (vang, outhaul, cunningham, barber hauls if any) and traps. The spinnaker adds another layer of complexity but the boat will feel totally dead going downwind without it.

Another similar discussion here:


Apparently a lot of the old rigging/deck layout diagrams have been taken off-line. Not profitable, I guess.

The biggest problem I forsee is duplicating the main halyard, if you don't have it. The type of halyard lock and the spacing are critical to being able to get the sail up and down and have the sail actually fly well. This is fixable by getting rid of the halyard lock system and putting on a dyneema halyard with a cleat and some kind of tensioner. I'm not a fan of 1950s technology on sailboats anyway.
 

wisniok

New member
15
2
One problem is that there are a gazillion different ways to do it, and it's changed over time. If you got the boat in Florida, I'm guessing it's a 1975-ish Vanguard. What kind of mast does it have?

Since there is no value in "restoring" this boat, and not much of a racing class, all you need to do is set it up for practical fun sailing. That's fairly easy... halyards and sheets and sail control lines (vang, outhaul, cunningham, barber hauls if any) and traps. The spinnaker adds another layer of complexity but the boat will feel totally dead going downwind without it.

Another similar discussion here:


Apparently a lot of the old rigging/deck layout diagrams have been taken off-line. Not profitable, I guess.

The biggest problem I forsee is duplicating the main halyard, if you don't have it. The type of halyard lock and the spacing are critical to being able to get the sail up and down and have the sail actually fly well. This is fixable by getting rid of the halyard lock system and putting on a dyneema halyard with a cleat and some kind of tensioner. I'm not a fan of 1950s technology on sailboats anyway.
 

wisniok

New member
15
2
This a Mackay boat, and I am not going to race it anyway. See pictures....

470-1.jpg


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470-4.jpg


470-5.jpg


470-6.jpg


470-7.jpg


470-8.jpg


470-9.jpg
 

Steam Flyer

Sophisticated Yet Humble
48,053
11,714
Eastern NC
Wow, cool boat. You do not have the problem I thought you had: old incomplete rigging... you have the problem I had with a relatively modern 5O5 donated to our junior program: trying to figure out rigging that is like a British sports car's wiring harness.
 

FD Sea Dog

Member
76
26
U.S.A.

If you have the $

West Marine Rigging Service

Regardless of whether you own a traditional sailboat, offshore cruiser, club racer, high-tech dinghy or cutting edge racer, our master riggers are ready to help. And with easy ordering, guaranteed quality and fast service, it’s no wonder that sailors everywhere increasingly turn to us for the rigging they need! Extensive Delivery: If we don’t have it, we will do our best to get it for you. Fast Service: Quick turnaround on in-stock items. Superb Quality: Trained and certified staff. Multiple Locations: 8 store shops and 1 production facility.
 

wisniok

New member
15
2

If you have the $

West Marine Rigging Service

Regardless of whether you own a traditional sailboat, offshore cruiser, club racer, high-tech dinghy or cutting edge racer, our master riggers are ready to help. And with easy ordering, guaranteed quality and fast service, it’s no wonder that sailors everywhere increasingly turn to us for the rigging they need! Extensive Delivery: If we don’t have it, we will do our best to get it for you. Fast Service: Quick turnaround on in-stock items. Superb Quality: Trained and certified staff. Multiple Locations: 8 store shops and 1 production facility.
Please provide me with a name or a # of a person, because when I called them they said that they don't do 470s
 

torrid

Super Anarchist
1,085
435
As had been pointed out, they are not like Lasers where everything is rigged mostly the same. Let me ask this, did it come with the mast that goes with the current rigging in the hull? If so, you know you at least have a working system. I would suggest getting your halyards figured out first. Maybe forego the spinnaker until you get the rest sorted out.

I used to sail this vintage 470 many moons ago. Send me your contact info if you can find a way to send a PM here. I may be able to answer SOME of your questions. Getting the main and jib halyards sorted out would at least get you out on the water.
 
Last edited:

WCB

Super Anarchist
4,739
1,027
Park City, UT
Please provide me with a name or a # of a person, because when I called them they said that they don't do 470s
I wouldn't trust somebody from West Marine unless you talked to somebody at one of their better locations like Newport, RI or San Diego, CA. When I was in the West Marine in Miami near Coconut Grove the other day, they barely knew what they had in the store.
 

martin 'hoff

Super Anarchist
2,308
1,142
Miami
There are top Tampa / St Pete 470 teams – this will mean some top sailors and coaches. 470 events happen around there too – not saying you'd join the racing, but you might head there to learn for example to get a current racing sailor to give you a day of rigging and coaching.

And it's a dream spot to sail in.
 

Steam Flyer

Sophisticated Yet Humble
48,053
11,714
Eastern NC
There are top Tampa / St Pete 470 teams – this will mean some top sailors and coaches. 470 events happen around there too – not saying you'd join the racing, but you might head there to learn for example to get a current racing sailor to give you a day of rigging and coaching.

And it's a dream spot to sail in.

That's the best idea. If it's possible to get together with some sailors who will be familiar with current 470 rigging, do it. Sailing program coach or Olympic hopeful, will save LOT of your time and headache. You'll come away with a lot of good sailing practical tips too.
 


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