Search found 105 matches

by dustoff
Tue Jul 01, 2025 9:15 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Shop Vac for down below?
Replies: 9
Views: 507

Re: Shop Vac for down below?

I have the 18V Ryobi 1 gallon shop vac. I also keep a charger onboard, and also donated my Ryobi drill to the boat tool kit. I'm in the process of upgrading my home cordless system to Dewalt 20V. Figured the Boat will do fine with the less-nice Ryobi 18V, and gave me excuse to upgrade home system ov...
by dustoff
Wed Jun 04, 2025 5:36 am
Forum: Repairs and Modifications
Topic: Diesel heater install (26m, ouside installation)
Replies: 7
Views: 725

Re: Diesel heater install (26m, ouside installation)

I have heard that heaters generate a significant amount of condensation on the interior surfaces of the hull. Have you considered the need for a de-humidifier?
by dustoff
Fri May 30, 2025 8:29 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
Replies: 8
Views: 828

Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M

On the older M masts i believe the opening is lower and closer to the mast base. In lieu of a custom fabricated mast gate (that would require a local fabricator), I believe the solution is a sail stop installed in the track to prevent the mainsail slugs from coming down to the opening. With the open...
by dustoff
Thu May 29, 2025 7:48 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Lack of Trust in my Outboard Motor
Replies: 7
Views: 722

Re: Lack of Trust in my Outboard Motor

All good points. As an emergency backup it certainly seems a lot more feasible, and assuming someone has already invested in some signficant amount of battery capacity/storage to run systems on their boat, applying that to a 5-10 hp equivalent electric motor for emergency purposes at hull speeds rea...
by dustoff
Thu May 29, 2025 6:47 am
Forum: Trailers & Towing
Topic: 1985 macgregor 22 single axle trailer
Replies: 3
Views: 840

Re: 1985 macgregor 22 single axle trailer

My experience with the 26M trailer is that most of the major components were commoditized parts bought and assembled by MacGregor. My trailer “manual” was a collection of sub-assembly manuals from the original manufacturers. Eg. the surge brake cylinder, axle, brake calipers, tongue hitch etc. you m...
by dustoff
Wed May 28, 2025 10:56 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Lack of Trust in my Outboard Motor
Replies: 7
Views: 722

Re: Lack of Trust in my Outboard Motor

I'm not an engineer (electrical or structural) but the physics of the energy storage and usage impose severe range limits on electric boat engine systems. Especially if you are expecting to power at planing speeds. The youtube creator, S/V Delos is building a custom cat with an advanced hybrid elect...
by dustoff
Wed May 28, 2025 10:26 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Main furler
Replies: 6
Views: 524

Re: Main furler

https://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16601 This thread has an embedded video on the above boom furler Russ was talking about. the guy in the video, Mike Inmon was a longtime friend of Roger MacGregor and ran his dealership out of the MacGregor Corp. office spaces. I bought my 26M f...
by dustoff
Wed May 28, 2025 6:09 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Main furler
Replies: 6
Views: 524

Re: Main furler

MacGregor had a custom boom furler as optional for the 26M. Blue Water Yachts probably has the technical data to have a fabricator build it for you. I’m pretty sure it would work on an X. Otherwise there are several vendors (shaeffer, ronstan, etc ) that make them for all sizes of boats, but they’ll...
by dustoff
Tue May 27, 2025 6:54 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Have you ever had the itch to sell your 26M/X and buy a "true" sailboat?
Replies: 66
Views: 15081

Re: Have you ever had the itch to sell your 26M/X and buy a "true" sailboat?

I've done a lot of homework of all the different versions of the Gemini Cat since the mid 90s, and have seriously considered going to that boat. It checks most of the boxes for our needs and its value proposition for coastal cruising, considering the costs to own/operate, is really quite good. For u...
by dustoff
Fri May 23, 2025 7:03 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: So that escalated quickly
Replies: 5
Views: 480

Re: So that escalated quickly

Are you going to mount that on the mast or a stern mounted pole? I've considered how risky it might be to put a radar on the X/M mast with mast raising/lowering and trailering as well as complications of rotating mast. If I were doing it, I think I would have to do a stern pole, which I already have...
by dustoff
Fri May 23, 2025 5:56 am
Forum: Repairs and Modifications
Topic: 12 Gallon fuel tanks
Replies: 27
Views: 3270

Re: 12 Gallon fuel tanks

I looked at them again. They're 16 gallon tanks. Figure the tanks weigh about 10lbs each more than standard poly 12 gallon tanks, and carry 4 more gallons each of fuel at 6lbs per galloon. So completely full of fuel total weight would be about 70lbs more than full 12 gallon moeller tanks. Not a big ...
by dustoff
Thu May 22, 2025 9:05 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Midship docking cleat
Replies: 25
Views: 1723

Re: Midship docking cleat

I have acquired 4 of the 1 inch track cleats, although I only usually use one or two at a time. Luckily for me I live near an awesome sailboat salvage yard in the Annapolis area, and can get used stuff like this for a fraction of what it costs new. I have found the cleats incredibly useful for docki...
by dustoff
Wed May 21, 2025 6:19 pm
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Auxiliary outboard for 26M
Replies: 20
Views: 2284

Re: Auxiliary outboard for 26M

Wow, that’s a lot of engineering. I was thinking quite a bit simpler. Every boat already has the thrust forces distributed across the transom with the existing outboard mount. So just configure a way to lock the dinghy bow to the lower unit of the (presumably non-functional) outboard and two steerin...
by dustoff
Wed May 21, 2025 7:05 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Auxiliary outboard for 26M
Replies: 20
Views: 2284

Re: Auxiliary outboard for 26M

Rather than going to the trouble of mounting a backup motor to the transom of a 26M (not a lot of good options), for those that have dinghies w/ motors and rear davits why not just set up a tender aux power system that you can rig as a contingency in a pinch. This is how the Maryland Skipjacks power...
by dustoff
Tue May 20, 2025 9:18 am
Forum: MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
Topic: Have you ever had the itch to sell your 26M/X and buy a "true" sailboat?
Replies: 66
Views: 15081

Re: Have you ever had the itch to sell your 26M/X and buy a "true" sailboat?

BOAT wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2024 1:30 pm Funny you asked that - I am going to sell "BOAT". Kinda sad to say.
Did BOAT sell his 26M and leave the forum?