A few Mac 25 questions

[Jstephens2012]

I have a 1982 Macgregor 25 I'm trying to get ready to put in the water. I've gotten a few things done on it but still need to order a few parts to put on before she's ready. In the meantime, there are a few other things I am wondering about.

One, where is the original battery location on the Mac 25? Mine is beneath the forward seat of the dinette, in the same compartment that gives you access to the keel bolts. I will add another battery later. I'm wondering where the best place is to secure them. Should I put them both in that same compartment? Should the weight be distributed more evenly - as in one battery on starboard and one battery on port side? There is more room toward the stern to mount batteries, but I've read someone say that moving weight more toward the bow of the Mac 25 helps it handle better. that the stern is too heavy. I would think that closer to the center would be best. Let me know what some of you guys think or even how you have your battery or batteries set up in your Mac 25.

Another thing is the foam flotation in the Mac 25. I've got the foam blocks in the front below the V-Berth, I've got blocks wedged between the bilge and the cockpit floor. Then, on either side of the cockpit floor, beneath the seating and coaming, there is one solid block per side, but empty space above it. It would seem that at least one or more blocks should fill this space all the way to the top. Is that correct? Do you guys have the foam flotation blocks completely filling that entire area top to bottom? If so, where would be a source for me to find good foam flotation to fill in the void? I've read the post where someone said you could buy sheets of 2 inch thick housing insulation foam and cut it and glue it together to make whatever size or shape you need. I assume this type of foam doesn't absorb water, or it wouldn't be used on houses. Any info here from Mac 25 owners would be great. I've heard of many people taking the foam out and building more storage, etc. But I think I'd feel better having the boat the way it was supposed to be. Also, what about filling the space between the hull and the inner liner with some type of foam, anyone have any luck with that?

The next thing I need to do is replace the bunk boards on the trailer. Maybe I should post this in the trailer section, but since it's specifically for a Mac 25 boat and trailer, I'll go ahead with it here. It can be moved there if it needs to be. I've read about using 2x6's, 2x8's, 2x12's, some say 10 ft. long, some say 12 feet long. I just need to know what has worked best for you guys with Mac 25's. I think my bunks are too short in the first place, besides that, they're sagging and worn out. So what do you guys recommend as far as length and width of boards to make the best bunks for the Mac 25 trailer. Also, do you recommend regular bunk carpet or some of the other materials available that are supposed to be slick and allow the hull to slide with less friction and be launched and trailered more easily?

Any info. or suggestions will be appreciated. Some of you helped me out last year on some rigging questions when I got the boat. I slacked off during the winter on getting her ready so I still haven't had her in the water yet, so I'm ready to get some things done and go sail. As I get into the boat more, I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions here shortly. Thanks in advance.

Jeff

[John Jessie]

Have fun. I've been working on my '85 Mac for three years and I'm still at it. Regarding the questions asked:

First, I put my second battery under the port side settee.
Second, I used 10'X2"X8" for my bunks with strapping attached underneath for added support.

Enjoy.

[Bob McLellan]

My boat is a 1976 Venture 25. The battery is located under the cockpit floor, behind the keel raising winch. It looks like the original location - and is hard to get to. There is a cut out area in the liner that the battery drops into. Foam is behind that - all in the center of the laz.

[Jstephens2012]

Yeah Bob, I thought that might be the original battery placement, since it's centered and I've seen some pics where the fuse panel is located right there near the keel winch. I just wasn't sure because mine has no indication of the fuse panel ever being there. My fuse panel is mounted below the dinette table, in the face of the foremost seating compartment. My battery is located inside this compartment as well. Since I'm going to eventually add another battery, maybe I should leave it there and add the other one In the compartment on the port side to help spread the weight a little more evenly. I don't know. I also need to take into consideration that I plan to add a couple of water tanks or bags to connect to the sink faucet and sink drain on the port side, so I'll need room for those, and they will add some weight on that side as well (depending on how much water I decide to carry). I'll figure something out. Thanks Bob. And if anyone has any ideas, feel free.

John, I know what you mean, I'll be working on mine for a number of years as well. Just have too many ideas in my head right now. It's easy to lose sight that the goal for now is just to get the boat in the water and as you said, have fun with it... not to rip everything out of it and build it back perfect (not right now anyway). Thanks for the info on the bunks. It has 2x6's right now, and was thinking 2x8's would be better. I wasn't sure on the length though. So if 10' long is what seems to work, that's what I'll plan on doing. Oh, and John, you said you put strapping underneath. I'm not sure exactly what you mean. What type of strapping? Appreciate the info guys.

Anyone else have any ideas or any info. on the foam flotation? Should I not cover a number of different subjects in the same post again? Would it be better to just ask one specific question or cover one specific subject per post? I've found some more things I need to work on and will have quite a few questions to post shortly if I can't find what I'm looking for by searching. Anyway, thanks again,

Jeff

[John Jessie]

The strapping is a 2" by 3' metal strap used in construction. I got them at Home Depot and screwed them to the underside of the bed to give support while maintaining flexibility. I used two on each side. It seems I have had more problems with the trailor than I ever had with the boat. Mine was so rusted that what wasn't falling apart was held together by the rust.

[parttimesailor]

Your battery and fuse panel location are the same as those on my 1982 Mac 22...mine are definitely original locations. Perhaps there were changes made, depending on model year?

[Jstephens2012]

Thanks John, that sounds like a good plan for the bunks. My trailer has some rust too, not so much that it can't be dealt with pretty easily though. Going to go ahead and take care of it now so it won't be a bigger problem later. Need to add a spare tire carrier and some guide-on posts as well. May change some things up on the front of the trailer later on, just have to see how things go.

Partimesailor, yeah, I think it depends on the year of the boat. Mine is also a 1982, but earlier years like the '70's models Ventures seem to have the battery and panel back near the keel winch.