New Sailor, '85 MacGregor 25

[Gare Bear]

Hello. I'm a new sailor and a new owner of a '85 MacGregor 25, not much used, but not well cared for the last few years. I already know I have to refinish the swing keel, and it appears the electrical system needs total retrofit. Anyone out there who can suggest the best way to set up my electrical/electronics. For now, need just the basics. Will be daysailing in the Milford/Tuttle Creek Reservoir of north-central Kansas. Right now don't even have a useable outboard. Here's what I am thinking: Torqueedo electric outboard, deep-cycle battery with all LED lighting, including running lights. Any suggestions related to depth sounder and/or stand-alone or combination fish finder. What's the most basic communications that are functional but economical?

I figure if I retrofit the electrical/electronics from the bilge up and do it right the first time as a package deal, then when I learn to sail the boat and want to go to bigger waters, I can upgrade to some premium equipment later.

I'm not totally in the dark on this stuff -- I've been reading Sail Magazine diligently, cover to cover for about 6 years. It's different when I've got an actual boat in hand. Any advice you all can give will be appreciated.

Gare Bear

[mgmathews]

We bought an '83 M25 this winter and its electrics have the same problem as yours. They need a total rebuild. The nav lights work, but nothing else.

[Gare Bear]

So, what are your initial plans to deal with the electrical? I'd like to get mine functional for legal purposes so I can at least get the boat on the water. I was thinking if nothing else, go with portable, battery powered LED lights (for all lighting).

[Catigale]

If you are truly day sailing (which is really the way to start out) you have no need for lights, which are only required dusk to dawn of course.

Enjoy your new boat!!

[mgmathews]

I'm not planning to do anything until October or November. Then I'll probably put together a new panel and run new wiring. I think I can leave the current mast wiring alone.

It would be nice if I can find time to get the VHF working sooner than that, but in the mean time I can borrow a hand held radio.

[Gare Bear]

About the day sailing reply -- yeah, no need for lights during day, but I'm planning on anchoring and overnighting where allowed, and what if I have to take shelter while one of our wild and crazy thunderstorms passes and I can't get back on the lake until dark?

[nedmiller]

I would start with a (floating) hand held radio. Later on, when you get a main radio, the hand held will be great for a back up and for someone to take to shore and be able to contact the boat.

I would bite the bullet and buy 10 or 12 ga. tinned wire from West Marine (or online) to run from battery to a fused panel. My first boat I made the panel and just bought switches as needed for new additions. You can then run very light wires from the panel and to your LED light--again fused appropriately from the panel for the size of wire--and again, proper marine wiring so you don't have issues later. LED lighting is the way to go. I've bought regular lights on clearance and taken out the bulbs and replaced them with LED bulbs and it seems cheaper than the LED units. IF you do that on front running lights you have to buy green and red LEDS or you lose too much light through the colored lens.

SILK

[irishguy]

Hello. I'm a new sailor and a new owner of a '85 MacGregor 25, not much used, but not well cared for the last few years. I already know I have to refinish the swing keel, and it appears the electrical system needs total retrofit. Anyone out there who can suggest the best way to set up my electrical/electronics. For now, need just the basics. Will be daysailing in the Milford/Tuttle Creek Reservoir of north-central Kansas. Right now don't even have a useable outboard. Here's what I am thinking: Torqueedo electric outboard, deep-cycle battery with all LED lighting, including running lights. Any suggestions related to depth sounder and/or stand-alone or combination fish finder. What's the most basic communications that are functional but economical?

I figure if I retrofit the electrical/electronics from the bilge up and do it right the first time as a package deal, then when I learn to sail the boat and want to go to bigger waters, I can upgrade to some premium equipment later.

I'm not totally in the dark on this stuff -- I've been reading Sail Magazine diligently, cover to cover for about 6 years. It's different when I've got an actual boat in hand. Any advice you all can give will be appreciated.

Gare Bear

I was in the same boat you were a few months ago. I still don't have by boat back on the water, but I am a few days away from having most of the stuff done.

I woudl go with a fish finder. They are only about $70 and give you much more information than just a digital readout. I would use the tinned marine grade wire. It is more expensive, but it will last. i also used the liquid electrical tape at all of the connections. I used a 4 switch fuse and switch panel and ran all of the grounds to a common block and then one ground from the common block back to the switch panel and then to the battery. I also installed a power outlet and may install another one or two near the dinette and the galley.

Later... on a completely different set of wiring, I will install a through the cabin plug in for shore power and run at least two GFCI outlets in the boat.

Regardng lighting... For now I have decided to just use the little Sylvania round LED lights that are powered by two AA batteries and not even wire them up to the main battery. I bought 4 of them for about $20 and you simply press the face and you can have three different light settings. Plus they attach to the cabin ceiling with velcro so you can take them off and use them as a flashlight. much cheaper and easier than all the extra wiring. The way i figured it, we weren't going to be spending a whole lot of time in the cabin on the boat after dark, unless we were sleeping anyway. I just didn't see the lights being used all that much, and even then we would have plenty of extra AA batteries on board.

[travouslucas]

Woohoo Lake Milford! I used to spend a lot of time there when I was stationed at Ft. Riley, man those were some great times. Congrats on the boat and I think the batt powered LEDs are great, no wires to run and they last forever.

[Jersey16]

Congrats on the boat, I just purchased an 82 Mac 25 myself. Not wanting to get tied up in a wiring project this summer I outifitted the entire boat with those AA stickem lights, and some battery powerd nav lights. Worked great, really bright and I got out on the water fast. Even after I rewire the boat this winter, its been my experience an all the boats i worked on that you still need backup lights anyway, so your AA lights wont go to waste.

Good luck.

JJ