My First Sailboat... Needing knowledge on several issues.

[Jeremysxx]

Hello, after years of loving sailboats and occasionaly renting them, I finally bought one (well TWO now) because the place I rented from closed. So yes, I ended up buying two, first buying a 1984 Macgregor 25'. With it being winter, I was able to aquire this M25 for $800, even though they wanted $1500. After fully going through it, I believe $800 was a fair price. I will be sailing Oklahoma lakes for now and hopefully do a month or two this summer on the texas coast

The hull seems to be in great condition, no blisters, no crazing. The biggest issue is the front hook, that attaches to the winch on the trailer is loose, it wiggles quite a bit and needs to be fixed, but there is no access to it on the interior of the V-Berth. If anyone knows if I can cut into that and so I can do the repairs?

Next big issue, I'm new to this mast thing, figuring out where all of the stays and stuff go. My question for you all is - Does my mast base and head have everything that is suppose to be there, and what type of base system is it? There are two bases so im thinking maybe its a mast raising system? I have no idea...

Oh, and then I bought a Newport 16 to get us into the water ASAP. It came with a 4hp Suzuki, all for $700... I will practice on it while teaching the kids and wife, who have never been on one.

I also somehow (long story) purchased a 2007 Tohatsu 9.8hp Electric start for $500, I almost hugged the guy.


all of these are from craigslist... I love craigslist... on to the pics

The two boats and the tow vehicle (maybe)



Maybe Not


But this truck won't make it down North Padre (with a trailer at that)

[Jeremysxx]

The motors


and is this big enough for the 9.8hp 4-stroke 90lbs

[Jeremysxx]

mast bottom (anything missing???)


top, all there???


here is the base. why two bases? is this a stock setup?

[Freedom77]

Everything looks great. Was this boat in covered storage? You got a great deal on boat and motors. 9.8 is more than adequate. We have Honda 7.5. It appears that you need a piece of wood on the motor mount. Looks like an extra mast step. Not a stock setup. Use the one pictured on the bottom. Keep us posted. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[korn_kid_12]

I am not sure what someone added that extra aluminum looking mast step. Use the bigger one that is stainless steel. The top of your mast and the bottom are complete. You will need a 4-5in 3/8 stainless steel bolt to attach it to the step, couple washers will not hurt. I think that answers all of your questions. That motor mount looks like the one I had, it carried my 9.9 mariner just fine. Definitely need to add the piece of wood to it that is missing. Maybe some one will chime in on the best type. I used a piece of $0.50 warped 2x10 pressure treated wood from the home depot on mine. Previously it had a very thick, but severely water and sun damaged piece of plywood. I liked the M25 it was quite a nice sailor into the wind. Take a look at the Keel, and Keel bolt.
Also if you can tow it behind the ford you will be much happier. Take some time loading it up evenly and test tow it on the highway on a day you don't have anywhere to be so you can be sure when you are ready to go for a longer ride you don't have a miserable time. Notice how much boat hangs off the back of the trailer behind the axle. It can be a challenge to load correctly.

[Jeremysxx]

Thank You

I have looked at the keel and the bolt, I'm not sure what to look for. I will take pics and post them. It does seem to operate though. I have heard some of the stories of it just falling off in the water...

The boat was not in covered storage, it was tilted back on the trailer when i bought it, sitting on it's stern. It had quite a bit of water in it, but no blistering. I'm not sure how long it was like that. It was a 'that guy got it from another guy' and nobody knew what to do with it. The wood on deck is pretty rotted/loose and needs to be replaced. I'm a profesional woodworker so thats easy stuff and I know where to get teak.

My other question:
It is missing the scupper's hose. I sent a kid in to get pictures. It looks to be 1 1/2". Does anyone know for sure? Also, what type of hose do I use, just automotive or something Marine specific? I think that's why the guy really sold it. He thought it was a drain plug in the transom but couldnt figure out why it kept getting water in the interior. He thought it was coming in from the forward hatch, and is why he had it tilted back, to drain it.

[Jeremysxx]

The boat does pull well behind the ford. When i bought it, it had a few hundred pounds of water in it and was sitting 4" back on the trailer. I pulled it 200 miles with no problems. No wagging or anything.

I think I'll reserve the 4Runner for this boat. This boat is ready to sail, so we're going to drag this to North Padre. It's a neat boat, the keel retracts fully, allowing it to beach.

[korn_kid_12]

The factory used the clear vinyl stuff it can be found at lowes and home depot, sometimes it is seen mostly kinked shut. Likely that was the case with yours and someone started the repair project, but never got around to finishing it. If you can PVC piping with preferable since you can control its shape and location and be sure it never ends up kinked.

The keel bolt and bolt hole really what you want to look for are rust, bends, cracks and the hole getting wallowed out on both the boat and keel. It is nice to make sure everything line up on the lake and that you indeed pin the keel into place with the second set of holes, look for these to at least line up when the keel is fully deployed. This gives a secondary piece of mind that the keel will remain attached, although as recall this location on the keel is not as thick, and there for not as strong as the primary pivot bolt.
On a side not I was never able to use my second bolt hole, because the nature of sailing in the desert involves shallows out of no where and the ability to kick up if you ran a ground was more important then the piece of mind the keel was double secured and that the keel would swing back too fast and hurt the boat if I experienced a Greater then 90 degree nock down.

Finally something I ran into I would strongly advise against. The PO of my 1984 M25 decided the brake winch was too much work and installed a electric winch to run the keel. Seemed like a reasonable idea until the battery went dead due to age and running the winch down and part of the way up (this should not have happened since it was charged 100% at home before the trip.) As a result I was stuck on the lake until I could rebuild enough charge by running the OB to run the winch the west of the way up. I promptly installed a new brake winch and ended this stress.

[korn_kid_12]

On a lake, with smaller waves, it is feasible to beach the 25. I did it many times, but the abuse the keel will get on the beach on the gulf or a choppy lake would not be worth the risk.

[Jeremysxx]

Excellent, I will go inspect all of that right now.

Also, I've been reading through hundreds of threads on here and am seeing people retrofit the 26D's mast raising system. Would someone happen to have the link to purchase that. I'm not sure if it was the 26D, or X or M's, but the good one

[Curious Sailor]

Awesome boat Jeremy! Congrats!


http://curioussailor.blogspot.com/

[LoHo]

Hey, look around inside the boat (like you wouldn't have already!) and see if there is a pole that fits that forward mast step-looking thing. I'd bet they PO made a gin pole to raise the mast and that was his attachment.

[Tomfoolery]

Also, I've been reading through hundreds of threads on here and am seeing people retrofit the 26D's mast raising system. Would someone happen to have the link to purchase that. I'm not sure if it was the 26D, or X or M's, but the good one

BWY sells the M-style MRS, but you probably have also use the 2-piece mast step for its hinge.

http://bwyachts.com/BWYParts/PartsList.htm Search 'mast raising system' under 'mast' in the description drop-down. Note that it's compatible with M, X, and S boats, but the S needs the mast step upgrade to hinge properly.

If using MS Explorer, you might have to use compatibility mode, as that site is fussy as to browser type. If the dropdowns don't give you options, it doesn't like your browser.

[Jeremysxx]

Here is my biggest issue with the boat. This thing is real loose and there doesnt seem a way to access it. I guess cut into it from the interior? any suggestions? It's still secured in there somehow, as it wont come out but it's broke.




Should i cut into this?

[Jeremysxx]

Hey, look around inside the boat (like you wouldn't have already!) and see if there is a pole that fits that forward mast step-looking thing. I'd bet they PO made a gin pole to raise the mast and that was his attachment.

will do, I didn't know what it was for, or if it was stock or what