Water Lilly Archive.

[Massey]

Hello, everyone! I’m new but didn’t notice an introduce yourself thread so here is where I’m saying HI!

In a couple hours after posting this I will be bringing home my first sailboat, a MacGregor 25. Not sure what year yet, but I know it doesn’t have the built in galley. The boat is in ok shape, the trailer is pretty good, no major rust. I am buying the boat from Mike Jones of H1 Unlimited hydroplane racing fame!

Anyway I will be sailing in the Puget Sound (Washington for those who don’t know) and I would like a good GPS for the boat that isn’t just a simple hand held unit. I don’t care about a fish finder or the sonar bs that seems to be the only feature most of the units I try to research online seem to care about. I want a 4 to 6” screen and Nav charts not street charts. Anyone have any ideas of where I can look? Thanks!


Massey

Edit: I changed the title of this thread to cover my boats build and issues I run into along the way. Here I can document everything in one nice meeting location.

[NiceAft]

First off, welcome.

When it comes to GPS, any of the brand name companies are good. I’m sure you will get a variety of responses. What your budget allows wii also be a determining factor.

[C Buchs]

Running Navionics or ActiveCaptain on a tablet might work for you. If you already have a tablet or even a phone, these choices can be really cheap/free. Search this site and you can find information about them.

I have ActiveCaptain on my phone. I like it because it has crowdsourced information about anchorages, marinas, etc. The only problem is in direct sunlight, the screen can be hard to read.

I also have a Garmin unit with all the sonar stuff you don't want/need. If I were you, I would want depth, but I'm always going into places I probably shouldn't. This ECHOMAP Plus 42cv is a pretty basic unit https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/59278 ... 0-01884-00. I don't have this unit and haven't done any research on it. I'm only linking it here because it's the smallest unit I found on the Garmin site.

Read up on these and whatever other solutions you find. Then ask questions here. There's lots of knowledge here that can help.

Jeff

[Massey]

Thanks for the replies guys! Well the boat is in my carport now! It is a 1983 Model with a 1982 Trailer. It’s blue. The overall condition is ok, I paid less than $2000 for it, and trailer. No battery, no electronics, but a brand new head and an Evenrude 2 stroke motor. Not sure what HP on the motor, there is tape covering a hole which is where the number should be. Either way, it feels like it’s between 5 and 10 horse by the weight of it... I will find out when I go to fix the cowl. It needs to be cleaned really well, I think it has the table, there is a large wooden thing that resembles a table in the V berth. I have the poles for the top, I figured out the locks easy enough, I need a galley, this one is missing and I think I’m missing a few hatch covers too. Those I should be able to fabricate easy enough. I need a fuel tank, the one that was supposed to be for the boat had tar like lacquer in it... I left it there! I also got 2 anchors with some aluminum chain...


So the plans after the cleaning is to check the rigging and sails. I know there is a torn eyelet on the Jib, but the sail looked pretty good. The mast looks good, but needs a bird nest removed, and I think I’m going to have to replace the lights and antenna. I also will be replacing the cockpit drain fitting as this one is showing signs of cracking and being 40 years old. Here is a pic from the Ad.

AF33C650-848A-41B2-9672-E688A8C91E27.jpeg

[dlandersson]

The 25 was "Sailings" Sailboat of the Year" when it was introduced.

Hello, everyone! I’m new but didn’t notice an introduce yourself thread so here is where I’m saying HI!

In a couple hours after posting this I will be bringing home my first sailboat, a MacGregor 25. Not sure what year yet, but I know it doesn’t have the built in galley. The boat is in ok shape, the trailer is pretty good, no major rust. I am buying the boat from Mike Jones of H1 Unlimited hydroplane racing fame!

Massey

[Russ]

Congrats and welcome. The new member buys pizza. Extra cheese for me.

That is a fine boat. You'd be surprised how well it cleans up. Some compound on the hull will bring it back.
I've used this stuff with a wool pad and buffer to create magic on gelcoat. Post more pictures as you go.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Restor ... B001441DZ2


Click here and download the manual for your boat https://macgregorsailors.com/resources.html

[pleb222]

Before you buy something expensive, try open CPN on your phone. The macs are small boats and adding large screens everywhere tends to remove a lot of sight lines in my opinion.

Open CPN is free, you'll be able to download the official marine charts. You can fiddle around with it, and it might help you decide between running a phone or tablet vs a chartplotter.

[Massey]

I most definitely do not want large screens, but I also don’t want to squint to see my screen. I have a Garmin eTrex 32 that I use for Geocaching and I will prolly use that, but I wanted something a bit more marine specialized with a slightly larger screen.

I plan on seeing how well the top color cleans up, but I know for sure that my bottom paint and keel need some attention, so they are on the list of soon to do work. I’m going to need some new fenders and lines, what I have it rotten, and has anyone used “hydro turf” (jet ski traction mat stuff) in the well or floor of their boats? Also where do I get the through hull fitting for the cockpit drain? I figure I could use pretty much any through hull drain, but I was wondering what everyone else is using.

[Massey]

On the drain... I guess a better question is what are the dimensions of it?

[Massey]

OK guys and gals, some may have noticed that I changed the title of the thread, and also made an edit to the first post... Well Here we go. I have plans for this little boat, and I am going to document them here. I may just ramble too, but mostly this will be about my journey with building this boat to a level I desire, and also learn to sail. That's right, I don't really know how to sail. I have been sailing before and loved it, which is why I wanted a sailboat for the last 30 years. I was inspired by Colin and his adventures on Parley, while watching his channel Parley Revival on YouTube. I started looking on FBMP and OfferUP for a sailboat, I found Catalina's and MacGregor's, and other brands, I found many configurations but I wanted trailerable, and something that I could handle solo, but still large enough to take on a weekend sail to the San Juan Islands. I have a wife and 2 kids that may want to adventure with me, so I needed large enough for them too. So this road lead to research, my research lead me down many rabbit holes but I kept coming across a boat maker that is well received and best of all affordable. I really wanted a Mac 26 but could not find one in my price range. I revised my search to just "sailboat", and figured I would have to fish out all the useless 60 and 70 footers.

I came across a boat that was actually below my price range, and it came with a trailer, and appeared to be complete! I went out to look at it and found that is was a mess. Not physically a mess but really dirty and it had some junk inside it. It appeared to have all the pieces, the sail looked good, and did I mention it was below my budget! It was not a Mac 26, but a Mac 25, and they had it listed as a 21' sailboat. The guy listing it was a relative of Mike Jones, of Jones Racing (H1 Hydroplane Racing), and since Mike is retiring he wanted to sell off some of his stuff for that reason. He sold the Miss Red Dot/Les Schwab boat about a week before I found the listing. Here is the backup boat! (I got a pic of my kids sitting on the trailer with the boat if anyone wants to see)

image1.jpeg

And here is the same boat a few years later with my Mac parked right next to it!

image01.jpeg

The place I picked up the boat at was amazing for me. I am a hydroplane lover and there were hydros all over the place. There was an unlimited light, a few drag boats, and a ton of the little outboard plywood mini hydroplanes. There had to be over a hundred of these awesome little guys. I could have stayed there for hours and never once been bored at all. But I was there to buy a sailboat, and I did.

The overall layout is similar, to the 26, which I liked, and while dirty and full of some junk, it was in pretty good condition overall. The trailer could use some work, ie new lights and some paint, but it towed well. My next post will be a list of the things I want to do to the boat and I will cross them off as I get the jobs done. If any one has any advise on how best to do said work please let me know! So off to my first adventure!

[Massey]

OK so I said I was going to make a list of things needing to be done to my boat. Here goes!

Name Her. Water Lilly

Clean inside

Clean outside

Test at a local lake for leaks (Heading straight to the bay instead)

Setup mast and sails and make sure all is well there.

Remove from trailer on land. (haul off)

Remove keel to de rust and repaint.

Repaint bottom (black Anti-fouling)

Sand and repaint hull (burgundy or red color)

Paint upper hull white with tan non skid areas.

New cushion covers (not tweed!) (Currently at the upholstery shop)

Re-create the hatch covers inside the boat

Sand interior and remove flaking paint.

Repaint the interior

Re-bed any screws that go through the deck/hull

Make a front bulkhead for the head.

Make a door for the head

Find/Make a galley. (I have a pic of the factory unit, would like something similar)

Install fresh water tank for drinking water.

Electric Pump for sink

Wire boat for 12V LED Lighting

Buy battery (will a Group 24 really fit under the front galley seat? YUP!)

Replace electrical panel with a more modern power distributing panel.

Wire in a battery monitor. Came as part of the switch panel.

Wire in battery charger (maybe solar)

Install my Standard Horizon GX1800

Clean and reseal front hatch

New mast lights (LED)

New bow light (LED)

New numbers

New VHF Antenna

Waterproof hull pass through for antenna

Waterproof hull pass through for mast wiring (3 pole, Ground, deck light, mast light)

Enlarge window openings, and replace windows

Replace lines.

Fabricate new galley table, or refinish factory one.



Any advise on any of these items please let me know. I am very mechanically inclined, I have been repairing all sorts of things for over 30 years, I have a very robust tool collection and I know how to use them... sometimes not as originally intended but I get the job done! I cant sew... so I need to hire that work out.

[Russ]

Wow! That's quite a list.

I would start with a good powerwasher and get her cleaned up as best you can inside and out. Seems like you are ready to strip everything and start from scratch.
Paint inside?? Someone painted it? If it's peeling, probably not done right.

I'd avoid painting over gelcoat if the gelcoat is worth saving. a good compounding can work wonders. That's just me.
It sounds like you want to change the hull color so if that's your goal, paint it is.

These boats don't have below the water line thru-hulls so water testing might be fun, but I wouldn't feel the need to test for leaks right away. As you seem to know, most leaks are from above.

You seem to have the talents and tools, so this will be fun to watch your progress. Please post and with photos.

The one area I would be most concerned with is the trailer. Those wheels look old and rusty. I'd bet the tires also. These trailers rust from the inside out, so inspect that and give it attention first. Especially if you are lifting the boat off it.

[Massey]

The list is just everything I want to do, not what needs to be done to get in the water.

So what I want to know from those who are reading this right now, is how are you handling your VHF Antenna needs? I want to put a mount right on the deck to attach my antenna cable to for nice clean lines and for ease of removal when lowering the mast. I can’t find any good bulkhead fittings for this job. So what are you guys using, feel free to post pics.


The previous owner of my boat just ran a cable into the cabin from under the lift up section to the radio. Not ideal but fairly simple.

[Russ]

There basically 2 antenna options.

Mine is on top of the mast. VHF is line of sight and for me, this is important. A simple deck fitting when stepping the mast and I'm done.

Others have mounted aft of the cockpit with a whip antenna like powerboats. This has the benefit of easy launching and using without the mast.

Here are some others
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... rn=antenna

[Massey]

So, I was trying to post some pics of the cleaning progress as well as my rudder and motor... well that’s gonna have to wait, I need smaller files. I will work on that tonight... after I clean some more.

As for my rudder... aren’t these supposed to fold? Mine is fixed, and is almost touching the ground while on the trailer. Does the rudder have to be “bolted” to the transom, or can it float with a safety to prevent it from coming off all together?


Pics will follow soon, I promise!