New Macgregor owners wake up on their new project boat

[Be Free]

About 4 years ago I took the original chain off my anchor when I noticed it was showing some serious signs of wear. I found a nice, 6' chain already set up with shackles at my local Ace Hardware. I don't know if that is an item that Ace normally carries but since there are far more boats in this town than there are people it is an in-stock item here.

It would not surprise me if your local Walmart might have one on the shelf as well. Any place that would sell an anchor would probably have a replacement anchor chain.

Personally, I prefer plain, galvanized chain rather than galvanized chain with a rubber coating. As soon as that rubber gets damaged you have no idea what is going on with that chain link (and we all know about the "weakest link").

As long as you stay in fresh water it's not as critical so don't turn down a chain with rubber coating if that's all you can find. I never really worried about it when I was almost 100% fresh water sailing but since it's been close to 6 years since I've been in fresh water my ideas regarding corrosion have changed significantly.

Adding some chain should make a noticeable difference in your anchoring experience.

[OverEasy]

Hi Tuxonpup!
Congratulations and Welcome!
As others have already mentioned the aft ballast gate is a basic RV waste gate. You can generally take them apart and replace the seals if you have a mind to… but for about the same cost you can replace the entire valve with a nice clean new one…There are even remote cable lever types so one doesn’t have to reach down to the transom to operate it…. just my 2 cents.

If you do rebuild or replace I’d suggest applying marine grease to the plate and seals on a regular basis.

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Herschel]

Hi Tuxonpup!
Congratulations and Welcome!
As others have already mentioned the aft ballast gate is a basic RV waste gate. You can generally take them apart and replace the seals if you have a mind to… but for about the same cost you can replace the entire valve with a nice clean new one…There are even remote cable lever types so one doesn’t have to reach down to the transom to operate it…. just my 2 cents.

If you do rebuild or replace I’d suggest applying marine grease to the plate and seals on a regular basis.

Best Regards
Over Easy

Yes, I have my replacement tank valve ready to install. It will be my second replacement in 20+ years of ownership. I have found a basic boat hook to be a easy tool for opening and closing the valve without performing a gymnastic half dismount (that you hope doesn't turn into a full dismount at 15 knots).

[tuxonpup]

Thanks all, I went ahead and placed a BWY order for the parts I think we need right off the bat;

Transom valve seal, don't think this is where the leak is as nothing was running out until I opened it, but all gaskets at once is good practice.
Center valve gasket set, I suspect this is the culprit as it was flooding out here in the under hull video and I didn't open that valve.
Ballast vent plug, either the handle on mine is gone or the previous owner just stuck a sink stopper in there instead.
Ballast tank dipstick tube, looks like fun until I inevitably lose it like the previous owner.

Two 1/4" anchor shackles, gonna pick up six feet of galvanized chain locally and see how that drags.
Large cotter ring, I really don't know how the steering connects to the rudders, in the original 26X video it looks like he just disconnects the push bar from the engine and connects it to the rudder bar?
Ten clevis pins and ring dings, won't be doing much sailing if we can't raise the mast.
Mast base quick pin, I've got the bolt but not sure I saw a second one for the mast raising pole.
Quick pin for the boom, again, may have the bolt, may not, but a quick pin upgrade doesn't hurt.

The big splurge;
RF genoa with UV Sunbrella cover, decided reloading the furler is the first priority over a new main, as it's already rigged to the mast and tattered.
Sail repair tape, we'll unpack the main cover and see what we're dealing with, may be able to use it for rigging purposes or just have to go headsail only.

Five gallon water bottle, boat came with three used bottles, but a clean new one was a popular choice with the crew.
Two Macgregor logo stickers, of course.

[Russ]

You have some good purchases. Keeping ballast where it should be and raising the mast with sails should be a priority. Especially if you want to use the boat as a sailboat.

The stock potable freshwater system is pretty primitive. Many of us have found better ways. Searching this forum will provide dozens of options. I installed a small bar sink and faucet from Lowes attached to a small water pressure pump. For water storage I simply use 2 Coleman fresh water jugs in the v-berth with a hose that runs down the spout into the bottom of the jugs.

The Stock MacGregor (looks like yours is very stock) was a bare bones boat. You will find many mods to make it work better for you. See the mods section of this forum or the mods section of the main site ( https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/ ) for ideas.

Related to your steering repairs, once you get the sails up, you will want to pull the motor out of the water to reduce drag. When you do, you will want to install one of these. It allows disconnecting the steering from the motor while sailing. Should have been installed by the factory in my opinion.
https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/5712-1x0.htm

[tuxonpup]

You have some good purchases. Keeping ballast where it should be and raising the mast with sails should be a priority. Especially if you want to use the boat as a sailboat.

The stock potable freshwater system is pretty primitive. Many of us have found better ways. Searching this forum will provide dozens of options. I installed a small bar sink and faucet from Lowes attached to a small water pressure pump. For water storage I simply use 2 Coleman fresh water jugs in the v-berth with a hose that runs down the spout into the bottom of the jugs.

The Stock MacGregor (looks like yours is very stock) was a bare bones boat. You will find many mods to make it work better for you. See the mods section of this forum or the mods section of the main site ( https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/ ) for ideas.

Related to your steering repairs, once you get the sails up, you will want to pull the motor out of the water to reduce drag. When you do, you will want to install one of these. It allows disconnecting the steering from the motor while sailing. Should have been installed by the factory in my opinion.
https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/5712-1x0.htm

It's like X-mas morning here:



Pleased with the BWY order, and honestly, it looks like an Amazon truck crashed into our living room. This morning's other unwrapping was a hanging organizer to fit all our galley purchases:



My partner's tiny home plans are materializing, so I've got some boat systems improvements to make to support that;

12V house power - the motor battery and alternator charging is all new but the house power is disconnected. I have Eco-worthy lithium ion batteries on hand, so I went ahead and ordered their flexible 130w solar panel and controller to experiment with keeping the house battery charged independent of the motor's system.

Water supply - I ordered an Eccotemp 12V pump with barb fitting adaptors and some tubing to run a line from the 5 gallon bag.

Propane - As the boat is a five and a half hour drive North and we'll be fitting all this out while camped on her, heat became an immediate need. Current plan is a tank mounted in the cockpit with a line running into the galley for a new stove top, and a second line feeding a Mr Heater in the companion way.

Tankless water heater - The system we'll be testing this weekend is to hang a tankless water heater from the mast holder above the transom for hot showers. The test is to see if the Eccotemp pump mounted under the aft berth and fed by the 5 gallon bag at the rear of the berth provides enough lift to feed the water heater at shower height above the transom. If so, it gets packed for the trip. If not, back to the drawing board.

[tuxonpup]

Test was successful:



Next up, I think we’re gonna need a bigger bag!