MacGregorSailors.com

Hey there !!

I just purchased a new a few months back and I'll be getting at the end of the month. Its my first boat and I'm not too sure were to start !! What are the first thing I should know/do? Do I need to put a protecting coating on the bottom, the boat will be staying in a marina most of the summer? Anything I need to know about the engin before starting it for the first time, its a E-tec 60?

I live in Ontario so I still have quite a bit of time before the summer, specialy after the 40+ cm of snow we got last week end !! Is there any MacGregor gathering in Ontario?

I'm very excited to be part of the Macgregor community, I've been reading every post for the past 2 months !!

Thanks

Matt

Matt
welcome to the community. I picked up a used 2004 M last year, so I am relatively new to this forum, but I know you will find this a great resource as I have. Whereabouts in Ontario are you located. I am based in Burlington Ontario and sail primarily on lake ontario. If your in the area perhaps we can get together for a sail sometime.
Cheers
Kevin

Hey Matt,
Congratulations on the boat. I've only had mine one full season so I'm a "newbie" too. I can tell you, in response to your first question, that before I put in this season I'll be repairing blisters and epoxy barrier coating my hull. Mine was in it's slip most of last season and when I pulled it there were blisters. Some say their boats have been in much longer without a blister but those, if I remember correctly, were older boats so maybe something has changed in the manufacturing process. Regarding the Etec 60, that's what's on mine. I had a little hiccup when I went out the first time and the motor would not shut off. Had to disconnect the fuel line and let it run out of gas. Turned out to be a small fleck of plastic left over from manufacturing was interfering with the grounding that "kills" the motor when you turn the key off. Other than that I'm happy with the motor and unless I'm running WOT it's great on gas. The processor in the motor has it running heavy on the two cycle for the "break in" period but I think that was only the first 10 hours. Anyway, take the advice I was given by my dealer (Bill@Boats4Sail) use your boat for awhile before you start buying accessories or adding modifications. See how you use it first.
Congratulations Again,
Bob

Cannot improve on what Bob said.. I will reinforce the barrier coat idea . Its a great idea.. Barrier Coat the bad boy before the season starts!!

I've only had the MacGregor since June and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

On any new from the factory outboard, read the owners manual, and follow the instructions for the break-in period to save headaches later.
We broke in our motor for a few days before putting the mast up (raising device was on backorder).

Double check you have the legally required gear on board. i.e. PFD's including a throwable, signaling device, etc. (this part should be obvious, but I'll say it anyway)

The one thing I wish I would've ordered from day one was the porta-potty, installed one within a week of receiving the boat. I still came out ahead finding one on clearance locally, but during that first week I really wish I had one.

I love my Etec.
Check out the steering travel. It may need tweaking a bit. A small tweek can be achieved at the motor itself. Mine was way off and I simply took off the main steering bar coming out of the transom, heated it up, and bent it abit. Then I fine tuned it by adding some washers at the motor.

Learn how to use the search function on this site. Then you can teach me how!

Take your time. I took delivery in Sept 08 and still haven't drilled any holes in the hull or cabin top.

happy sails,
Erik

Hi, I am new too. I got my boat last summer. I am in Oakville, Ontario. I don't know about any organized MacGregor gatherings, but we can get in touch if you wish and exchange experiences.

The text below is from the operator's manual. I hope it will help you.

EXTERIOR FINISH. The fiberglass finish should be
protected in the same manner as an automobile finish. An
occasional polishing and waxing (with any good quality
automotive polish and wax) will keep the surface in excellent
condition. If the boat is left in the water (either fresh or salt
water), apply a coat of top grade anti-fouling bottom paint
with an 18 mil thick (.GI8") epoxy undercoat. Without good
bottom paint and epoxy primer, the white gel coat exterior
surface may blister.

Regards,

Bernard

Hey, Matt, congrats! Nice to see another Ontario Mac on the board. I got together with Beene and Highlander in Meaford, south Georgian Bay area, for a couple of days last August. Alot of fun. I really learned a great deal about sailing from those guys.There are some videos posted. I'd love to get them down to Lake Ontario some time this summer. I was thinking of trying to organize a Mac rendezvous, maybe at Port Credit one night and the Toronto Islands another night. I see Kevin is not too far. Enjoy and keep us posted on your boat.

Its very exciting when we bought our boat it sat waiting for all of us to move from colorado to hawaii for 3 months just sitting there looking out of place. I found the one thing i wish somebody would had seriously told me was when motoring with some cross wind how wet we would get in the cockpit and how easy the fix was. We had to find this out the hard way this boat needs spray rails to make sitting in the cockpit a pleasure instead of a soaking. The spray rails have been the best money i spent after buying the boat. i am considering buying another set to continue them all of the way back but with just front ones installed it has reduced getting wet to almost nothing. I would suggest you glue these on before you bottom coat. I will assure you the first time you power up with any kind of waves and wind you will be reminded of what i said and you will say to yourself wish i had listened to him. just one other thought for you remember a wet wife is usually an unhappy wife. good sailing my friend, Tom.

hey guys !!

Thanks for all the replies! Is there any special brand of anti-fouling bottom paint or epoxy undercoat that's better or easier to use ??

We're in the Upper Ottawa Valley, but I plan on going road trips every second week ends or so to explore all the beautiful places to Sail in Ontario and Quebec!!

What are the must see around? I heard Bruce Peninsula in the Georgian Bay is amazing !!

I'm also very much a beginner sailor! We just took a sailing cours with the Ottawa Sailing School down in the British Virgin Islands in Febuary!! it was by far the best week of my life !! We learned alot but I know there's much more to know !!

Matt

You're not too far from the Thousand Islands in the Gananoque area. Last year we trailered to Kingston and sailed to one of the islands just past Gananoque that had small public dock (part of the St. Lawrence National National Park system). Beautiful area. Took a day trip to Heart Island to tour Boldt Castle on the American side (make sure you bring passports). On Wednesday nights at Fort Henry in Kingston they put on a nice show.
Georgian Bay is absolutely gorgeous, especially the 30,000 Islands area between Midland and Parry Sound areas. Just stay between the markers (alot of shoals). The North Channel supposed to be beautiful too. Never been there, I hope to get up there this summer. It'll be an exciting time for you, just take it easy the first few times you take her out. Keep an eye on the weather. The more you practice the more confident you become.

I'm a new Mac Sailor too. Multiple Pleasures is my first boat, although I have spent many years on the St Lawrence on my dad's home made 23 footer. We purchased Multiple Pleasures a year ago after I came home from Afghanistan. She was the family's end tour gift. A well deserved family treat after a long tour. I'm located in Kingston, and last summer we spent most of our time cruising between Brockville and Kingston, spending quite a bit of time in the Admiralty Islands just outside Gananoque.

The Mac 26M we bought was a demo from the dealer. It's a 2008 model with many extras, so I didn't really have to add anything except for a chartplotter. I tell ya, it was neve racking for me to drill that first hole into the pedistal! I didn't like that feeling at all! But it all ended well, and I tell you, I absolutely love having that piece of kit aboard!

I have to agree with the spray rails. I don't have them on Multiple Pleasures, but after being soaked to the bone a few times, I'd be inclined to install them when funding permits

I had only seen three other Macs last summer on the water. One was an X we docked with by the international bridge in Gan, the other was a Mac I could see docked at Cedar Island, and the other I came alongside in front of the Kingston waterfront. That boat was from Hamilton I believe.

If anyone is in the Kington area this season, give me a shout on the radio!

Lol thats funny, I just got back from Afghanistan last December and the boat was our end of tour gift aswell !! :p

HI Matt,

I did the the thousand Islands 2 years ago. I'ts a nice spot for the mac - just bring bug spray I got mine at Dowsar in Hamilton where you probably got yours. They sell bug screens (Bugusters) for the hatches - well worth the investment. The full enclosure was useless for the little critters. My big discovery on my first season with the Mac: If you have two batteries and an OFF,1,2,BOTH switch, place masking tape over the word BOTH and write EMERGENCY on it. I used it a few times and worse, charged it that way. Season 1 needed 2 sets of batteries. I sailed a decent amount before but nothing with an engine. It's not like a car.

I am planning a trip from Montreal to Kingston by way of the Rideau Canal this summer. Kingston back to Montreal via the St-Lawrence. I imagine most of Rideau portion will be with the mast down. May we will see you out there.

Rob

Congrats. Matt...fair winds & happy sailing to you and your crew