MacGregorSailors.com

I lurk on this site constantly; great people. Though I have contributed, I should do more so:

An Engagement Thread – Restarting a personal 26X Story
I have been about aviation since a child and became a pilot when I left college, flying around in Cessna 152s and 172s - terrorizing the populace, and my passengers. I grew that into antics that have had me flying warbirds and as a pinnacle effort: owning, maintaining and operating an L-39 jet for about 5 years. Several years ago it occurred to me that under the banyan tree of aviation no grass will grow. And aviation is often solitary. Sailing seemed a less expensive way to burn money in a more languid manner than a .8-hour heated rush that many flights are. Stop laughing please, I could instead share a mellower thing with friends on the water.

In 2012 we bought a 26X, some argue that I have no sense. But in engineering speak, this is a requirements problem - the Mac fit the needs and requirements for puddle pirating. I have enjoyed it when out on the local reservoirs and indeed have rediscovered the cooling benefits of anchoring in the shade of rocky bluffs in 72 degree waters when it is 115 degrees in the AZ summer. On top of that I have made some modest improvements to lighting and steering, and some upholstery, nothing earth shattering.

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Now: In my COVID-19 spare time I rolled the 5 years dormant 26x out onto the front driveway and erected the mast. Perhaps as a salute to moving forward.

It looks good there – I anthropomorphize complex machines as it helps me understand them. The 26X is aware of me and knows it’s activity level will change. The adventure re-awakens. An incongruous orange ladder gets me up to the dusty deck, first exposed after five years of sitting with a Sunbrella cover on the trailer. Jeanne (My wife) warned me of black widow spiders. ‘Dragonfly’ has weathered fairly well. No spiders.

So I hose off the dusty exterior. Standing on the deck, amid the visual entropy of so many projects. Some would call it wreckage – we (you, me and the 26X) see potential. I notice a missing pull for the snap shackle on the main-sheet. Hmmm, paracord? I go to Youtube and afterwards braid up a pull, sitting in the garage in the cool evening under garage lighting. Melting the bitter ends with a tool made to cut Sunbrella. I then ‘install it’.
It is a start.

26x
Perhaps it is the 26X’s fault…not sure. About 3 years ago it occurred to me that I really want to earn my time back and perhaps live near an ocean and marina. It hasn’t come to pass yet; but - there is a plan. My wife is game to try this, so we are both working a plan with simple goals and milestones. Sorting out money, stuff and a schedule.

We’ve set up a rental vacation home as a mechanism that might allow a modest early departure from a full-time employ. It is in Sedona for those interested. This was a challenge, as 2008 -2010 really beat us up. My wife and I had our own businesses that foundered during the ‘Great Recession’. We have recovered fairly well, but our savings investments are modest.

My aircraft are gone/sold. I work for a large aircraft manufacturer in Mesa AZ. I am 59 and not getting any better looking. On the plus side - I do have a gray moustache. – Gents with moustaches get things done. This is known. So with great moustache comes great responsibility. I would like more than lakes to sail on please. Where to go?

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A strap that has shredded to powder extrudes from the zipped bimini cover.
Hmmm.
So I repaired the Bimini. I had remade it in 2015 on an old Rex industrial sewing machine but failed to use UV resistant webbing strap, I replaced all of the straps and it is good now. For a moment, all is well. Where to next?

PV
How to make it work? We plan to eventually move to the Puerto Vallarta region in Mexico, and live there as expats for part of the year and Summer back in AZ. We’ve taken a couple of trips there and we love the people and the place. There are two available marinas and Banderas Bay is one of the largest bays of its kind, offering potentially mellow waters for sailing in the bay and perhaps light coastal stuff. That is our surmise at least.
Is the 26X adequate to the task? Will it be adequate for light cruising in the area? What will I need to do to make it truly ’seaworthy’. Will the X be enough boat-am I suffering from bigger boat syndrome? These questions ring in my mind.

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It looks good there, on the driveway – I anthropomorphize complex machines as it helps me understand them. The 26X is aware of me and knows it’s activity level will change. The adventure continues.

I've made progress, I will share it in separate posts so this isn't too long.

Picture of Dragonfly in driveway:

Now, this is what a blog post is all about.

The first statement "I should do more" begins our shared responsibilities when I want to reach out to so many people out there that have never participated in the community here. I see so many in the "WHO IS ONLINE Users browsing this forum: BOAT and 23 guests" every day and always wonder - why don't those 23 people participate?

Anyways, there are times when the bread on the water becomes a wheatfield and it's so good to read someone share their feelings about staring at an unused boat in the driveway - it's something that also drives me crazy at times: I feel guilty because I am not out in the water.

And to summarize the point that we all need to share it is well said that: 'with a great moustache comes great responsibility' and illustrates why I do not have one and defer to better of us like Kevin to keep an unruly bunch off the yardarms.

As for your plans Puerto Vallarta is one of our favorites and meet us for a margarita at PIPI's where the old man make the best avocado dip.

Our place will be in La Paz (there are three marinas!).

Thanks Boat. I will keep the stories and comments coming, I've learned too much not to share.

Best Regards

You owned an L-39!!

In addition to being boaters, we are also aviation geeks. We are a flightaware ADS-B ground station. We often hang out at the airport and plane spot.
When our son was getting his pilots license, we'd hang out at the end of the runway. He was doing his first night solo and the airport police found us very suspicious. Here we had blocked off the dash lights, were holding a scanner and binoculars.

Fantastic! I will read your post. Thanks. Hoping to have some adventures!

P

Russ wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 4:55 pm You owned an L-39!!

In addition to being boaters, we are also aviation geeks. We are a flightaware ADS-B ground station. We often hang out at the airport and plane spot.
When our son was getting his pilots license, we'd hang out at the end of the runway. He was doing his first night solo and the airport police found us very suspicious. Here we had blocked off the dash lights, were holding a scanner and binoculars.

Awesome! I am still a geek. I flew the Chinese Nanchang CJ-6 for years and it helped me train for the Jet, I sold the Nanchang early this year. There is an interesting story (I may write some day) behind my L-39ZA (the attack variant). I sold it now some 12 years ago. I got it in Romania, after looking around Ukraine. A grand adventure. That aircraft plus a Marine Instructor, and 3 Air Force Instructors over time. I am a slow learner apparently. I could have supported a medical education for the funds I spent in gas and parts...sounds familiar I guess. Bob Violett models copied my paint scheme on an RC model they made, even though it is a polyglot of several countries markings. the 2008 recession swallowed the funds, but it was grand. Good times.

Image is me returning from a flight with David B.

THE CONSOLE

So a first early foray in bringing the Dragonfly back to the living was to make it easier to pull the black Plexiglas side plate off the console to access the wiring.

Nutplates! I have a ton! Their moveable Nyloc goodness will solve all of my issues!

So I don’t have the specific tool to pre-drill the holes. Noop. So I jury rig something, but then I need a different bit…and a different drill. Oh! And I can use my aircraft rivet tools and soft aluminum c’sink rivets. Ooh, I need my Clecos…and my drill cages.

You get the idea. One thing led to another and this is the pile of tools used to install 6 floating nut plates. Inner voice is screaming “are you nuts?!” So I took this picture. I can’t make it up.

How am I s'posed to get to sea at this rate? I’ve since retired to pop-rivets and 3 tools to do the job. I am trainable. Or so I tell the Admiral.

windypatrick wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:40 pmThere is an interesting story (I may write some day) behind my L-39ZA (the attack variant). I sold it now some 12 years ago. I got it in Romania, after looking around Ukraine. A grand adventure. That aircraft plus a Marine Instructor, and 3 Air Force Instructors over time. I am a slow learner apparently. I could have supported a medical education for the funds I spent in gas and parts...sounds familiar I guess. Bob Violett models copied my paint scheme on an RC model they made, even though it is a polyglot of several countries markings. the 2008 recession swallowed the funds, but it was grand. Good times.

Image is me returning from a flight with David B.

Wow. Beautiful aircraft. It also looks like a hole to pour money into.
Is that an actual canon underneath?

There are a couple of Migs out at our airport (we live close) and it's awesome to see them when they take them out and fly over. Quite awesome when the afterburners kick in and they head over the mountains.

When we procured the aircraft I was in Bacau, Romania and they had this beautiful ZsH -23 double barrel cannon sitting on a crate...it was mine! I had many delightful chats with the BATF (Bureau of Any Thing Fun) regarding importation and though I thoroughly documented how I would 'de-mil' the gun for their inspection, they wouldn't countenance any pieces larger than what could fit in a #10 coffee can. Sad. So I had the Romanians fab a dummy shape and weight to keep the CG correct.

BATF Query: What wine would go best with my AR-15 Grendel? Answer: "We can't recommend yet, what are you smoking?"

Regards, P

At that time I had a pair of 12 gallon tanks in the two fuel lockers. I installed a stern platform which sits above the steering linkages. I managed to create space for a pair of 5 gallon plastic jerry containers, which I bungeed onto the platform. Tight fit, but it worked. I also slid a pair of 2.5 gallon gas cans under the steering seat. This gave me a total fuel capacity of 39 gallons, and a maximum cruising range of between 200 and 220 nautical miles. Fuel docks are pretty well spread out on the Sea of Cortez, so this fuel load was very useful. Last year I replaced the 12 gallon tanks with a pair of custom fabricated 18 gallon aluminum tanks. It was an extremely tight squeeze to fit them into the lockers. I had to enlarge the openings and also unbolt the pedestal so I could slide them in. However, I now have 36 gallons in the main tanks, and I carry three 2.5 gallon cans under the steering seat, for a fuel capacity of 43 gallons. If I needed to, I could also still strap on a single 5 gallon tank to the stern platform. The second one can't fit, since I repowered to the Suzuki engine and its cowling is too wide to accommodate the second jerry tank. Still, 48 gallons would give me almost 300 miles of powered range. I don't expect to need to carry that much, though. I do like those 18 gallon tanks, however.

Nice! Thanks for the info.

Hey folks,
I wanted a to post a brief trip report for trailering the Macgregor 26x to Mexico.

To review, I decided a while ago to stand down from my robust aviation vice (not a hobby). The ability to read a book anchored under the cliffs in Canyon Lake, Arizona coupled with an occasional dip in the cool water was unmatched by the heated rush of a fast warbird flight. I could share the Mac easily with friends and be out all day. Whereas, in the aircraft you watched fuel very closely - as a quiet engine better be on the ramp; not in the air.

The sea beckoned and I’ve closed in on the age where you say “screw it! I am done with full time work.” The Admiral and I started making plans. Long story short we ended up making an offer on a place near Puerto Vallarta.

So, we recently brought the boat 1,300 miles from Arizona to Puerto Vallarta Mexico (PV). My wife and I have moved here to live (mostly). We have a view of the sea and we are an 18 minute walk from a marina, owning the Mac had a hand in the decision. I’ve not yet paid for a slip as the Johnson 50 decided it doesn’t feel like running and a new motor has been the plan anyways.

Initiated with the purchase of the place here in Mexico. Work was needed. The trailer was in crap shape and only suitable for local tows to the lake (no brakes, crappy bunks). The Mac needed improved stuff to suit a new engine (crap wiring from prior owner). So I’ve been beavering away, fixing various systems to make this lake boat more seaworthy. Also I am only a puddle pirate, so I am hoping to start building a better sailing resume’.
The trailer, stock original Macgregor 26x, I agonized over whether to replace or refurbish. The single axle was a big question. I decided that it was just adequate if I went through everything. My plan was one tow to Mexico and not that often after. So I replaced the entire front surge brake unit with an entirely new one and inspected the front for corrosion. While there was some, it has never ben in salt, it was adequate. I replaced all of the bunks, lights and the wheel brake units and ended up with a trailer that well survived the rugged roads through Sinaloa. FYI our towbeast was a 2003 Ford Expedition with the 5.4 V-8, it performed superbly including the hilly drive through Nayarit and Tepic to our eventual La Cruz de Huanacaxtle destination near PV.

The boat a velero in Spanish, still has an arm long list of fixes, I haven’t done the beauty stuff yet, just mechanical/ electrical. New electrics, two house batteries forward in the V-Berth, one engine battery adjacent the sink. ACR, Charger and condition instruments, added a shore power ability. Putting B&G stuff in the boat, modified the mast cap to take the anemometer. Replace broken stuff, added lines led aft and new sails and rigging. In short, a number of BWY purchases! Oh, and I sanded and filled the bottom and applied side paint and new markings, and a bottom coat, a lot of work!

So, up to the present I have the poor thing sitting on its trailer under a cover in the jungle adjacent to me. A colony of wasps has set up shop next to the shore power plug, I am awaiting a bid from a credible engine seller in PV. There is no AC power nearby, so the batteries sit on a 555 charger here in the condo. It is muggy and hot right now so no work progresses. A working engine sort of limits getting it to a slip.

The cool thing here is that we sit in one of the largest bays on the Pacific coast of the Americas, the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags) spans a large distance and has its own unique weather and wind patterns. Allowing a person to work with milder breezes in the morning to changeable more stout winds in the afternoon.

I can’t wait to enjoy and share this. And more stories.

Enroute at a gas station in Los Mochis, Sinaloa MX.