MacGregorSailors.com

I am hoping I can replace my missing swing keel 25ft macgregor with a keel off a venture 25. WILL IT FIT?

Thanks for the help!

I dont know sizes of the keel, but I wonder about matching the original dimensions with an iron worker/shop. Have one built, pivot hole drilled to specs., unit "coated", and then installed correctly with an adequate hand winch. Building it to size, weight specs., & fittings shouldnt be too difficult.

Not sure if these are good ideas, but they sound like what I would look into as a possible simple step. Building one may be easier than trying to modify another brand-boat keel attempting to make it fit.

I looked at a Mac-25 a few years back, and recall that the keel is heavy.

Anyway, it sounds like a fun boat project.

I have thought of that, as another option i have acess to a cal 27 keel from afar and would like to know if they are interchangable or if anyone has had the same experience!

Dave

I have a '76 Venture and the keel looks the same as on the Mac 25's I have seen. If you have some measurements on one, I can double check against mine, although it is reinstalled back in the boat, but not on the trailer yet.

Unless you can get this other keel for free, I'd say take measurements, or make a pattern or get plans from the factory and have one made new locally from common steel plate. Unless you are a racer, don't bother with fiberglas encasement, just fair the edges of a steel plate, epoxy coat it, and be happy. You won't notice any difference in performance as a cruiser.

I have a factory pattern. You feel confident that flat plate will be satifactory for a intermediate/ advanced sailor? Sounds like you approve, Is the lesser weight any concern?

Thanks again,

Dave

You should be looking at a center plate of 1.25" thick and side plates (one each side) of 1" thick. If you look at the underside of the boat, where the keel folds into the hull, you should be able to see where the keel thickens - that is where you attach the side plates to the larger center plate. The 25 has a keel weight of 625#. If you get a little more - go for it. Have the plates welded. If you are going to grind the steel into foil shape you may have to you welder do it. Be sure to allow the sides plates to be small enough all around to accommodate the shape after grinding. That way there will be less material to remove. Have a pattern of your foil shape.

Wait, I'm thinking that the flat plate is fine , now another suggestion to create a foil and involved welding. flanges, expmeces! I have aguy for 300 that has a venture keel, SO

The REAL question is:

WILL A 24' or 26' VENTURE KEEL FIT A 25 MACGREGOR?

ANY BODY?

Thanks-

Dave

The keel from th 24 should work fine on a 25

The boats look identical, it should work, but if you want the answer direct from the horses mouth call Macgregor Yachts in Costa Mesa, CA and ask for Bill. He's very nice guy and has been there forever and knows his stuff.

I had checked out a Macgregor 24 a couple years
ago that was for sale. Its keel was fiberglas encased
lead that was in rough shape with several holes
and gouges.
never bought that boat and ended up with a
beautiful Mac 21 with a lead swing keel.
it has some rough spots and appeared stuck in its trunk.
I crawled underneath after bringing the boat home and
scraped out rust from inside the trunk and around the keel
with a flat scraper tool. A lot of rust fell on the driveway.
I then sprayed rustcheck onto the keel and into the
area where the cable attaches to the keel itself.
Next I need to paint the keel itself and that will be tricky
since I prefer not to deal with removal of the keel from the boat.
will paint as much of it as possible and try to be neat about it,
with me under the boat while it sits on its trailer.
Ahh some jobs sound simple until we start the work!!

markaram
Toronto