MacGregorSailors.com

Hi All

I know it sounds crazy but I used to Dive still have my own gear but wanted to learn to sail so I bought a MACX. It's stuck in Seattle for a few more months until the end of June but I have a co-worked who is a dive instructor who is also boat-less.

He is into it big time and I would like to offer something in return and the locker is something I can start working on today.

So what do you think could a MAC X be modified as a dive boat? I can't imagine putting a compressor on-board but that’s why I ask.

My boat mechanic and I have talked a little about glassing in a dive equipment box on the starboard side through to the Cabin deck forward of the fuel locker and hinging in a hatch made from the seat of the cockpit. That and a swim step off the same side.

Would 2 drivers, 6 tanks and watch person on deck fit?

I have even thought of hinging the seat as a built in swing out swim step if possible. The box could be drained into the bilge and I have a pump right there anyway. Balance it all out by a secondary fuel/water reserve on the port side

I have most of my electronic black-boxes on the starboard back head so I have to leave a crawl space for access but still leaving a full bunk on the port side.

I have watched the posted link video’s on making a fiberglass mold and I didn’t see anything that would preclude the idea of making a locker. It’s weight should be keep to a minimum but with a strong enough floor & side walls to take an accidental drop.

So is it a bridge too far? I would especially like to hear from any divers out there and what they think but any suggestions or laughs are always welcome!

3 people and 6 Scuba Tanks in the cockpit . . . .If you wanted to badly enough I guess it would work.
Tropical Diving will make it easier.
No Spear Guns and No Camera Gear will make it easier.

An X will be easier up the back than a M.
Starboard ladder?? If you could build one that really works really fits is realistically stow-able.
Whats your entry plan?
Could I do a Giant stride off my M or even a back roll?
Sure I could a few times and then forget it, its not that much of a fun way, to start a dive,.... BTDT. Hey but our Dive is done now, how are you getting everything back into the boat.
There is no swim platform and we have some high side boards on these boats. Have you been successful with designing and building a ladder capable of bringing a fully suited diver up and over the sideboard?
The 24' to 30' Pangas we use on Coz are pretty stable and work well as they have some spot along both sides meant as entry and re-entry points. BTW we really discourage divers climbing back in fully suited . Its dangerous and there by stupid. . some still insist however and the customer is always right.
I have a few dives under my belt and can imagine the mess and chaos going on during this time. Now lets add a little weather to this whole thing.
Can it be done ? Again I have no doubt and I am in fact going to be doing it a little I hope in the Bahamas and in SW Florida and hopefully in the Sea of Cortez. But its not a good purpose for this boat and I know it.
But this boat is the only boat I have.. So if I want to dive off my boat, I better somehow make it work. It will have to be IMHO shallow diving with an inflatable on a painter to help me if I need help.
All of this is just IMHO and others may agree or disagree with me.

My qualifications for making the above statements.
I have been diving for 16 years
I am a NAUI Instructor and have made a lot of boat dives from a lot of different boats in all kinds of weather.
I am 56 y.o. 5'11" 208lbs In salt water if I exhale I sink like a rock.
Diving in Tropical water with a 3 mil shorty I wear. . . 5 to 6lbs

MUW-
I know of an X owner not of this forum that installed a large rectangular hatch in the starboard cockpit seat for access to a large cooler directly below. I'm not sure if your proposal is too much for a Mac, but then I never would have thought of three headsails either, but (HIGHLANDER) made that a reality! So, I guess most anything is possible, if thought thru!

There have been some SCUBA related discussions here in the past. If I didn't do the links below correctly, then do a search on scuba.

HOOKA

M SCUBA

TANKS

SCUBA MAC

I agree wholeheartedly with Divecoz's comments. I was certified NAUI also bacame asst instructor PADI. Have experienced pulling divers requiring assistance back onto an inflatable during training excercises..........NOT A PLEASANT ORDEAL.

Impossible IMHO to achieve with a Mac (any Mac).

If scuba diving in the Seattle or Virginia areas then 1/4" wetsuits plus 18-25lb weights might be the norm. Therefore an inflatable would be highly recommended.

Also serious and costly mods could be avoided.

With an earlier 12 ft. inflatable we found that 4 divers plus gear was the max..

Good luck.......R

Thanks Divecoz & K9Kampers

Dive you beat me hands down on the Diving & MAC experience and I hope you will share the details of your trip. I agree with you on an inflatable with kicker being a must and already on the list. That is one of the reasons I almost think it would take 4 people leaving one on the boat in an emergency.

Hmm luckily if I could pull it off volunteers won't be hard to find.

I hope the dive locker can be made in such a way to hold the tanks standing at ready but out of the way within the hull leaving room for flippers and 2 BC’s. Still the Cockpit is a very small area to gear up so I suspect it will take a little practice and patience. I have thought about the entry and exit point and unless I want to leave my Yamaha behind and go the route of Mr. Mike adding pontoons with outboards, the Starboard side seemed to me to be the only real option.

I also agree that to try and come out wearing your gear isn't realistic and that is why I have been thinking of a folding dive platform like a side mounted swim platform posted earlier but a little wider and about twice as long. Over the side stand on the platform fall back into the water. Strap the Tank and BC on a lanyard set on the seat take off my flippers and up over the side. Keeping my Mask on and Pony handy in rough sea's.

K9Kampers one of the reasons I asked was when I read some of the posts you mentioned above I got the impression most just tossed their gear on board and made do. Don’t get me wrong but I was hoping to better utilize the boat by adding a locker in space that now is seldom utilized and that would add a secure storage place for my gear. One of Duane’s posts seemed closet to what I was thinking of and since several years have pasted I was wondering if someone had come up with a solution.

Fortunately I am no longer dealing with the cold water and bad weather of the sound so I am planning for good days only out on the Chesapeake.

R Rae can’t be done is my middle name and as dive said “it’s the only boat I have” but I appreciate the advise and incentive!

I see this plan as another example of trying to make a boat do something for which it was not designed. But I like it, because I'm a diver too, just not much lately, and my X is the only boat I have, (not counting my dive ready sit-on-top kayak: Ocean Kayak - Malibu Two). While Mac hunting, my wife & I talked about sailboat diving quite a bit, and the X would be better for that than most others. Having given more thought to MUW's proposal, I think the wet locker mod sounds doable, yet the hinged-seat-swing-out-swim-step idea sounds like something for Monster Garage! I'm just not visualizing it, despite my vivid imagination.

Here are some of my thoughts on modding a Mac for more than just occaisional diving. BTW, I'm thinking as for diving in New England. The built in wet locker is better than having wet gear & suits strewn about on deck or stuffed in the head. For all the thru the transom traffic, an aft deck would be beneficial to protect the rudder linkages and motor cables. With integrated BCs and small boats, we tie off the inflated BCs to the stern so as to enter / exit boat with ease. Obviously, if with weight belts, bouyancy factors would make this work or not. A stable inflatable dinghy would probably be best for use as a platform, unless something could be fabricated to easily store on deck and attach in the water - but not totally necessary. Haven't explored current model portable dive compressors, but if it could be done - how effecient / practicle? Consider it's effect on boat performance, extra fuel, space...ooohhhhh, now I'm not liking dive mods so much. Perhaps to consider the issue from the point of how much boat modding to make it do something for which it wasn't designed vs. how to adapt dive practices to fit within the limits of the boat!

Someone posted about using their X as a dive boat a few years ago. Seemed to work fine for them. I think the tanks simply were stored down below. I think they put the tanks and fins on once in the water.

The ladder should at least have stair treads added to make it easier on the feet.

On mine I cut the back seat (making it removable) and installed a heavy ss eye pad using the hinge bolt holes and fasteners. From this I clip on a heavy strap (a lifebelt lanyard from West Marine) with a loop tied into it. This gives an excellent hand hold for the left hand while boarding. THe right hand can just grab the top of the motor and up you go.

The X is a good sized boat with easy boarding access at the stern. Should be pretty easy really.

I wouldn't modify the boat that extensively and possibly hurt its resale value. We replaced the aft berth cushions with interlocking foam exercise mats to protect the deck and used large Rubbermaid storage bins back there. For occasional diving, that's where I'd stow the gear.

Craig's right about the ladder... murder on the feet without treads... could also use another lower step. Our previous owner had a grab bar installed on the port side, but it was too short and mounted too high to be useful. Had to use a rope tied around it. Agree with hanging some pendants off the stern railings for the BC and fins.

Thank you K9Kampers, LaForce & Moe (Hmm what does that bring to mind).

First isn’t making a MAC into something it wasn’t designed for, the MacGregor way? Kind of like you can get it in any color you want so long as it is black (white / blue)!

As far as hurting the resale value by adding a through wet locker that isn’t much of an issue if the job is done right. The space I am talking about using is really not usable except for stowing an extra kid. Even then most of it is still available and I plan on extending the wet locker space to create a dry interior locker near the transom. So I loose about 2 feet (or less) on a 7.5 + foot berth.

Granted hauling the equipment in and out of a padded 2 foot crawl space could be done but why do it?

The previous PO had added several major modifications to the Boat, Sails and Galley area and honestly that is what sold me on the boat. I bought it after I had lurked here and hands on about 10 X’s and only wish it was the newer than 97.5 MACX model ( it has some 98 features best I can tell).

The Balsa wood issue scares me but I have been all over the hull and found no soft spots.

My only issue with what the PO had done was his additions to the electrical spaghetti bus so I had all of that removed and replaced with marine grade wiring done by a professional as I did not want that kind of an issue at sea. Talk about Boat Bucks!

But using 110V white lamp shade factory installed wiring “by Design”? I am a gadget freak and would shorted that crap out in no time.

Seems not to be much of a design to me other than you can make it into almost anything you want! With what the PO did and I want and done to it, its is already a “Mod” boat!

One day soon I hope to start posting what he and I have done in the Mods section but I’m still to new and embarrassed to submit my/his work to peer review! But your point is well taken and nothing gets done that ain’t done right, because it’s me out there. but I want it to look as well as function right!

But then again that’s why I am asking for “expert” opinions!

PS But K9Kampers Monster Garage is so cool and sometimes (rarely) they even get it right! Still point well taken, the linkage and working with SS & safety at sea probably precludes anything so complex! I settle for a nice tight hatch and the added safety of not having to load and unload through the companion way hatch!

K9

More please about this "dive ready sit-on-top kayak: Ocean Kayak - Malibu Two" I've been looking at this idea as an alternate! I still like the wet locker idea for storage of my gear on the boat but the swim platform idea has some problems and as mentioned above an inflatable w/kicker is on the table. They say 3.5HP can be mounted on it but I want a dual propose kicker mounted like Duane's Mac so a 5hp 4 stroke is probably the minimum.

So this is a hard plastic design, where do you stow it? Tow behind? Can a real kicker be mounted to it? What I have seen so far that I like is a Sevylor DiveYak XK2020 which might be more than my Mac can handle onboard and I probably wouldn't to always be towing it behind.

This is why I love the Mac, so much information to be shared!

MUW says:

First isn’t making a MAC into something it wasn’t designed for, the MacGregor way?
Seems not to be much of a design to me other than you can make it into almost anything you want! With what the PO did and I want and done to it, its is already a “Mod” boat!

But then again that’s why I am asking for “expert” opinions!

Call me a hacker, bodger, tinkerer, dreamer and frugal Yankee, but don't call me an expert!



So true! Mac modding is kinda like the van craze of the '70's. All kinds of neat & tricked out rigs serving as practicle function and / or creative expression!

Check out oceankayak.com (site not link friendly)

Here's mine...Russ Island, Stonington, ME / ready for the road / with my custom bow mod for my K9 first mate:

These folks might help.

http://www.sit-on-topkayaking.com/Artic ... iving.html

Mods, we don't need to sticking Mods! What stinking dive boat???

Ok this is what’s been done to my “TaTa” so far.

The original PO added 2 house batteries to the starter wired in parallel with a Battery Charger and isolator hanging loose in the aft port seat locker with a single fuse box mounted in the space between the head and companionway. My mechanic wanted to toss the box over wetness concerns but I have left it so far because it has a battery tester. I still need to add that feature and it works for now.

The PO built onto the original factory (lampshade) wiring soldering on as he went. When I opened the battery box it looked like spaghetti. When I asked the PO what “that” was he said oh that’s a second transducer I was planning to add with a flip switch and then pulled it out. I couldn’t tell the difference it made in the reduction of the spaghetti and neither could my New Zealander boat mechanic!

So we removed all the non marine grade wiring and replaced it after creating a mounting board and added 2 Fuse boxes a lockable Perko Main Power Switch & Dual Battery Switch along with a receptacle for a 110V Shore line. Everything is mounted in such a way that it can be removed in mass from the locker. It all disappears under the seat and even my NZ boat mechanic agreed it worked out elegantly.

He still guides me but listens to what I have in my visions before shooting them down in flames. And mostly he still thinks I should buy a REAL Sailboat to create some of my more outrageous idea’s, but even he liked the through hull wet locker idea and has instructed me somewhat on the how too. I’ll buy a Real Sailboat next time. I really like the MAC65.

FYI either I have or we have done almost all of the work together so when I talk about doing something it might actually get done! Well what the PO didn't do anyway.

Safety is my middle name, or was that "can't do"?

Next the PO had wired a old single 500 bilge pump setting loose in the main bilge so we added 2 750’s using bilge wiring 1 mounted in the main bilge and one mounted in the transom area. I plan to probably add a third forward as I get to know the boat better but I probably will just add a wash down pump that can be used as a bilge pump in an emergency. The bilge pumps are on a separate fuse only circuit to allow them to work when the main DC electrical switch is off.

The PO added a Coleman 12V Refrigerator next the aft galley seat and removed the factory Galley face and then had made 3 black plastic pull to drawlers and a pull out trash can next to and forward of the refrigerator. He also added 2 electric water pumps (which we had to replace) in the Galley and Head. To this he added a dual burner alcohol stove custom fitted in the galley tile work.

PO rewired and ran both anchor and running lights on the mast using the forward DC panel. I plan of replacing this configuration with a LCD setup as posted in the Mod’s section and adding deck lights on the mast with collapsible spreaders as posted in Mods.

The PO added a stereo but left the speakers free place loose in the Settee/Galley area. I replaced the stereo (with a Jenson) and 2 interior / 2 exterior speakers mounted as shown in several other Mods and then added a Pedestal mounted remote control.

I replaced the VHF he had installed with a Horizon PS 2000 with dual microphones 1 mounted on the pedestal and on the starboard hull liner above the Settee. The black box is mounted on the aft exterior head wall and the Antenna is a fold down model mounted on the starboard aft Stanchion with a isolator for the stereo. I am still looking for a place to mount the Loud Hailer as my BM shot down my RADAR on Mast mount idea.

Others have suggested just such a setup here but he pointed out it wouldn’t work when the mast is down. So at some point I want to add an Arch, but I want to make it as a part of a full enclosure and to function as a kicker hoist. Talk about Monster Garage!

Next I added a Ray Marine A65 GPS Charter and Depth Sounder. We where going to add a oil based transducer under the galley but once ordered it didn’t work with an A65 after all so we are experimenting with using a stern mounted transducer mounted under the Galley shooting through the hull?

Speaking of shooting I also have a purpose made Mossberg M500 Marine Flare Device.

The PO as a “true” sailor ran all line aft to the cockpit as a single handed sailor. He also added CDI Furler foresail with an additional “Furlaker” (Spinnaker on a Furler) mounted off the Bow Stanchion. I have a fore sail sock but haven’t figured out how to deploy it single handed after adding one for the Furlaker.

I am sure am leaving things out but that’s the quick of it! Again any suggestions would be appreciated

I still want to add (maybe) AC Shore Power & generator with a second Battery bank a “real” Refrigerator, a real Shower (with hot water?) in head and on the transom, a port-a-potty pump out, an Arch & RADAR, Slip Stop rubber matting in the cockpit and to replace the carpet in the cabin, and a second Laptop based Navigation Station on the Settee (hence the 2nd Mic), bowspirit/pulpit electric anchor windless, but most of all lets not forget where to mount the Torpedo’s!

Oh my poor little Mac what have they done to you?

PS Thanks K9 and all for the suggestions and pictures!

PSS How easy is it to get from your boat into a dive kayak with your gear and then back again?

MUW asks:

PSS How easy is it to get from your boat into a dive kayak with your gear and then back again?

I don't, or haven't yet, used the kayak for diving when on the Mac. Tho it is good to swim & snorkel from. Before the Mac, we used it primarily for exploring lake & coastal flatwater with 2 adults & 2 small dogs. It is very stable & bouyant with that kind of load. Moving between the Mac & kayak is easy - for the agile! I have a system and have self loaded some awkward & large loads to shuttle ashore.