Mods
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Handy temporary anchor mountAnchoring - anchor (MacGregor 26S) - December 25, 2020Not exactly a mod, but an easy, effective, and inexpensive way to keep the anchor handy when you are planning to use it. A #8 anchor rests between the mast tangs at the fore pulpit, and is held in place with a short bungee cord. You will want to put ...
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Head lockerStorage - storage (MacGregor 26S) - December 25, 2020Storage cabinet for the head. This was tricky to make because the fore and aft walls for the head are not square with the ledge the cabinet rests on. I made a mock-up with cardboard and went from that. Note the anchor doubling as a TP holder. Everyth...
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M19 ImprovementsMiscellaneous - (MacGregor 19) - December 22, 2020I bought a 1995 M19 over the summer and have been slowly making improvements to the boat for aesthetic, functionality, & safety purposes. When I bought the boat, the electrical system consisted of a single galvanized bolt with about six ring term...
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Hatchway DoorsCockpit - (MacGregor 26X) - August 17, 2020As other owners have done, I've replaced the large white door that came with our '02 X. 3/4" plywood with 6 layers of spar urethane (the first 3 thinned 50% for absorption) and an oak piece for the overlap. Still need an inside latch or two when I fi...
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Mac 26X Hatchway ScreensVentilation - (MacGregor 26X) - August 15, 2020Made some ventilation/bug hatchway screens. I believe this material is used for making RV screen porches. Also looks similar to what is sold at Home Depot or Lowe's in garden section for greenhouses. (Which all means I don't remember who gave it to m...
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Helm Seat FendersStorage - (MacGregor 26X) - August 12, 2020Liked this mod another owner had done so copied it with a bit different attachment idea. Drilled the holes, tapped in and glued those plugs used in drywall. If the cup hanger hooks ever fail due to the thin plastic here I'll glue on some treated wood...
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3D Printed West Marine Panel odElectrical - (MacGregor 26X) - August 7, 2020I have three West Marine power panels in my 26x right now. I had only one small 4-switch one initially, but my system and needs have grown with my recent revising of the electrical system. I have an issue with these simple and inexpensive panels. Old...
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Low cost option to repair Nicro Marine Solar VentsVentilation - Nicro Solar Vent (MacGregor 26X) - July 20, 2020Like many people, I have Nicro Solar vents on my boat and after 4-5 yrs they fail. As they run basically 24x7, that's not unexpected. Nicro used to sell an overhaul kit with new batter/motor but no longer offer that and suggest that you just buy a ne...
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Lines Aft with SpinLock XAS Clutch & ViadanaUsa Deck OrganizersRigging - Lines Led Aft (MacGregor 26X) - July 6, 2020I've finally run my lines aft to the cockpit using SpinLock XAS Roap clutches and Viadana deck organizers. I'm also using the BWYacth mast deck plate. I picked up the Rope Clutches on sale over the past yr and recently came across the Viadana sailing...
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Head bifold/vberth doorInterior - Head (MacGregor 26M) - June 27, 2020To add legroom in the head, I created a bifold door panel which I added to the main door on the inside out of 6mm marine ply I had left from another project. I used 3/4 wrap around hinge, which I installed backwards since both the main door and the e...
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Teak Hatch TracksCockpit - (MacGregor 26X) - June 18, 2020Always hated the stock tracks. Finally realized that you can get to the 'hidden' nuts by removing the bolts to the head so that you can flex the fiberglass enough to access them.
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Shore Power 120v AC panel 26MElectrical - Shore power (MacGregor 26M) - May 21, 2020Marinco Stainless inlet, Blue Sea Systems AC Panel 8101 and outlets on a 2007 26M The key to successful inlet placement when you have to cut the Large hole in the boat was to cut the panel hole first, remove all foam, make a template of the inlet siz...
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Folding Cockpit TableCockpit - (MacGregor 26X) - April 21, 2020Laminated hinged cockpit table.Hope you enjoy the mod.
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EV-100 Tiller Pilot below decksCockpit - autopilot (MacGregor 26M) - April 20, 2020Installing a Raymarine EV-100 tiller pilot below decks. This mod is from BOAT and is quite possibly the best and cleanest autopilot for the 26M Here is the link to the thread https://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=25657
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Extension of V berth 26XBerths - (MacGregor 26X) - April 17, 2020Extension of “V” Berth and additional storage
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Galley Mods 26XGalley - (MacGregor 26X) - April 17, 2020I removed the original galley storage and replaced with three sliding draws, a cutlery draw and a large cupboard door, The mod created much more storage space with easier access, hope you like the mod
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Plate and Cup StorageGalley - (MacGregor 26X) - April 14, 2020Plate and cup storage unit located above galley table in a 26X
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Correct Mast Raising Stay DesignRigging - MRS (MacGregor 26M) - January 30, 2020The 26M raising stays are not connected to the mast. This is easily rectified by connecting the stays at the mast raising bail. The problem is, the stanchion connection is not in line with the hinge pin at the mast step bracket. In this mod, I reloca...
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Another Furler SupportTrailer - Furler (MacGregor 26M) - January 17, 20204" PVC pipe with 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum straps. Velcro straps attach support to mast and furler to support. Finally losing the crutch!
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Galley, Wallas stove-heaterGalley - Galley (MacGregor 26X) - January 15, 2020Galley update, including a Wallas stove / heater 800D + 200D, a mechanical controls microwave and a deep sink. https://wallas.fi/index.php?id=1062
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Coachwhipping the helmCockpit - steering (MacGregor 26M) - January 4, 2020I found that with such a small steering wheel I needed better grip so I took weeks of patience in coachwhipping it,
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Cherry wood GalleyGalley - Galley (MacGregor 26X) - December 31, 2019P.O. made a cherry galley with drawers and a small door and made a small upper cabinet with sliding doors. Drawers have clear plastic sliding covers and self lock. Lock requires finger press in hole. Son in-law made a very useful tray that doubles as...
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12’ KeelGuardExterior - (MacGregor 26M) - December 29, 2019I had some scratches and dings on the bow of my boat from the last 14 years of constant use. I was considering doing some gelcoat repair, but that is expensive and difficult, and will just get scratched and dinged again anyway. Instead, I added the l...
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Sink and doors sliding galleyGalley - (MacGregor 26M) - December 24, 2019Replaced fiberglass sink with bar sink from Lowes. Took out cubbies and replaced with 2 new doors. Much more space now. Pressure pump under galley. Published by: Russ
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Anchor Light and WindvaneLighting - - December 1, 2019This picture shows the mount for the anchor light and windvane. We didn't have a mast cap, so I used a piece of plexiglass (B) that I mounted on the brackets that the backstay attaches to. I picked plexiglass because it was handy, and it doesn't stan...
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12V Plug, ScreenElectrical - - December 1, 2019This picture shows a 12V plug that I added just inside the companionway, above the head door. There is a convenient, out of the way place in the corner in the corner of the head for the inside part of the plug. The wiring runs above the head door, th...
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Steering Connector and Drainage HolesMotor - - December 1, 2019This picture shows the custom-built connector from the steering system to the engine. We started with a connector from the dealer, but it didn't fit right. We had a welder build a new one, and it works great! We leave the engine and rudders both conn...
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Drainage HolesMiscellaneous - - December 1, 2019Here you can see the new lower drainage holes I drilled in the battery and gas compartments. The caulking in the compartment also needed to be redone since it had a few leaks which brought water and gas into the space between the inner and outer shel...
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VHF Radio, HooksInstruments - - December 1, 2019(A) shows the VHF radio we had installed. The guy doing the installation ran into the lower-upper liner problem and decided to just run the power lines outside the wall for a short distance from the upper liner and then into the side of the house bat...
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VHF AntennaInstruments - - December 1, 2019The VHF antenna cable (B) passes through the deck near the mast base. When you drill you hole for the cable, you have to watch for two things: * Make sure that you drill far enough to the side so that you do not hit the metal backing plate (A). * Mak...
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VHF AntennaInstruments - - December 1, 2019This shows where the antenna cable exits the deck. It comes out right next to the conterboard cable without rubbing against it. This end connects with the antenna cable exiting the mast on the same side. To get the coaxial antenna cable to come out t...
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RewiringElectrical - - December 1, 2019(A) is the power cables coming from the VHF and the compass. (B) is a bus bar that I glued onto the wall in the battery compartment. Wires run from the battery to this, and then to other circuits in the boat. I put a new heavier marine-grade cable fr...
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Circulation Fan, Interior Light, Gear HammockInterior - - December 1, 2019(A) is a circulation fan which pivots up and out of the way when not in use. (B) is a red/white flourescent light. The red light is nice for night sailing. (C) is the gear hammock over the galley area. Published by: Heath
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RewiringElectrical - - December 1, 2019No wiring other than the VHF power cords (I didn't do it) and a short wire from the fan are exposed in the interior. With patience, everything can be run through the conduits. All along the conduits are plastic hole covers from where the factory need...
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RewiringElectrical - - December 1, 2019This shows a conduit above the galley on the port side which is used for bringing wires from the upper to the lower parts of the boat, or vice-versa. My first guess was to drill hole (A) which is a two-inch hole. I soon found that the center drill gu...
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Compass in CockpitInstruments - - December 1, 2019I have added a compass in the cockpit. The only thing to watch out for is when you are drilling the hole in the bulkhead, make sure that when you insert the compass, it does not hit the sides of the access compartment behind the bulkhead. The line yo...
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Head Door HandleInterior - - December 1, 2019This is an easy one that makes a big difference. Our boat came from the factory without a handle on the head door. In order to close it you had to grab the little latch. I installed a nice little wooden handle on the inside of the head door so that i...
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Hatch AdjusterVentilation - - December 1, 2019The front hatch did not come with a hatch adjuster so there was no easy way to keep the front hatch open except for letting it flop all the back against the deck. This put a lot of stress on the hinges plus it was pretty unattractive. I installed a h...
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Keel ProtectorExterior - - December 1, 2019OK, this one might get some frowns from the hard-core sailors, but it has been good for us, and that's what matters, right? We have a 3M kevlar keel protector running from just under the eye bolt at the bow all along the keel to just before the cente...
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Pedestal Compass & GPSInstruments - - December 1, 2019I mounted a Ritchie Explorer Compass to the top of the pedestal on my '99 Mac 26X. As you can see in the picture I have a pedestal guard and table from Havencraft. To that I mounted a Edson mount that only attaches to one leg of the guard. This gave ...
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Microwave & drawers in galleyGalley - - December 1, 2019A 600 Watt GE Microwave was installed in the Galley area with two plastic drawers. The photo on the left shows the finished results and the right shows it without the microwave and the front. I used the lexan panel from the original equipment for doo...
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Dual axle trailerTrailer - - December 1, 2019One of the first mods I made was to add a second axle to the trailer. I just felt more confortable with the added margin. I also knew I was going to add a fair amount of weight (three batteries total, 4-stroke engine, 24 gallon fuel, etc.). Although ...
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Quick Release PinsRigging - - December 1, 2019We all hate to mess with clevis pins right? Try ball lock pins. I use 1/4 " x 2" pins on the boom/mast gooseneck connection, the tack of the main, and to fasten the roller reefing drum to the bow. Never had one come loose but I recommned using long p...
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"SAFETY HAND RAIL"Interior - - December 1, 2019To accomodate my 2 year old and an 80+ family members, I installed a stainless steel 16" handrail (from medical supply store) with 1/4" through bolts (4) and 2 #10x1 1/2 steetmetal screws into the port gangway entrance frame. This accomodates the gan...
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AC/DC panel installElectrical - - December 1, 2019I added an AC electrical system with shore power inlet and a permanent Heart Interface 1000 Watt inverter/charger. In the large picture you can see the AC panel that I installed next to the original DC panel. I upgraded the four switch DC panel to si...
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VHF RadioInstruments - - December 1, 2019I mounted an Apelco VHF radio under the distribution box in the cabin on the port side. With some effort I was able to route all the wires including the antenna behind the cabin liner. In the upper right of the large photo you can see where I mounted...
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Bilge pumpWater Systems - - December 1, 2019I installed a West Marine 2000 GPH bilge pump with 1-1/4" hose and a float switch under the cooler. I routed the hose to the transom thru-hull. It took about fourteen feet of hose. In the right of the large picture you can see the transom thru-hull j...
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Battery upgradeElectrical - - December 1, 2019I moved the original battery into the v-berth storage area and added a starter and an additional house battery. On the '99 Mac 26X models the area around the vent hole and splashguard is not level. I first installed a 2x4 on its edge along the aft pa...
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Fire ExtinguishersSafety - - December 1, 2019I mounted three fire extinguishers in our Mac 26X. I mounted a smaller model just behind the fore dining table seat against the starboard cabin wall in the v-berth area (see upper left part of graphic). I wanted one near the front hatch entrance/exit...
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Anchor rollerAnchoring - - December 1, 2019I mounted the custom anchor roller from Blue Water Yachts on "Sea Breeze." Works great and was not too difficult to install. The bow light is relocated onto a special bracket on the anchor roller. I had to extend (actually I replaced) the wire supply...