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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HELP WITH 1990 MACGREGOR 26 SXExterior - - June 2, 2018R Butch Sparks R Butch Sparks I have a 1990 macgregor 26sx sailboat swing keel, the keel came off, I saved the keel but the pivot pin is gone. Can't figure out how the pin stays up in the slots in the keel well. I can see the head of a bolt at the to...
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Garbage Can and Storage MODGalley - - April 19, 2014I used a 10 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck tote and a 3.5 gallon bucket to create some quick storage. The idea was to create a small garbage can for the boat, I chose a 3 1/2 gallon bucket with a screw on gamma lid (both sold at home depot) for this pro...
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Hand railsSafety - - January 16, 2014Put plasTeak (www.PlasTEAK.com) handrails. Screwed through cabin top using 1/4 in SS screws (screwed from underneath)and used 5200 sealant around holes as gasket to prevent leaks. Provides solid foothold when going forward. Published by: Madelon
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Mac Classic Mirror ReplacementGalley - - June 14, 2013I removed the cracked mirror on my 26S and replaced it with stained red oak. I had a friend paint the picture you see here. I mounted the picture with (4) SS screws through the frame and the wood then secured them with SS washers and stop nuts in the...
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Conduit to the Other Side.....P.2Electrical - - June 12, 2013Glamour Shots The first photo shows where the conduits terminate under the sink, after passing through the ledge at the back of the porta-potti The second photo shows the conduit installed up\down in the head with two 90 degree junction boxes install...
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Conduit to the Other Side.....P.1Electrical - - June 11, 2013As I had what looked to be lamp cord strung through the bilge, I decided to run all new wires and install conduit. Running the conduit went amazingly fast and was completed in a single afternoon. 1. I tied a rope to the end of the liquid-tite style c...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 5Galley - - June 6, 2013This project describes building a capsize proof floor inside a 26S cabinet (Pt.5 Adding the Hold-Down boards) Parts 1,2,3,4,6 of this MOD can be found under Galley and or Electrical in the Mac Mods section. The only thing of note would be to secure t...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 3Galley - - June 6, 2013This project describes building a capsize proof floor inside a 26S cabinet (Pt.3 Make the supports) Parts 1,2,4,5,6 of this MOD can be found in the Galley and or Electrical section of Mac Mods Nothing extra to say for this part as the photos have tex...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 1Galley - - June 6, 2013(Pt.1 This section gives the basic measurements, and asks you to build a test template) There are 6 parts to this mod, just look under galley or electrical in the MODS section for parts 2,3,4,5,6 This project describes how I went about securing a typ...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 6Galley - - June 6, 2013This project describes building a capsize proof floor inside a 26S cabinet (Pt.6 Adding a board to mount things on) I mounted a plywood wall at the back of the cabinet, and it gives you a nice place to mount things. You can see in the last photo I've...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 4Galley - - June 6, 2013Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod (Pt.4 Install the Floor) Parts 1,2,3,5,6 of this MOD can be found in the Galley and or Electrical section of Mac Mods Sorry no extra notes for this section as the pictures explain it. Martin Randolph Link to Part ...
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Rollover Proof Battery / Cabinet Mod Pt. 2Galley - - June 6, 2013This project describes building a capsize proof floor inside a 26S cabinet (Pt.2 Cut the Plywood) You can find Parts 1,3,4,5,6 in the MODS section of the forum, listed under Galley or Electrical In the first photo I've just used my cardboard template...
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Swing keel line to cockpit (direct way) and grab rail next to galleyRigging - - October 14, 2012There are a few mods already listed that show how to redirect the swing keel control line to the cockpit. Mine was coming out in front of the galley where it would be cleated off. Very unpractical for single handed sailing. I devised a slightly diffe...
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Galley RefurbishmentGalley - - September 11, 2012The galley was in desperate need for a refurb. I don't like the idea of propane in a boat (particularly with the "classic" not having a dedicated gas locker and the lazarette not being fully separated from the cabin. Installed a spirit stove (Dometic...
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Outboard Engine Hour MeterInstruments - - August 30, 2012This is probably the easiest mod I've ever done. I recently purchased a new outboard engine. Like many smaller engines it does not come with an hour meter. Well, how am I supposed to know when to service etc ? I found a very simple hour meter. It wor...
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Swivel camsExterior - - August 29, 2012This is one of my most useful mods: these Ronstar swivel cams have an ss-lined padeye and dual cams and are used to tension the jib sheet. They greatly facilitate single-handed operation of the sheets, which can be pulled and tightened from the oppos...
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Genoa tracksExterior - - August 29, 2012Installed 1-1/4 T-tracks and Garhauer genoa blocks. Bolted tracks through deck drilling oversize holes, filling with epoxy, and when hard, re-drilling to size. Used 3M 5200 for caulking. Holes remained right above the internal longitudinal ceiling mo...
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Ventilation for head compartmentVentilation - - August 29, 2012A nicro Solar Minivent 1000, 3 in diameter, was installed through the ceiling of the head compartment. It is offset from the centerline of the boat to avoid the mast-lifting ginpole to accidentally crush it while in use. The vent has a small fan powe...
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Below-deck, external fill gasoline systemSafety - - August 29, 2012Installed in the lazarette a 19 gal permanent fuel tank appropriate for below-deck use with electric gas level gauge. Fill hose connects to external stainless steel filling fitting, and vent hose has vent fitting in the motor well. The gauge and floa...
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Re-bedding ChainplatesExterior - - January 22, 2012Followed idea by:http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=1164 Left old plates in place; made new somewhat larger plates in aluminum; put small ss screws to thread into existing rivets and cemented with plenty of 5200 Published by: Madelon
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Galley tableGalley - - December 16, 2011Replaced black acryllic factory unit by mahogany table Published by: Madelon
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MSD Head w/Deck PumpoutHead - - July 3, 2011Stainless steel deck pump out and vent. The pump out fitting requires a 1-3/4" hole, and the deck is plywood cored. For the pump out fitting, I first drilled a 2" hole through the deck, but not through the inside liner. Then I re-inserted the plug an...
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Shore powerElectrical - - December 19, 2010Shore power input is very convenient for cruisers and weekend sailors as well. I installed a 110V 30A shore power in my 26S. Placing the intake socket was a tough choice. I am adamant to avoid putting electrical switches and connectors in the lazaret...
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Backstay adjuster and rudder liftExterior - - December 18, 2010Rigging the mast without the backstay adjuster was a pain, and the adjuster enabled controling the mast bent and thus the mainsail shape. Lifting up the rudder was an unnecessary excercise that once cost me a whole fingernail. To lift the rudder I us...
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Head pump out arrangementHead - - December 18, 2010We have a porta potti allowing for a pump-out connection. Installed an appropriate pump-out hose, an external suction fitting and a vent. The hose of the vent line is overkill; a pressure hose is not needed, since this line is to allow air in to enab...
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Forestay tensioning leverRigging - - December 18, 2010This attachment makes rigging up a lot easier and faster. Note the anchor chain holder; this is my large anchor with more chain than I usually have with my smaller anchor. I have added now a chain lock near the top to avoid the chain spilling out of ...
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Motor starter/throttle/power tiltMotor - - December 18, 2010Well, I got lazy and added the control shift to start, throttle and tilt my Honda 9.9. I love it. Placing it was a tough choice. I opted to have it halfway the cockpit so I can sit behind it and my admiral to the other side, Kept the control cables r...
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Mast base blocks for lines aftRigging - - December 18, 2010The issue was to have blocks leading the main halyard and the reefing line back to the cockpit without drilling more holes on the deck or having to remove the tabernacle to add a specific mast base plate to attach blocks. A stainless steel L-shaped p...
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Genoa blockRigging - - December 18, 2010Block at base of rearmost stanchion assists unfurling 150 genoa, helps sail shape, and feeds sheet strait to winch. This avoids the friction at the stock fairlead when sheet is sharply bent to feed into winch. Published by: Madelon
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Cabin flooringInterior - - December 18, 2010Installed laminate flooring. Planks have tonge and groove, no glueing needed. Curtain for privacy in head. Published by: Madelon
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Bowsprit ProjectRigging - - June 10, 2010A bowsprit using three pieces of 2x4. It will extends two feet past the bow and one foot on the bow for attachment. it is glued together using gorilla glue then covered in fiberglass cloth and painted black to match the boat. Published by: grady
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Centerboard control line to cockpitRigging - - May 5, 2010Many thanks to Bob/Windsong, for coming up with this mod, I followed his lead, and ran my CB control line to the cockpit. I think Bob's line exited from under the sink and ran up outside the head door, I ran mine just inside the door. But in doing th...
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Galley Tip Out DrawerGalley - - May 5, 2010When I relocated my batteries from under the sink, along with a 1,2 or both battery switch, and a volt meter, I was left with two large holes which I needed to find a solution to. I installed a large ice chest into the countertop, that left me with a...
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New GalleyGalley - - May 5, 2010I wanted to get as many functions I could out of such a small space. My priority was to put the largest ice chest into the galley cabinet I could fit. I was really tired of the ice chest in the middle of the floor or elsewhere, getting in the way, so...
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Head Storage CabinetHead - - April 16, 2010I'd like to show you the storage cabinet I made inside the head. I copied this from someone else who made a cabinet very similar, I apologize I don't know their name. The cabinet front frame and doors are made of Oak, while the sides and shelves are ...
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Radio, Switch/Fuse Panel, Volt meterElectrical - - March 26, 2010Installed a switch panel from West Marine. wired in a dimming circuit for the switches when the navigation or anchor lights are turned on the switch lights dim so it is not so bright at night in the cabin. The volt meter will read ether battery or of...
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LED interior lightsLighting - - March 26, 2010Installed some LED lighting inside the cabin. I did not install enough to read by just enough so you can see what you are doing at night and not use a lot of power. Published by: grady
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SpinnakerSailing - - March 23, 2010I added a Doyle APC asymmetrical spinnaker. The halyard is rigged above the jib halyard and then brought down the mast to a V cleat. the tack control is to a eye mounted on the rail, down to a block at the bow, to eyes back to the cockpit to a V clea...
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Bottom StripesExterior - - March 20, 2010Decided to move the water line up and add some stripes. Published by: grady
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Tiller PilotSailing - - March 11, 2010Installed a TP22 tiller pilot. the power plug is mounted just inside the motor well. Added a clip for the tiller of the motor to keep it centered for tiller pilot use while motoring. Published by: grady
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RudderExterior - - March 11, 2010Here are some pictures of the modified rudder. Its modified like everyone else does to reduce weather helm. Added a two to one pulley for ease of raising, and straps to center up the down cable. Published by: grady
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TravelerRigging - - March 11, 2010Installed a Lewmar size 1 traveler. Adjusted it to three to one instead of four to one. Published by: grady
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Hatch SlidesExterior - - March 8, 2010The hatch sliding fiberglass to fiberglass had worn thru the gel coat. So I installed a strip of aluminum under each angle aluminum. The aluminum strips covered the damage that was already done, making it look better. Now the hatch slides on aluminum...
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Propeller GuardMiscellaneous - - March 1, 2010My original rudder had some huge gouges in it from the prop hitting it. That was the main reason I installed this prop guard, to protect my new Idasailer HDPE rudder. Some people make these out of a strip of aluminum or stainless, this one is made ou...
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Track and Cars on cabin topRigging - - March 1, 2010I installed these tracks and cars on the cabin top for use with my 150% Genoa on a CDI furler. The tracks are thru bolted. I used acorn nuts on the inside of the cabin. They work okay, but they had to be installed inboard of the lifelines, which make...
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Idasailor HDPE Center BoardRigging - - March 1, 2010When I first got my boat the OEM center board was split, and the pivot hole was cracked. So I decided to replace it with a new Idasailor HDPE center board. This mod was a lot of work, because the boat had to practically be taken off the trailer. I bu...
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CDI FF2 Roller Furler with new 150% GenoaRigging - - March 1, 2010For me this is one of the best mods I've done so far. I single hand a lot, and it's real nice not to have to go forward to raise and lower the headsail. It's also very nice to be able to adjust the amount of headsail deployed. Published by: Doug91mac...
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Tiller RiserRigging - - March 1, 2010This is another real easy mod. I got this tiller riser from Idasailor. Before the tiller would rub on the top of the lazarette. This also puts it at a more comfortable height. Published by: Doug91mac26s