Listings
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Tiller clutch rope re-routeSailing - Grapevine (MacGregor 26S) - February 25, 2025I consider my Tiller Clutch to be essential for single-handing, but two things I did not like about the original rope arrangement (see yellow lines in first photo) were how they interfered with seating and that releasing them to allow the tiller to s...
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Tool-free bolt modRigging - (MacGregor 26S) - May 19, 2023Tired of carrying two crescent wrenches in my pocket while rigging/derigging my 26S, I modified some SS bolts to accept split rings and rounded the ends for easy insertion. I do worry that the split rings might catch ropes, but time will tell on that...
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Easy mod for easy front hatch operationInterior - (MacGregor 26S) - May 19, 20232 things - a spring and a self-locking wing nut. The latter is not easy to find - I had to order off Amazon. The spring was in my inventory of spares. I would imagine one could be found at your local big box. Get stainless steel if possible, of cours...
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Battery hold-downElectrical - GRAPEVINE (MacGregor 26S) - May 18, 2023Secure single point-of-release hold-down for batteries.
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Battery switch and chargerElectrical - GRAPEVINE (MacGregor 26S) - October 26, 2022An out-of the way solution to battery switch and charger installation. Switch and charger are mounted on a piece of 1/2" plywood mounted on hinges to allow them to swing up out of the way.
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(back)Stay out of the way!Rigging - Backstay (MacGregor 26S) - August 18, 2022Moving the backstay so it does not block the ladder and swim platform.
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Folding door to headInterior - Interior mod (MacGregor 26S) - July 13, 2022Having a door that folds works so much better.
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Pop-top gas strutsExterior - Pop-top (MacGregor 26S) - June 9, 2022I ordered several different struts from Amazon and found a combination that worked: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GLY2NSC?ps ... ct_details These come 6 to a package, so you have two spares. All mounting hardware provided. Only 16 bucks. I chose these...
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Removable swim platformExterior - Swim (MacGregor 26S) - April 21, 2022Roomy, sturdy, easily installed and removed swim platform for my Mac 26S. Can be left on while cruising. First photo shows it ready for action, with the boarding ladder removed from the transom and reinstalled on the platform. Second photo shows boar...
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Lifeline reset, DyneemaSafety - Lifeline (MacGregor 26S) - January 26, 2022Reconfiguration of stanchion, attachment point, and conversion to Dyneema lifelines.
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Adjustable spring hatch propVentilation - hatch (MacGregor 26S) - June 15, 2021I replaced the cantankerous screw-to-tighten forward hatch prop with a stainless steel spring prop. The spring prop provides support automatically, then collapses easily to close, but I still wanted to be able to adjust between fully and partially op...
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Lazarette rack for fuel tank and fendersStorage - Fuel tank (MacGregor 26S) - May 16, 20212x4's and hooks from Home Depot create this handy rack to hold my 3-gallon fuel tank. Fenders, anchor line bucket, and other items swing underneath to allow room for Magma grill and other items
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V-berth accessStorage - storage (MacGregor 26S) - May 16, 2021Easy access to the area under the V-berths for sails, life vests, etc. I had a local shop cut and round the edges of a piece of black plex. Hardware supplied by Blue Water Yachts.
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Out-of-the-way cooler mountGalley - Cooler (MacGregor 26S) - May 16, 2021Maybe not so much a mod as the perfect weekender cooler and attachment location. See photo. The Igloo Contour 30-quart cooler fits behind the companionway ladder on my Mac 25S, lashes in place easily, provides quick access from the cockpit or saloon,...
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Easy mast raising systemRigging - Mast (MacGregor 26S) - May 16, 2021Caveat - Modifications to the trailer are done at your own risk. The author of this article assumes no liability for damage or mishaps associated with the use of approach. Use the gin pole and stays from your current system, but throw away the block ...
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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. 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. 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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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. 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. 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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...