Like someone else already posted, the similarities far outnumber the differences. I choose an :macx: for two reasons: #1, I found a very good deal on one. It needed some minor work, but was half the price of any of the :macm:'s I saw. #2, I spend most of my time in VERY shallow water and felt that t...

Not yet. The only other repairs I've had to make worth mentioning were bending my rudder brackets so that they wouldn't drag on the deck (I really should replace them $$$) and replacing the centerboard bracket and line. That was pretty easy...or it would have been if mine wasn't filled with a bunch ...

It isn't exactly the same, but I installed a new helm in my 1996 :macx: earlier this year and took a bunch of pictures. http://www.comstockcomputing.com/macgregor/helm/ If you buy a new helm, and I suspect you need one, make sure to check the length of your old one before ordering it. I didn't and g...

I now consider the battery off-gassing to be, in normal situations in our boats, a non-issue. I have never smelled the characteristic sulfuric acid odour. The battery compartment is relatively open, and there is adequate airflow through vents in the cabin to disperse the already low concentrations ...

Thanks! :) But it is funny you should say so. I was just noticing that I left a few things out so I updated it. I had not posted the few pictures I took during the re-install, so I added those, included a little more about how I got the wrong length cable at first and modified all the pictures so th...

Happy to help. :) Check the cable length on yours before ordering a new one. Mine had "144IN" written right on the cable so I have no excuse (other than taking bad advise) for having ordered the wrong length cable. I was lucky in that the vendor I ordered from was willing to swap out the c...

One thing that I have noticed on my :macx: with extra CB weight is that the pulley where the CB line makes a 90 degree turn to head back towards the cockpit seems like it is lifting off of the deck a little. There is a bunch of "Goop" all around it where the PO tried to seal a leak. I susp...

I just ordered 3 of the Harken 150's.

The Harken 150 is similar but not what I have. I expect mine are original equipment...whatever that is (anyone know?).

If I can not rebuild what I have then I would like to get something that can be rebuilt, so the Harken 150 looks like it would be a reasonable option.

The sheet and centerboard cleats on my 1996 :macx: all need some help. The spring loaded parts that grab the line are loose and don't spring back into position properly. If I had to guess I would say some of the bearings are missing. As far as I know they are the original equipment on an :macx: . Do...

I agree, a clicking sound is probably a rack problem below the wheel. the gears are not binding correctly with the cable. inspect, lube and tighten if needed. strange that it turns freely at the dock but not at speed... if someone puts resistance on the engine at the dock. same results? It sounds t...

esc: Its not uncommon when the mechanical advantage is on the cusp that even a little difference is all it takes to stop movement,, Maybe its time to look at a 3 to 1 advantage / pulleys?? Numerous members found this necessary for weighted DB's on M's That isn't a bad idea. When I use the winch, I ...

Today I installed a new hanger bracket with pin and a new steel/line cable. Despite their web site listing it as a discontinued item, BWYachts had the original style cable in stock. Because of the extra weight in my CB I do have to use the winch to raise it the last few inches, but it does raise and...

I found one more piece to the puzzle. In looking through the notes I took when I bought it, I found a reference that the second owner made about the first owner adding weight to the "leading edge" of the center board. I had completely forgotten about that! Now I know why it weights so much...

I think that 1/2" thick is an underestimate. I think It is closer to 1.5" on the leading edge and most of the way across. But that still only accounts for ~17 lbs. Maybe one of the PO's (I'm the third) did add some weight to it. My parts should be here Tomorrow or Monday. I'll know more af...