How do you stash your gear?

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
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ALX357
Admiral
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:09 am
Location: Nashville TN -- 2000 MacGregor 26X, Mercury two-stroke 50hp

Post by ALX357 »

Lotsa great ideas ....

:macx: My own solution is to take out the entire starboard side rear berth cushion, and use the area for storage. Large low sided plastic bins can hold alot of stuff and stay locked in place by their rectangle shape and the remaining portside berth cushion. Life jackets, cockpit cushions, a mushroom anchor with rode in a 5-gallon bucket, spare Merc oil, funnel, flush ears, boat cleaning supplies, etc.

:arrow: That "double" berth is not very useful anyway, as it is only accessible on the port side, and is impeded by the steering and motor cables, so it has become a single berth.

Then I gutted the built-in boxes of the galley face, (jigsaw and Dremel tool cuttoff wheels, and drum sander attachments ), leaving only the upper left one intact, and have a large contiguous area under there for storage of stuff in plastic storage bins with lids, with no obvious change to the external appearance.

Then all the rest of stuff, including a spare prop and tools, and spare parts and rope, portable water bilge pump, and some other stuff, is kept in soft tool-type bags, the kind that Lowes Depot sell of varying sizes, which are "modular" storage and fit into the odd shapes and curved spaces defined by the hull, under the forward settee, the portside couch, and next to the ballast vent cup.
:arrow: Soft-sided bags waste alot less space than hard boxes, are more flexible in shape to fit into odd spaces, hold themselves from shifting around better, and are not a noisy as hard boxes clunking around.
:arrow: More rarely needed things can go under the settee floor, ( if you have dry bilges )

:arrow: Bar-floor mats, or plastic modular square mats make good hull liners inside the storage areas, to allow ventilation between the hull and your gear, and keep stuff dryer. They don't have to be arranged too carefully, just hold themselves in place by the confines of the spaces anyway.

note the two soft bags, as described, for holding tools, parts, etc.

This pile of stuff sitting on the cockpit seat, pretty much like it is arranged in the photo, all fits inside the galley now, after the gutting of the galley-face boxes, as shown in the pics.

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ALX357
Admiral
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 6:09 am
Location: Nashville TN -- 2000 MacGregor 26X, Mercury two-stroke 50hp

Post by ALX357 »

also, a replay of the clear acrylic access covers .... and hinged seat / lid on the settee cooler... (bandwidth use is minimal with the links)

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One full 4x8 sheet of 1/4 inch (or whatever the original covers measure ) made enough to replace every plywood cover in the boat, including all the ones in the rear berth and settee floor, which were warping and stained. The clear covers are one of my favorite mods, allow storage visibility, stay flat, and don't stain. Holes in the middle make them easy to pick up, and allow some ventilation of the storage areas and bilges.
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Morimaro
Chief Steward
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Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:23 am
Location: Wokingham Berkshire U.K.

Stuffing an X!

Post by Morimaro »

Rick,
You probably didn't spend too much time on hullaballoo down below so next time you are around Yarmouth way come and have a look at what I did with some plasctic stacking "filing cabinets" from B&Q.
Three replace the original Mac cupboards!! under the sink area and another three under the table.
Also regarding sleeping arrangements for two, we tried the rear bunk and its great for one but not for two (sleeping fore&aft)
We then tried the V berth for two and with the extension of the dinette seat cover plus the hardboard hatch cover, this was fine until my snoring got worse!
So now its Rita in V berth starboard and me in rear berth port.
The starboard side rear berth now contains cockpit cushions, dinghy, electric trolling motor for dinghy, trolley, doughnut, Mast raising kit, Spare boat hook, spare whip vhf aerial and whisker pole (oh! and fuel locker covers)
In fact there's all the other stuff you mentioned and more in lockers all over the place so the best thing is to come and see for your self.
Another great place to get ideas are the UKMOA rallys and especially for you, the Solent one in June at Cowes, I can't make it this year as I have other commitments!!
Cheers
Morris
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RickJ
First Officer
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Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:39 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 19
Location: Isle of Wight, UK - '94 19 + Tohatsu MFS30

Post by RickJ »

Hi Morris

Thanks for the suggestions, I've picked up so many ideas now I have to work out which will fit for me!

I'm joining the UKMOA Solent rally, so it will be interesting to see what the others have done. (Starting point is the Hamble, doesn't look like we'll be visiting Cowes, so I'll be sailing across to meet up)

Cheers, Rick
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Terry
Admiral
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada. '03 26M - New Yamaha 70

For the M

Post by Terry »

A pointer for M owners; :o
There is a lip that extends down from the cabin liner all around the M hull and the bottom of that lip curves under and behind itself. If you get your fingers under ther you can feel it. "S' Hooks fit under there and you can hang a variety of items from them You can buy a plastic version of the coat rack Frank C pictured from HD or Rona, those plastic over-the-door models and the plastic over the door hooks can be pulled off and re-snapped back in place backwards so that you can hang them under the M lip. You can hang lines, coats, hats or what have you from them. In fact any hanging item that can be assembeld backwards will work.
Fenders - how about this idea? 8) The companionway ladder is attached just below the traveller with two long bolts. I cut an aluminum bar a bit longer than the distance between those two bolts and drilled two holes one at each end to line up with the two bolts for the ladder. Undid the two nuts, placed my aluminum bar there then put the two nuts back in place and then had a bar to hang stuff on. I used those cheap aluminum carabiners from the dollar store to attache to the fenders then just clip the fenders onto my new bar hanger under the ladder. This keeps them out of the way while sailing and at night when I want them moved they go top sides for use while anchored or slipped, works like a charm.
We have an IKEA store near us and they have many items that can hook under the liner lip, perhaps HD, Walmart or some other outlet has similar items, you need only but assembe them backwards to make them work. :P
Those suction cup caddys you buy for bathrooms and showers work well on fiberglass too.
Hardcrab
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Location: "Cease-fire", White 05 M, 90hp, Boggy Bayou, Niceville, FL

Post by Hardcrab »

We refrain from storing anything under the aft berth.
It's just a sleeping area for the Admiral and I.
Sailing speeds will increase for us in lighter winds, less than 10-12 knots, if we keep the stern further out of the water.
As the stern "gurgle" decreases, the speed increases.
We don't usually carry as much stuff as others, but it always goes more forward.
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MSS
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Post by MSS »

My fenders under the captains seat attached with bungee cord.

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kmclemore
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Post by kmclemore »

MSS wrote:My fenders under the captains seat attached with bungee cord.

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They look like Tomahawks ready to be launched!
:D
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David Mellon
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Post by David Mellon »

I was thinking depth charges!
James V
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Post by James V »

Under the Aft berth you can fit 2 - 30 gal water bladders. Nide if you need the tankage.
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