someone wants to trade

[BKAFER1]

I came across a guy with a 25s He wants to trade down to something he can rig and sail alone as his wife hates the boat and hates water.
He is interested in trading for my oday DS2

He likes my boat and says his is in good shape and would make the trade
I haven't seen his boat yet. The first problem is he says there is a slow leak.
so if the hull is sound where would an S leak?

I'm thinking drain plug or cboard
I can put some water in the hull to see if the drain plug is leaking but how about the cboard.
what else should I look for other than the obvious things that you would look for on any reg sailboat
rigging ,sails,chain plates cracks etc.
thanks

[Lloyd Franks]

O'day Daysailers tend to leak up from the centerboard opening, but only when moving through the water. Not a big deal. If it leaks at other times, there is a problem. There is a great site for Daysailers at daysailers.org. They can answer any questions you have.

[John McDonough]

A 25-S... is that a macgregor 25s. What year is the 25s.

[Frank C]

Yeah, what John said. A Mac 25 has a heavy swing keel, at least 400 lbs. I think they can leak at the keel pivot bolt.
But they were never referred to as 25S ... you need to clarify what model you're looking at.
If you want to examine the hull number, check it against this website: http://www.wadler.org/boatMac/hullid.php

The Mac 26S has a swing centerboard, no heavy keel, and all model years of the Mac 26, are water ballasted.
In sequence from older to newer: Mac 26S, 26D, 26X and 26M.
The 26S and 26D are sometimes refered to as the 26C, for classic, but that was never a model designation.
It just segregates them from the latter two models which are both water-ballasted powersailers.

[BKAFER1]

Having not seen the boat yet, I have no HIN's
and sorry its a 26 S with water ballast its year is unknown.

So where would I begin to look for this leak?

I expect to be checking it out this weekend.

Thanks

[Frank C]

I've never been below decks of a 26S, but I believe it is largely the same as my 26X.

There are no thru-hulls below the waterline. Most bilge water in these boats is due to rainwater entering through chainplates, deck fittings, mast, etc. If that year model has a full headliner, you might see leak traces along the carpeted sides. I doubt they had a full liner to conceal topside leaks??

Of lower probabilities, you might find a ballast leak.
Is there a compression post resting on the centerboard trunk?
Is the compression post corroded, as if admitting water?

AS for testing the integrity of the ballast tank ...
Can bilges be dried for testing?
Can the ballast tank be "proven empty" and sealed that way, then the boat floated?
Do the bilges show water when ballast is proven empty?
Can the ballast tank now be flooded?
What effect on the bilges?
You can also dye the ballast water, then see if dyed water is migrating to the bilges.

[John McDonough]

The first model Macgregor 26 water ballast boats were the 26 daggerboard, and then the 26 centerboard. These were very good sailboats but limited to only a 10 or 15 HP outboard. I had a 1988 26D for 11 years. (I wish i could buy it back). In 1996 Macgregor started the 26X model, which has a larger interior, and 50 hp 18-20 mph motoring capability. And recently they upgraded the 26X to a 26M. the 26 classic`s will sail faster than a or

If its the 26 classic it could be at least 13 years old or maybe 20+ years old. The water ballast system on my 26D was some valve system and air plug. Possibly dry rotted or worn rubber seal. I also had leaks at some of the deck fittings and re-caulked all the deck hardware after about 5 years and it still leaked. (my 2000 26X deck has many leaks also)
the only thru hull under water is the ballast tank water access hole,

The Macgaregor is definitly a better sailboat than your Oday. Hopefully the leak is nothing serious that cant be fixed. Good Luck.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Isn't the 26S one of those "pop top" boats? I think I was on one about 10-11 years ago, the cabin seems smaller than a 26X because there is a lower height to the cabin (ie. freeboard) so there wasn't really the kind of standing headroom I have on my X .. unless, of course your head was sticking out the pop top