26X nightmares to avoid

[Herschel]

Yes, I echo the congrats. Do share some photos and keep us posted. Your decisions will no doubt help us with possible upgrades we are contemplating.

[Catigale]

The happiest days in a boater' s life are...

Ive heard this one..

1 The day they find this Board

2 The day the choose to make a generous donation to the Baoard through Paypal link...

[06HARLEYULTRA]

Congrats on the 26X purchase.
I seen that one on CL ... http://littlerock.craigslist.org/boa/2704068678.html
and considered it.
I hope you can fix the bottom up, as it seems like a giant task to me
Post some pic's if you can, so I can learn what to look for, and research how to fix.

Thanks!!

Rich

[dlandersson]

It IS an awesome boat.

It's the first 26X I've seen in person and it really is an awesome boat.

[dlandersson]

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

I hope you can fix the bottom up, as it seems like a giant task to me
Rich

[daveg_72]

Congrats on the purchase, Al!

I purchased a 1991 26S off of the Little Rock Craigslist in May of this year and have been very happy with my "new" boat. I have yet to sail it anywhere except for Greers Ferry Lake, but you said something that piqued my interest. I cross the Arkansas River every morning on my way to work and think about the possibilities of sailing up and down the riverfront area. Is this something that you've done or are considering?

I have not had any problems, yet, but I do have some worn out bottom paint that I want to do something about eventually, mostly for cosmetic reasons because I plan to trailer for the forseeable future. I'm interested in your project and your thoughts on sailing the Arkansas River.

Best Regards,

David

[jwh2050]

I have a 98X and have made the cruise across Arkansas down the river and into the Mississippi river to Baton Rouge. It is a great way to see the state and meet a lot of nice people. The 26x was ideal because of the water ballast system. We could get off the main part of the river for the night with very little problems. You should try it.

[Al Garrett]

Hello David, et al:

Thanks for the welcome and encouragement. I'll need it when I get deep into the bottom job. I bought a new houseboat in 1993, had the botom painted and left it in the Arkansas River for the next 6 years. Bad mistake. I spent months researching all the issues and controversies surrounding the topic of FRP osmosis. It took a full 6 months to dry out and another to do the awful job of rebuilding with epoxy, coating with a barrier coat (5 layers for the requisite 10mm minimum) and bottom paint. At least the below surface area on the 26X is a fraction of the area of the houseboat hull. Still, it will be easy to spend $500 on materials alone. I'm looking for ideas on this forum for getting it high enough above the trailer to do the work without a boat lift.

Just read the owners manual last night. It pretty much says that if the boat is left in the water without epoxy barrier protection, it will likely blister. The PO must have missed that part when he left a bare hull in Greer's Ferry Lake for 8 years. The blisters are thick and widespread. Most appear to be just under the gelcoat but some opf those already popped go much deeper.

I have lots of connections with the Arkansas River from trying to swim upstream when I was 12 before the dams were built to years of using it as my own swimming pool for long distance swimming, from keeping my first skiboat on the river almost 40 years ago to living on houseboats on the Little Maumelle, a tributary, and taking several long cruises every year. I'd say that half the time, the current would be too strong for sailing, the other half would be fine. My favorite thing about the river is the "stay away" attitude most folks have. You can spend the day on the river and usually encounter very few boaters. There's little development and much wilderness to enjoy.

I have a fantasy of repeating the 2,000 mile southern loop on the 26X, from Arkansas to the Gulf, up the Tom BIgbee, Tennessee, Ohio to the Mississippi and back home. Challenges would include a year (or maybe 2 to do all the sidetrips this time) living aboard a small boat, carrying enough fuel (I carried 300 gallons on the last trip and the fuel stops are 100s of miles apart in places), with heavy and fast tow boat traffic in some areas. Storing enough food and beer to last weeks at a time might also be a challenge. There are often strong currents with heavy debris and many low bridges. Downstream would be easy, upstream (up the Arkansas and Tom Bigbee) another matter I think.

I wonder what is the longest trip (distance or time) forum members have made on their power sailers.

Al

[bscott]

check these guys out: www.greatloop.org

Bob

[arknoah]

I have a 1998 26X, which I have owned for the last 8 years. It is a totally freshwater used boat, exclusively in Michigan and Florida. Some of the repairs I have made as part of my efforts to keep my boat in good shape might be areas for you to check on in this boat that you are considering. I have replaced the the ballast tank valve, fore stay, engine water pump impeller, batteries, interior water pump impeller, bolt on the steering system, electrical 12-volt socket at base of mast for mast running and anchor lighting, faucet in head, brakes on trailer, tires/wheels on trailer (I have an original trailer that has been upgraded to dual axle). I have had to fix a leak in ballast tank (previous owner put a through hull instrument through the ballast tank; not a good idea, but I am making it work), improperly painted bottom paint (a very long story), install an adjustable engine mount (so I could raise the level of my Mercury Bigfoot to get better operation), carburetors rebuilt (shellack build up if not stored properly), Sunbrella strip for covering reefed jib, Bimini patched, and mainsail cover clamps replaced. There have been other regular maintenance expenses, but those are the major unplanned extra expenses. I think an idea I can offer with some confidence is that, if the shrouds and stays on the boat you are considering are original, and over 10 years old, you can make a good case for considering that a negotiating point for lower price. It is my understanding that they should be looked at carefully every ten years, especially if operating around salt water. Since they apparently corrode from the inside out, it makes it difficult to check without cutting into them. I just replaced my fore stay which was 13 years old, and it was in pretty good shape. Again, my boat has been entirely in fresh water. Please don't let this list discourage you. I am very happy with my MacGregor. Best wishes.

Very good and comprehensive!

[Al Garrett]

That's a great great loop website Bob. The Great Loop is over 5,000 miles and includes some very exposed east coast and great lakes distances. By comparison, the Southern Loop I've experieinced is much more protected and only about 2,000 miles without all the side trips. The lesser circle, as I usually call it, is also shown on that website map.

You only live once,

Al

[bscott]

That's a great great loop website Bob. The Great Loop is over 5,000 miles and includes some very exposed east coast and great lakes distances. By comparison, the Southern Loop I've experieinced is much more protected and only about 2,000 miles without all the side trips. The lesser circle, as I usually call it, is also shown on that website map.

You only live once,

Al

The best thing about a Mac on the Great Loop is that you can pull her out at any time and by pass the nasty stuff OR find a storage yard and leave her for a few weeks at a time.

Bob