Keel replacement mac 25

[Ryan]

The keel on my mac 25 has vanished rendering the"Small Kine"a useless vessele with many sad sailors left ashore. Does anyone know how I can find a replacement and how to go about the process? Also, the will continue to locate the missing original which I believe broke off at the pivot bolt. The bolt is still there but no keel. If found, I was thinking I could possibly drill a new hole in what remains of the broken keel below the broken part and reattatch it to be used again. Will this work? Is there aanother solution? Oh great gods of macgregor, please bestow upon me a solution to my dilemma..... Humble thanks and grattitude, Ryan.

[Stevenhigbee]

bwyachts.com can probably get you a replacement, but it's not going to be cheap. If you find the lost keel, a good machinist could probably do some welding/cutting/drilling to make it work.

[grady]

Keep an eye out for a junk 25 that still has the keel.

http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/50377

[Ranger_12]

I have a keel from a 1986 Mac 25, sent you an email

[grady]

I've a keel from a 1986 Mac 25, sent you an email

Nothing suspect about that post!

[Ryan]

Tnks for the responses. Does anyone know what years are compatible? As far as obtaining a keel from another Mac goes? Also, could I use one off of a Venture and or a different size vessle like 22 or 19?

[THE CUSCUS]

Hi. Needs to be a keel from a V25 or M25, which are 625lbs. The keels from the smaller Macs are only around 500lbs and a slightly different shape. Stay away from from the early 25 keels, pre-1974,, as they are steel plates covered in glass and are troublesome. The newer 25 keels are all cast iron. Sandblasting, epoxying and fairing will make it like new. Find yourself a cheap donor boat, take out the keel and sell the rest. Lots of people looking for Mac parts.
My keel rebuild.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1483
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1484

[Ryan]

Hey Cuscus,
Thanks for the info. So, to be sure I understand you correctly, you are saying that all keels from V25's and M25's, 1975 and newer are the same size as my 84/85 Mac25? That would be great news for me. I would have much more possibilities of resurrecting the "Small Kine" as she is known in these parts. By the way, I like your keel caddy. Whenever I end up finding a keel, I'm going to make one of those.

[Sumner]

It might be beneficial to have your location with your name and such. Good luck,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[THE CUSCUS]

Ryan, I have only physically examined 2 cast keels. They measured exactly the same and matched the Macgregor print, but the pivot bolt holes were in different spots. My boat is a '79 and I'm not sure what year the other keel was. I just redrilled the hole in the same spot as my original keel. From looking at lots of pictures of these boats and the specs, it seems the mast moved slightly front to back (the "I" dimension) during the years. And the keel winch seems to have moved around slightly too. And the keel trunk "slot" under the boat has different lengths also. Just check the pivot hole location, measuring from the front edge of the keel trunk (inside the slot, under the boat) to you pivot bolt and make sure the hole in the keel isn't longer (allow an inch clearance). If you have to much keel forward of the pivot hole, it will jam in the front of the trunk as you try to lower the keel ( I know as I didn't measure and had to drop the keel back out and redrill the pivot hole).

[Ryan]

Thanks, that's some great info there. And as requested, I am on the north shore of the island Kauai, Hawaii. Pretty far out as far as access to available parts. One of the drawbacks of living out here. Hopefully I will get lucky and find a kerl on an old boat or....?

[Ryan]

Find a keel on an old boat