I have seen the future--A report on the 2005 "M"

[Larry Read]

As an owner of a 2004 M I can say that the table arrangement left a lot to be desired. When it is up it blocked any easy access to the bow that is until we cut 6 inches off the width on the port side. Now it lines up with the dagger board locker. It is a big improvement.

All the talk about the 2005 M arrangement sounds an awful lot like the 1978 Venture we just traded for our Mac. The table was on the right and the sink and stove slid out of the way under the cockpit. Whats old is new again.

Larry

[Paul S]

As an owner of a 2004 M I can say that the table arrangement left a lot to be desired. When it is up it blocked any easy access to the bow that is until we cut 6 inches off the width on the port side. Now it lines up with the dagger board locker. It is a big improvement.

Larry

That is the reason we did not not the table. I plan on (in my spare time) make a table with a drop leaf, so you can get by without having to remove it, or swing it (like the promo material shows).

By pure chance...we happen to have a folding table about the size of the Mac table (a hair narrower). We took it out with us the other day. Worked well. Going to keep it on the boat until I get around to make one.

I also plan on making a tiny table to slide into slot in the galley. Maybe a bit larger than a cupholder, or a bit bigger to give some more counter space for preparing food, or when you don't need a large table.

I was going to make a table with a leaf...but that was getting a bit complicated for a simple boat like the mac.

Lots of ideas..so little time

Paul

Paul

[mgg4]

SO where do you stow the "port-side lounge seat" when using the galley?

The "Seat" is nothing more than the cushion that snaps in. You can store the cushion on the aft berth, or v-berth, or anywhere you can put some leather-wrapped foam.

How far forward do you slide the galley when you want to use it ?
All the way to the bow? Or just out of the aft stow area?

Just out of the aft storage area. The aft-end of the galley ends up being about even with the hatch when moved into the "Cooking position".

What do you do if you need power to the galley for say a coffee pot ? Can you add receptacles easily along thePort side wall ? Reason I ask is you could not wire into the poertable galley easily without a quick disconnect.

I was thinking about that same question. That and the plumbing that would be required to connect to a fixed water tank. Not sure I have an answer, other than, "It will be interesting to see how this plays out."

What has happened to the mirror and counter that was up in the bow/head area on the starboard side - is it all removed ?

Nope. Still there. That is the wall for the head. The counter is a bit smaller, and can be used as a "Bookshelf" type arrangement. Actually, it is quite nice.

Wow !! I knew the bathroom was smaller on the M but not until this post did I learn that the bow sleeping area is shorter than the X . But in the M's defense the "Void-Aft" is larger from what I understand.

The v-berth is still usable by small-to-average adults, but no one in my family would fit. My sister is 5'10", and I'm the shortest of the boys at 6'2" (my brothers are 6'5" and 6'9").

How far forward can you go in a M before the Head room shrinks? In an X a 6 footer can stand as far forward as the Port Galley.

It's about the same as on the old "M". A bit more head room than an "X". I can stand up in the galley area on the "M", whereas I have to duck a bit on the "X". The step up is a bit further forward on the "M" than on the "X", giving a much more usable cabin space.

It sure will be nice to see some pics of this new M !!

I was going to try to get some this weekend, but my plans got changed for me. I'll be in the area, but I won't be in a car or on my own boat. So I may not be able to go in to snap the pics I was going to. I'll make a special trip down there soon to get some pics.

And last of all where is the cooler in an M ???

The cooler is not stored under any seats on the old "M". It was stored in a cutout area in the aft berth area. I didn't see the cooler on the new "M", and I didn't ask. I'll make a point of finding out for you.

--Mark

[Tom Spohn]

I am in the process of buying a new M. I had the choice of the 2005 model or a new 2004 and I chose the 2004 since the sliding galley on the 2005 will not allow a Wallas stove to be installed. (Outside venting is required) We use this stove for heating even in the summer and I would not be without it. BWY told me that some folks want to be able to stand and use the galley so that is one of the main reasons for the change. On our X I couldn't quite stand since I am one inch too tall. If I sat on the aft dinette seat my arms were really stretched across the aisle to use the stove and sink. So I usually crouched a bit to cook. Mate at 5'2" had no problems at all! The seats on the starboard side of the '05 go forward to where the galley on the '04M is located and there is just a bulkhead there on the new one. The table was describe to me as suitable for four people to play cards, but a bit cramped for 4 people to dine at. No change in base price announced at yet.

[Don B]

Thanks for answering all my questions.

-Don B

[Frank C]

. . . On our X I couldn't quite stand since I am one inch too tall. If I sat on the aft dinette seat my arms were really stretched across the aisle to use the stove and sink. So I usually crouched a bit to cook. ...

Of course it's weather-dependant, but I find that 90% of the time I have the slider open above me when using the galley. Guess that percentage is a lot less around Puget Sound.

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

With the dodger and bimni in place we leave our hatch open quite a bit also. Only one short evening of sprinkles on the 'sound' last trip out.

Jesse

[Larry Read]

I have to agree with Tom. Given the choice, we like the 04. The Wallas stove is a very important part of our trips. I guess we are just at that age where we want a soft bed and a warm cabin. We are always trying to push the season and when we woke up to 3 inches of snow on the boat this April the Wallas kept our trip from being a disaster. It won't run you our of the cabin but it really takes the chill off when it counts. It's also nice to know the fumes are all outside and youre not going to wake up dead. We did install a CO2 alarm as well.
Larry

[Tom Spohn]

I went aboard the 05 today. The galley is a large rectangular box that is the width and length of the sofa cushion on the port side. Height is about waist high on me. (I am 6'1"). It slides forward easily with the sofa cushion removed and stored in the v berth or wherever. A catch locks it in place. It is a nice sized cooking area with a stove and sink. When slid back into the aft berth the cushion is replaced and seating extends to the aft berth as before. One change I noted is the "hump" at the base of the stairs is gone and the fiberglass just goes smoothly across the front of the aft berth connecting the port and starboard sofa bases. Another change is the pottie shelf is gone. The head is just fiberglass now. The head door is a bi-fold type. The "Windows" (ports?) in the cabin now have decorative wood surrounds about 1 1/2" wide around them--finishes them off nicely. BWY told me that MacGregor plans to offer both plans for awhile to see what the market really wants. Folks have been wanting an X type interior in the M for awhile and now they can have it......sort of.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

found an '05 interior pic...
[url=http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/fp ... 37.58Click Here[/url]

[Joe 26M Time Warp]

I went aboard the 05 today... One change I noted is the "hump" at the base of the stairs is gone and the fiberglass just goes smoothly across the front of the aft berth connecting the port and starboard sofa bases...

Wondering if you noticed where they put the battery Tom.
Our 03 had the same access hole as the 04 but instead of the fiberglass hump, it had a flat piece of wood. The design change between the two involved the battery; the 03 had the battery located way back between the rear berth and the transom (that sucked), the 04 had the battery in the aforementioned hole covered by the hump.
I moved the battery as soon as I found it on hull #32, relocating to under the bench opposite the head. I liked the wood access cover, and found a plastic dish pan that I strapped down directly under the hole for a nice tool box location.
I'm not particularly fond of the battery location or the hump in the 04, planning to change both when time permits. And planning to go back to the flat board with a tool box in the only place you don't have to move a cushion for access.

[Paul S]

found an '05 interior pic...
http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/fp ... 0205637.58

Certianly is different...of course now that we have used our 04M a few times and are used to it, the new one seems a bit awkward (like the X, IMO). Probably sound like an X owner when the M came out, I know.

Have to see it in person to get the feel for it.

One thing I notice, that I am used to now on the 04 is if you just wanted to lay down, the 03/4 M had 2 long benchs to lay down. You just lay down. On the 05 looks like you have to do some work. drop the table, move cushions (I assume), but have an apparently wider berth.

Different.

Is there more/less storage on the 05, where it has a real table now, can't tell if some storage was lost or not.

I liked sitting using the galley, guess I am just lazy



Overall not bad. Different.

[Tom Spohn]

Joe,
The batteries are under a cover directly below the cabin stairs. Same as before minus the "hump".

[Don B]

IMHO Macgregor should keep making both versions.
From reading on this forum there are people who are in love with both designs.
Is it really going to cost Mac that much to make two styles ? It appears that the changes only impact the final stages of construction anyway.
Further more he is already offering two external colors if I rememebr correctly.

I am guessing that the sink in the movable galley utiizes a collapsable water bag and hand pump faucet like the X has. As long as there is a floor in the roll around galley the water bag will just go along for the ride. But.. what do I know as I have not seen the boat yet.

-Don B

[Joe 26M Time Warp]

Don, the 03 & 04 sinks were connected to a water bag like the X. That and the stove I would imagine, could have the supply or tanks located inside the rolling cabinet. It's the sink drain that would be a little bit of a trick.
I think the dual 05 interiors option is a compliment to this board, (the only place I know) where X'ers and customers from 5 or 10 years ago publish their opinions for all including the factory to see. The fact that they just dropped the whole X boat interior concept, and the comments we've all seen from folks who loved that design could be what tipped the scales.
After owning one and then a second of the new wide open interiors, I wouldn't want to change mine, but I think it's a wise move by the factory to offer both layouts.