MacGregorSailors.com

I've always wondered if it was intentional or just a happy coincidence that the hatch fit back there. I'm pretty sure that, when I bought my first X, the dealer didn't tell me to put it there. I found out later on a message board. For people struggling to get it to fit, it can take a bit of wiggling around to get it just right, but it's a really handy place to get it out of the way.

Tomfoolery wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 2:39 pm

Starscream wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 3:09 pmIt needs to be angled a bit, and it's easy to forget it's there when lifting the seat to refuel or something, and once the seat goes up there's nothing but the motor between it and a "splash".

But the big question would then be, does it float?

When this "trick" came up in an earlier thread quite a while back, I tried stowing that cover under the flipping Captain's Seat just to see how it fit while just hanging around the boat lot, and, apart from it being quite a fiddle to get it positioned (possibly not helped much by the fact that my Captain's Seat's hinge is a little bent), I too was quickly convinced that it'd only be a matter of time before I'd be snorkeling after it, hamfisted YouTube boating fails video subject candidate that I am. I also like to have a full view of the motor's trim and my rudder orientation underway, since I tend to yo-yo a lot between sailing and motoring. So, while sailing I've just been stowing the cover belowdecks in the rear berth, just aft of the head, leaning it against the thin cardboard box holding my little 50 water flexible solar panel that bungees just perfectly over the sliding companionway hatch. (Details and a shopping list on my ultra-cheapo sub-$200 "ghetto" solar array here: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 67#p324067)

But it has only just now occurred to me that the Captain's Seat has that little security lanyard dangling underneath it with a clip to attach to the port lifeline to keep the odd rogue breeze from turning it into a fiberglass guillotine. What's to stop one from attaching it, perhaps via a suitable lanyard, through the cover's flippy padlock hasp doodad to keep it from launching overboard, or at least making its retrieval easier? And one imagines a well-placed strip or two of single-sided tape foam on the underside of the seat or even a draped towel or something over the cover could help minimize any racket. Must investigate...

Bilgemaster wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 6:43 am But it has only just now occurred to me that the Captain's Seat has that little security lanyard dangling underneath it with a clip to attach to the port lifeline to keep the odd rogue breeze from turning it into a fiberglass guillotine.

Bahahaha! Talk about inanimate objects with ominous auras. That thing terrifies me when it's flipped up for just that very reason. It would have no problem, with the right amount of gust, to become a macabre Gallagher show in the cockpit.

Who needs a gust....The wake of a power boat from the side has done it! while we were tied up at at fuel dock. We have another fiberglass repair project in the list to repair the starboard side of the seat back as it cracked when it slammed closed.

We have added a long loop to the port side rail at the safety line eye as we don’t use the safety lines while motoring or at the dock. The seat lanyard isn’t long enough to reach it.

We have stowed the companionway panel under the swing seat several times now. We have also tried to dislodge it several different ways with the seat down and found it doesn’t seem to be able to escape. The only time it might is when the seat is lifted up. Our “fix” for that is to add a couple small slotted blocks to either side. We will be doing that at the same time we add a protective tread board to keep from stepping on the fuel lines.

We have seem some pictures of Mac26Xs with a leveled (raised) aft deck that looks interesting. This deck appears to eliminate the potential step down tripping hazard as well as those of the engine and rudders steering links (as well as that of the fuel lines). A cut out section still appears to let the engine swing up easily. Without too much planning it could also have a slot in it to capture the companionway panel as well.... whether the swing seat is there or not....

What???

I made my own 2-piece mahogany hatch, so my stock hatch is gathering dust in my driveway.

I was a button-click from buying the transom panel from BWY, and now you're telling me I already have one??

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:07 am We have seem some pictures of Mac26Xs with a leveled (raised) aft deck that looks interesting. This deck appears to eliminate the potential step down tripping hazard as well as those of the engine and rudders steering links (as well as that of the fuel lines). A cut out section still appears to let the engine swing up easily.

I tried this myself. A few problems I found:
- there are precious few places to give it "feet" that don't interfere with the rudders and steering mechanism
- it's awkwardly large if you ever have to pull it up to get at stuff

I ended up making one half of a platform only for the winter months so I can board from the stern without crushing for tripping on all the cables and struts. It interferes with rudder wing, so I don't keep it in during the summer.

Hi DaveC426913

Thank You for the “heads-up”!
That could have been a nasty surprise booby trap we could have walked into unawares.

Fore Warned is Fore Armed.

Again, Thank You!

I wonder if there are slight shape differences of the hatch per model year.

Ours fits perfectly, with exactly enough room for the fuel line to pass by, and zero interference with the steering. It's totally secure. The only drawback we have had is that if you forget it's there and lift the captain's seat, it falls over, but even that isn't a big deal. It can't really get by the motor.

It does have to be tilted a bit, with the top of the panel further to the rear than the bottom. And, as I mentioned, the horizontal slats should to be facing rearward.

Dropping the captain's seat IS a danger, and one of the few cardinal rules on our boat is to always have the lanyard clipped in when the seat is lifted. The lanyard is sized perfectly to clip in to the lifelines, and if our enclosure is up then it clips into a bimini-strap anchor point.

Starscream wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 5:29 am Dropping the captain's seat IS a danger, and one of the few cardinal rules on our boat is to always have the lanyard clipped in when the seat is lifted. The lanyard is sized perfectly to clip in to the lifelines, and if our enclosure is up then it clips into a bimini-strap anchor point.

Absolutely!

Without proper attention to safety, that captain's seat is a recipe for a cracked skull and a crew overboard.

Overeasy,

Just to make you aware (if you have not yet discovered), do not raise the motor while that hatch is in place.

NiceAft wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:27 am Overeasy,

Just to make you aware (if you have not yet discovered), do not raise the motor while that hatch is in place.

Great point! I tried my hatch in there yesterday. ZERO room to raise the motor. I was thinking the same thing. CRUNCH!!
Hatch will stay in the aft berth area.

Hi NiceAft

That’s news to us as we have not had an issue with that at all!
We have had the engine up and down multiple times without any incident.
There hasn’t been any interference.

We are still puttering about with our 2001 50 HP 2-Stroke Tohatsu engine on our Mac26X.
Not at the boat right now to take a photo but will do so next time.

Regards,
Over Easy

OverEasy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:24 am Hi NiceAft

That’s news to us as we have not had an issue with that at all!
We have had the engine up and down multiple times without any incident.
There hasn’t been any interference.

We are still puttering about with our 2001 50 HP 2-Stroke Tohatsu engine on our Mac26X.
Not at the boat right now to take a photo but will do so next time.

Regards,
Over Easy

That may be another difference between an & an
Russ and I both have an

We keep companion way door on the port side under the cockpit between the ladder and our Engel fridge. Door helps fridge stay in place and fridge keeps door in place. We fitted a piece of starboard under the seat that seals off that area to keep bugs out when we have the enclosure in place. If you didn’t seal this area off you could not sit in cockpit in the evening even with the enclosure up. You also would have to screen off the companionway. Its much nicer to move from cabin to cockpit without having to open a screen every time. We also store 8 gallons of gas forward of the starboard in the little step down area from cockpit into motor well.

Richard

Hi Ris!

That is a good point about a Mac26X vs. Mac26M.

Wonder if it might also be the engine sizes as well given we have the old Tohatsu 50 while many have opted for larger engines.

We like your idea of placing the spare gas can in the foot well under the seat.
We are workin our way up to the potential of starting cruising the Atlantic ICW next year and beyond so these neat tricks are really appreciated as we are more that willing to listen to the experiences of others. Sharing what has worked, as well as what hasn’t, and why is invaluable.

Thanks!