So I just bought a Mac X....

[Drifter]

Edit: I forgot to say thanks! Thanks for the speedy reply Jimmy!

Regarding the exhaust hatch thingy I was thinking of a vent column of some sort, rising up to the window level, rather than a hatch low on the side of the hull

Mmm... petrol fumes also a consideration... Regarding the bow pulpit, wouldn't that make the poor thing super nose-heavy?

I'm still interested in using that "wasted" space for the aircon unit but need to measure it all up. The portable type of aircon is inefficient as they suck in fresh air all the time but I do have one somewhere. If that fits inside that area and the hot air could be vented out it could be affordable and easy... and I guess the generator could be mounted when in use and put away after.

I'd only be using aircon when stopped for lunch or a rest from the heat while fishing, not while underway. The apparent wind should be cool enough for that


Having not even seen the boat in question I have absolutely no idea what i'm looking at regarding those 2 big holes. From what I've read they are on the transom somewhere, but they look like perhaps underneath?

I really don't understand why there are TWO holes? In a slot? Everything I know about the ballast valve suggests a big, single valve, this has 2 smaller holes inside some slot, and you link to me some fat single round plug thingy on a stick and I'm confused as all heck

Mmm, looking at the BWY site they say:

"Rectangular center valve, was deleted in mid 1997, newer boats have transom mounted valve ONLY."

So... this is ... in the center, underneath the boat? Ooer.

If that rod thing.. is that meant to go in the middle hole, because that looks blocked up with something?

(Regarding the age, the boat dealer told me when he received the registration details it's not a 1986 (we knew that) but a 1996. Not sure why it looks like an 08? The lack of raccoon stripe?)

My head spinning a bit with this, still can't quite believe I'm finally getting one...

[Starscream]

It's definitely a '96. You can verify with the serial number when you get it.

The best air con mod I ever saw was posted recently on this site. The poster had a full enclosure, and mounted the AC unit on top of the sliding hatch, with the heat being rejected towards the front of the boat and the cold being sent into the cockpit enclosure. If I ever do AC, I'll do it this way.

The X boat could use some weight on the nose, usually. With a big motor, gas, and a cockpit full of gear she sits low in the back. Depends on your final setup, but 200 lbs on the nose would help mine sit better in the water, and probably sail and motor better too.

[Drifter]

Thanks, that does sound interesting... I'll try searching the forum for the thread

[Jimmyt]

Edit: I forgot to say thanks! Thanks for the speedy reply Jimmy!

Regarding the exhaust hatch thingy I was thinking of a vent column of some sort, rising up to the window level, rather than a hatch low on the side of the hull

Mmm... petrol fumes also a consideration... Regarding the bow pulpit, wouldn't that make the poor thing super nose-heavy?

I'm still interested in using that "wasted" space for the aircon unit but need to measure it all up. The portable type of aircon is inefficient as they suck in fresh air all the time but I do have one somewhere. If that fits inside that area and the hot air could be vented out it could be affordable and easy... and I guess the generator could be mounted when in use and put away after.

I'd only be using aircon when stopped for lunch or a rest from the heat while fishing, not while underway. The apparent wind should be cool enough for that


Having not even seen the boat in question I have absolutely no idea what i'm looking at regarding those 2 big holes. From what I've read they are on the transom somewhere, but they look like perhaps underneath?

I really don't understand why there are TWO holes? In a slot? Everything I know about the ballast valve suggests a big, single valve, this has 2 smaller holes inside some slot, and you link to me some fat single round plug thingy on a stick and I'm confused as all heck

Mmm, looking at the BWY site they say:

"Rectangular center valve, was deleted in mid 1997, newer boats have transom mounted valve ONLY."

So... this is ... in the center, underneath the boat? Ooer.

If that rod thing.. is that meant to go in the middle hole, because that looks blocked up with something?

(Regarding the age, the boat dealer told me when he received the registration details it's not a 1986 (we knew that) but a 1996. Not sure why it looks like an 08? The lack of raccoon stripe?)

My head spinning a bit with this, still can't quite believe I'm finally getting one...

Regarding the year of your boat, I was going off the picture link in your post.



Regarding making your boat nose heavy with a portable generator, how big of a unit are you talking about? I was thinking 2,000 to 3,500 watts, so shouldn't be too bad. I probably wouldn't leave it up there while underway, due to salt spray. Your situation may be different.

There are portable ac units with two duct connections. You have to look for them, but they are out there. You're right that the single duct variety is a joke.

[Drifter]

Well I've finally joined the exclusive club of Macgregor owners spending their savings at Blue Water Yachts

Have ordered the ballast valve, the quick-rigging kit, the replacement rubber for the door and brackets for a hatch behind the captain's chair (I'll make my own wooden hatch) and a new sink plug.

Was going to order a new cleat but BWY cleats are 4 screw and the ones on it are 2 screw. I'd rather avoid drilling any more holes.

Was happy to see that they sell replacement alcohol stoves, but no price or something at present. I need to pace my spending too

Welp, time to curb my patience now and wait for the thing to arrive...


Off-the-wall question - I've never sailed before... so have ordered both these videos:

http://www.speedyrigger.com

Payment went through but no notification from the seller, at all. Anyone know if that's normal? Is this guy still in business? The vids do look great but it's a bit disturbing that nothing happened after sending the payment.

[K9Kampers]

Payment went through but no notification from the seller, at all. Anyone know if that's normal? Is this guy still in business? The vids do look great but it's a bit disturbing that nothing happened after sending the payment.

This question has been asked and answered many time times in the past. Yes, this is a normal response for this vendor. Give them time to process / reply.

[Drifter]

Good to hear, thanks!

Welp... my baby is now tucked up inside a container... I'd be a lot happier if she had a proper trailer...

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipM ... laZTVFbmZn

[Drifter]

Some pics, as my 26X has finally arrived and finally at home!

20201013_114218 (Small).jpg

20201013_100618 (Small).jpg

20201013_114208 (Small).jpg

[Drifter]

I'll upload more if anyone wants, especially if you say what you'd like pix of?

Overall I'd say the interior is pretty good, though I'm a bit confused over the battery situation. There is no battery where I was expecting one, next to the galley.That just has empty plastic bottles in there.

I'm getting the feeling Previous Owner (PO) has replaced the flotation foam with large, empty bottles? I guess if tied together or something that could work..

Spent most of the day just taking old stuff out and piling it up in my living room, to peer at wide-eyed later, as I really don't know what most of it is or which bits I really need or wotnot.

Happily the galley tap seems to work well, but I can't see what's going on under the sink cos the boom is in the way of the door. Will take me quite a while to really figure out this Macgregor puzzle!

Was delighted to see an in-depth service manual for the engine, less delighted to find the entire thing is in Japanese, as is all the other paperwork and the fishfinder. I'll have to find a translation app or something.

[Tomfoolery]

I might suggest you spread all that 'stuff' around on a large floor and post some pictures. We can play 'Can You Identify This?'

Glad to see it got there safe and sound. I have to admit, I was a little concerned. I guess I'm just not the trusting type.

[Russ]

Glad to see it got there safe and sound. I have to admit, I was a little concerned. I guess I'm just not the trusting type.

I didn't want to say anything, but I was thinking the same.

That bow looks like it needs some TCL. And the windlass. I'd love to see how that's rigged.

[Drifter]

I haven't looked that closely at the windlass yet.

No idea where the switch for it is meant to be.

I'll probably remove it, if reasonably easy to get to the underneath of the thing. It looks ugly as sin, also looks very heavy.

Will try to get pics of how it's been fitted soon. Just been told the Admiral wants me to drive her around tomorrow while she has the Subaru serviced. Her little Crosstrek is her baby, and she's been hugely useful over the last couple of weeks, arguing on my behalf with various money-grubbing locals

Quick question - the various cubby holes have clear perspex covers. Are those original or some DIY replacement? They seem a bit thin and flimsy. One thing I do want to do is replace the table's perspex (reminder to self, 600mm by 800mm). It's serviceable but just barely. Lots of crazing and scratches.

I don't have any means of screwing the table perspex down but it has holes on the corners, suggesting it should?

[Starscream]

That serial number confirms a 1996 26X, hull number 810, model year 1996, manufactured in June of '96.

[svscott]

Hi Drifter, I too just bought a 26X and am getting acquainted with it. It must have been a bit concerning importing a boat in this manner...I am glad you're boat showed up as expected! It looks like a couple weeks of cleaning and polishing, and maybe some easy fiberglass repair will make your new boat look great. Rather than learn Japanese, I'd probably opt to replace the fishfinder with a Garmin chartplotter/fishfinder combo.

For the near future, I will be focusing on inexpensive mods and repairs for my boat. I'll start with making sure the boat is as watertight as can be. Macs are known to leak through random deck penetrations so I'll teenie and clean every deck fastener and rebed with butyl tape or 3m 4200 sealant.
I also plan to replace all of my exterior windows and interior table plexiglass. I'll use 1/8" clear acrylic for the table and will likely secure it with some stainless steel #6 or #8 body flat screws that I'll countersink to fit flush with the tabletop. I will drill, countersink, and oversize the holes to be just bigger than the fastener. I will find a nice chart or something to display under the plexiglass.

For the exterior windows, I will probably use 1/4" dark gray polycarbonate for the front deck windows and 1/4" dark gray acrylic for the side windows. I don't like using polycarbonate where UV exposure is expected, BUT using acrylic on those 2 front deck windows scares me if somebody steps on them. Acrylic will break like plate glass when stressed, but it's more UV and scratch resistant than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate isn't as UV resistant and is prone to visible crazing when exposed to sunlight, BUT it's very strong and will stand up to people stepping on it, whereas acrylic may crack and allow someone's leg to break through and get cut if stepped on. The existing windows look to be 1/8" thick but I'll use 1/4" plastic and round over or chamfer the edges. I will use 3M VHB tape to adhere the windows and then tape off and seal the perimeters with Dow Corning 795 black silicone.

[Drifter]

That serial number confirms a 1996 26X, hull number 810, model year 1996, manufactured in June of '96.

Ah, so F is June, not Feb'? So one of the first 1,000 26X made.

As rather expected, the locals are somewhat wowed. My father in law has apparently been telling people "it's like a hotel inside!" I just had a UPS driver ask if it's available for rental - nobody ever asked that for the 23ft motorboat.

Scott, I already have a Garmin fishfinder and plotter, though not 100% sure where to fit it at the moment. PO has fitted some horrible box thing on top of the steering pedestal. I might fit it there but remove that box, or make something much nicer, which can also take a Samsung Tab and the Navionics app.

Thing is, I spotted a thru-hull fitting, with a wire leading to it (in the same place I was expecting to find the battery). I presume that is the transducer for the current Japanese fishfinder.

Both my previous boats, with multiple fishfinders, have had problems with transom-mounted transducers failing after being cooked by the sun when the boat is on the trailer. So I'm reluctant to just throw yet another expensive transducer on yet another transom, just to watch it melt under the equator sun (I live about 70 miles from the actual equator line). I might see if it's possible to get hold of a through-hull transducer for the brand-new Garmin I have, and use that existing thru-hull, since it's already there.

I have this unit, presuming you can see this link from the USA: https://www.lazada.com.my/products/garm ... 54537.html