MacGregorSailors.com

Yeah! I just did it! I found a Mac"D", 1989. In very good condition. I purchased it off of ebay just this morning. I have been searching for a boat like this for a long time and it next to impossible to find one that hadn't had a million holes drilled in it and all kinds of personal stuff done to it. So now, I can put my personal touches on it. It is clean, clean clean.
I am very happy!and best thing also..... the wife is happy too!

Congrats!

Curious about how you managed the eBay purchase, and what distance from home.
For example, how did you determine it was, "...clean, clean, clean!"

Nice lookin' boat! Congrats, impinnacr, and welcome to the club!

Frank, both impinnacr and the boat are in California, so perhaps he was able to go see it in person?

Click here for more pictures.

Hey Frank:
luckily, the boat was in Rancho Cordova, Ca. which is near Sacramento. I live about 75miles away in the north valley. That was lucky, so yesterday, I drove to the boat shop where it was on consignment, looked it over really closely inside and out, checked the surge brakes, spun the wheels on the trailer, made sure all the parts were there, etc, etc, etc.
On the bidding, I found out that you place a max bid which is the max that you will go on the item. Ebay records your bid as 50.00 over the previous bid as long as the previous bidder's max bet is not higher than yours. I watched the boat for 3 days, then I waited until about a minute before the bidding ended before placing my bet. After that, I just watched the computer. It was basically pretty easy.
If you couldnt physically visit the boat, I think that you go on the reviews and reputation of the seller. You get that information on ebay. You really can't get hurt because ebay has things very controlled. All in all it was a good experience. I wound up getting the boat for 1000.00 less than what I bid as my max bid because as I said before, by putting in a maximum that you are willing to spend, the computer automatically keeps bidding for you until you reach your maximum. since no one else bid any higher, I spent 1000. less than I had anticipated.

Hope I answered your questions.
Regards,
C

Yep - sure is in great shape. In fact, it's in better shape than my 26X, which is 11 years 'newer!' I'm familiar with eBay, but couldn't imagine buying a car or boat that way ... until now, that is! Just from those pix of your boat, plus the seller's rating, I probably would have bid sight-unseen, without concern
(and I'm only ~ 90 miles away ). Congrats - it's a rare gem, a real "find!"

That's how I got mine, Frank... and it was all the way in New Mexico!

Thanks everyone. I'm picking it up in a couple days, for now its going in the driveway!

The sails are in surprisingly good condition. They need to be washed as there is grease spots or dirt, etc on them, but no mold that I can tell. The only upgrade on this boat is a swim ladder, believe it or not; that's it. Otherwise, everything is stock, so it gives me alot of latitude to do my own thing.
Yes, you are right about the electrical, I definitely want to get rid of the old lamp cord wiring that is there. Any suggestions? Where did you mount the battery?
Also, the trailer is in good condition, it has surge brakes and I checked it out closely, everything is in working order. The outboard is an 89 Evinrude 10hp that runs well, was just tuned up/serviced and seems to be in great condition.
I'm picking it up tomorrow am. The first thing I want to do is get it home and check out all of the rigging, adjusters, etc, make sure everything works, then go from there.
I would welcome any suggestions on wiring. That is a real priority also. Plus, I would like to put a shelf in the lazarette to mount gas tank and batteries.

I have been out of the boat ownership loop for several years. Where do you like to go to get upgrade equipment like electrical, hardware, cordage, etc, etc.
-Chris

impinnacr wrote:I have been out of the boat ownership loop for several years. Where do you like to go to get upgrade equipment like electrical, hardware, cordage, etc, etc.
-Chris

No place is gonna be cheap for boat-gear. However, Defender Marine is one of the less expensive and has an excellent selection.

Of course, there's old We$tMarine, too, if you like the higher-priced spread.

As for the lamp-cord, although I'll agree it's pretty cheezy, well, most of the 'stock' circuits my boat still have that cheap wiring and it's still doing the job since 1998. I figure, if it ain't broke, why fix it?

impinnacr,

Looks like you got a real gem

I've had my D for just over a year now and love it. Best boat Roger built imho. There are several things I like about it better than my Xboat. I do miss standing up straight in the cabin sometimes, but that's not a big drawback.
I like the fact that I can out sail (by miles) everyone I sail with. And this includes some makes other than MacGregor. The D is fast!

Also, the 26D is about the best responding sailboat I've experienced. She tells you immediately if she likes the way you adjust the sails. She'll speed up or slow down instantly. Tacking is smooth and dependable.

Like yours, my D hadn't been messed with much (mods wise). However, my D wasn't in nearly the shape yours is (by the looks of the picks). But it will be. .

I find the simple rigging to be a plus in many ways. I do plan a few things like a traveller.
I want to improve the mainsl. I will add full battens and convert to a loose foot and see if this works well, before I buy a new main. This, btw, was the single best improvement I made on my 26X. I have a fitting that will convert the boom gooseneck to slide in the mast track. I'm going to install this with a downhaul, which will work similar to a cunningham.

If you still have only the factory "popsicle stick" for a rudder, get (or build, as I did) another one like the IdaSailor item. The two, or so, inch extended leading edge makes a huge difference. You still get the feedback of a tiller, but no muscle work involved. Add a tiller extension while you're at it.

One other thing about my D boat is that my forestay is pretty short and my mast has almost no rake. Don't know exactly how much shorter it is, but I do have the original forestay, so I'll compare them sometime soon. Reason I mention this is it may be a performance improvement also (I tend to think so). I know the boat is very well balanced, particularly when hard on the wind. I can let the tiller go, when I have everything adjusted just right (sail set) and just sit there and let her sail herself. She doesn't round up ever either. Even sailing sideways, she's straight and easy to control.

It's getting lengthy, I'd better shut up

Congrats,
SK

Hey Steve K:
thanks for the infor. Yeah, the more I hear about the Ida Sailor rudder, the more I want one. Also, I want to do some electrical work as well. this weekend is going to be an inspection weekend and clean up; Maybe next week, a test sail!

I have a permanent grin at the moment!

impinnacr,

Re; permanent grin.......

Yep! I know the feeling. When I sold my Xboat I was boatless for almost two years. You should have seen me out on my first sailing trip in the D boat. I couldn't stop smiling .

AND..... dig that storage space in the stern. I can actually climb in there (had to to re-connect VHF anntenna. It is on the very rear of the combing on the same side as the outboard well). You gotta put a flat deck in there of some sort or everything ends up crowding itself into the low spot. (one of my many winter projects also).


Btw, I'm planning to re-do the wiring in my D boat also. I have installed dual batteries. The PO had put in a switch (OFF-A-B-ALL), but there were no signs of a second battery ever being installed. I was happy that the battery I got with the boat is one of those expensive gel cells. My Honda four stroke has a small alternater too. Should have plenty of juice for my use.

I Have a Garmin 178 C W/sounder, that I haven't installed yet. Got a Solar panel sitting in the garage too.

I end up sailing solo most of the time. Don't know what your situation is, but I set my boat up this way inside.

The berth cushions were pretty bad, so I tossed them. I carpeted the V-berth (better than average outdoor carpet). This makes a great gear and headsl locker.

I had a Coleman air bed (double or queen, can't remember). It isn't as thick as an Arrowbed. It does put you pretty close to the cockpit floor, so don't raise up suddenly in the night. It also has a 12 volt pump. So I carpeted the rear berth also and I sleep on the coleman. I can now use my favorite regular sheets and other bedding and this is the most comfortable sleep I've had on any of my boats, so far. And unlike the Xboat, the rear berth of the Dboat is fairly easy to get in and out of.

This bed arrangement creates a flat area on either side, that tapers to the rear. These ended up being great places to store stuff. I keep my ice chest on the side opposite the galley, as far forward as possible, in this area. The other side is where my duffle bag or flight bag usually ends up.

Batteries are under the seat on the galley side. Opened up under that seat to have better access to that area (factory opening is very small). I made a plywood hatch here, but may replace it with a store bought item later.

I've installed a 20gal water tank under the Vberth, as far forward as possible. Then just aft of this tank, I put in a bulkhead. I built another hatch here and created another large storage area under the aftmost part of the Vberth.
(Yeah........ I had to remove some of the foam flotation, of course. The flotation police head of this and came over to give me 40 lashes. Then they saw the queen sized air bag in the rear berth and decided to only give me 20 )

Not quite....... but almost half the fun of owning a boat (a MacGregor particularly) is working on it and adding mods that suit you.

Anyway, thought I'd give you a rundown of some of the stuff I've added and some of my thoughts on storage etc.
Have Fun and take care,
SK

Wow! Talk about full circle. The first new that came out in 2003 had an almost identical interior. The galley beside the daggerboard & walkway forward sure look the same as does the port & starboard seating. Even the aft berth is extremely similar. Of course the overall hull design is different but the similarities are amazing. Look at the pictures then find some pics of the '03-'04 M and you will see.

That 2003-2004 style M is my favourite configuration btw....but Im glad I got my 2002 X still....one year earlier to make the first 12 months of mistakes

Doh!!

Doh!!

Doh!!