Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit-big change

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mntjohnson

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Aug 8, 2009
5
2 26s minneapolis
Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit - so a big change. Earlier Macs just had a winch on a wood block being placed across the cockpit. Macs 25 seem to have winch on wood platform rising from cabin floor, not involving the cockpit at all?

I am trying to understand how a Mac 25 varies from smaller Macs and this seems big, seems to nicely remove stresses from cockpit, and seems to let one cut into cockpit for hatches with less fear. Thank you for any information.

TOM
 
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Tom26M

right track

Well the idea of relocating the winch down to the cabin floor where it can electrically run the winch/keel cable directly straddling the hole where the cable runs, has been discussed around here before. The idea is a sound one, however you must make certain the cabin floor is reinforced well enough to handle this load. There are certainly many 12volt winches that can easily handle up to a ton and a half for a few hundred dollars. Question is ... will the floor give way and the winch end up in Davy Jones Locker !!!!

And sure ... ridding the load point from the cockpit floor will definately allow one a lot of creative design license to the mix. Ahhhh sigh :)

Tom
 
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Bob McL

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Oct 16, 2008
512
MacGregor/Venture 25 Mesa AZ
Re: Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit-big ch

I have a "76 Venture (Mac) 25 and the winch is not in the cockpit nor on the floor. As you step into the cabin there is a "step" formed in the fiberglass liner. The winch is bolted to the underside of the step and the handle protrudes into the cabin. As to the original winch - not sure of weight rating, but I replaced mine with a 1500# model from Northern Tool.
 
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tom johnson

keel winch pulls down on cockpit, or floor

Thanks for the clarification,,, to the winch and keel weight is still pulling down on the cockpit floor, or is weight trasmitted mostly to floor?
 
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tom johnson

keel winch pulls down on cockpit, or floor

I mean to say

Thanks for the clarification,,, so the winch and keel weight is still pulling down on the cockpit floor, or is weight transmitted mostly to floor?
 
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Tom26M

winch relocation mod

tom johnson said:
I mean to say

Thanks for the clarification,,, so the winch and keel weight is still pulling down on the cockpit floor, or is weight transmitted mostly to floor?
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Speaking specifically about the Macgregor 25, (which I used to own), the stock winch was bolted to the underside of the galley/cockpit hatchway. This placed all the weight of the keel on the cockpit floor. Supporting the weight however, was a wooden panel wedged between the lower companionway sill or step and the floor of the boat. A hole was bored through this board for the winch handle. If you dared to remove this board (you'd have to kick it out) after unbolting it because of the weight it was supporting; it would either collapse the cockpit floor or rip out the winch, due of course to the keel hanging from it.

When relocating the winch, it would simply be placed directly below where it originally hangs. However just relocating the winch would not be practical on its own because then, it would not be servicable in the sense that you could not crank the handle because there would be no 'swing' space for handle rotation. Hence the idea of using an electric winch instead. The electric winch could be mounted on the floor over the keel cable hole where the best lifting advantage is.

I don't know of anyone who has actually done this, but I gave it a lot of consideration before selling my Macgregor 25 for a purchase on a Magregor 26M. Had I not sold her, I believe I would have made this modification happen. The main reason for me was, I wanted to remove the wooden panel so that I would have greater access to the space beneath the cockpit and also to get rid of that 'ankle biting' winch handle. !!!!

Aso imagine having a remote access control of the power lifting capabilites of the electric winch. You could raise and lower the winch effortlessly and fast from just about anywhere you choose! Ahhh dreams ....

Tom
 
timebandit

timebandit

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
Re: Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit-big ch

You migh considerthe fact that lowering the winch that low might allow water up that plastic hose the cable runs through.
 
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Tom26M

something to ponder

Time Bandit said:
You migh considerthe fact that lowering the winch that low might allow water up that plastic hose the cable runs through.
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Yes. This is true. I hadn't given that a thought, but yes, a standpipe is needed to keep splash from the trunk from entering into the cabin.

Tom
 
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mntjohnson2

making new room out of cockpit and space below cockpit

I thank everyone for their comments about winch and how it is supported. I guess moving the winch in a 25 which is connected to both cockpit and boat floor is a big step. It would therefore be hard to open up the cabin to the space underneath the cockpit.

How about 1/4 foot back into cockpit cutting away the cockpit seats and floor to make the place you sail from be 1.5 feet deeper than footwell now, then add 2 foot walls and sliding roof to match the top of hull of rest of boat. This 1.5 feet more depth plus normal 2.5 feet cockpit plus 2 foot new walls would make a room as big as the normal cabin.

TOM
 
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Valdez53

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Mar 10, 2010
24
MacGregor 25 Branchburg
Re: Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit-big ch

I do have thought about an electric winch to replace the "ankle biter"... I would have to have a winch with an emergency crank handle however...Also, how would you know to let go of the winch button before you broke something while cranking it up? Years ago I designed a hydraulic keel retracting system that would fit under the dinette seat but felt that the stresses induced would be too much for the factory trunk.... Any ideas about that electric winch project ? Lets hear it!
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Valdez53 said:
........Also, how would you know to let go of the winch button before you broke something while cranking it up? ............ Any ideas about that electric winch project ? Lets hear it!
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Check this out.............

I have seen on several sailboat forums talking about powering a swing keel by an electric winch. Well I have done it. I bought an electric 12v winch and two limit switches and put them together. It works well on my Helsen 22' swing keel sailboat. I have put the system on Youtube if you want to see it work. Just type in Helsen automatic keel, and you should get there. If that doesn't work, type in search, omiateeful. Thanks Bob.
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http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=116969

on youtube....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAAfmLrdZ6E

Pretty neat. I don't know if he has it, but I'd like a backup in case something went wrong with that system,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

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V

Valdez53

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Mar 10, 2010
24
MacGregor 25 Branchburg
Re: Did Mac 25 change to 600 lb keel/winch being placed on cabin floor & no longer on cockpit-big ch

I also would want a manual method as backup... interesting idea.. I wouldn't think I would want the "down" microswitch as we put additional slack in the cable to avoid the "hum"... the "up" limit is very nice... This has me thinking!!!
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
timebandit

timebandit

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
Best to sell your boat and get a 26S and have what you are after.

mntjohnson2 said:
I thank everyone for their comments about winch and how it is supported. I guess moving the winch in a 25 which is connected to both cockpit and boat floor is a big step. It would therefore be hard to open up the cabin to the space underneath the cockpit.

How about 1/4 foot back into cockpit cutting away the cockpit seats and floor to make the place you sail from be 1.5 feet deeper than footwell now, then add 2 foot walls and sliding roof to match the top of hull of rest of boat. This 1.5 feet more depth plus normal 2.5 feet cockpit plus 2 foot new walls would make a room as big as the normal cabin.

TOM
Click to expand
 
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