Kanundrum of the year

[Redemption]

Okay so I want to start off by saying hello because I am a new user to the site. I am in the middle of restoring a 25 foot swing keel and have hit several snags along the way. I am hoping someone can answer some of these questions for me.

1. is www.boathistoryreport.com reliable? this will come into play in later questions

2. my title claims that my vessel is a 1971 macgregor 26 foot Ive measured her at 25 feet bow to stern. She does not have a hull number I can find or a placard either which is "according to BW Yachts" consistent with the year in doing a search with the boat history site I get this:

HIN: nmz007901181 Model Year: 1981 Certification Year: 1981 (November) Manufacturer: NEW MEXICO HOMEMADE BOATS Manufacturer City/State: NM
would anyone consider it to be worth the time to get a full report on it?

3. any thoughts on what the boat might be if not a mac or a home made? heres my flickr album with all of the pictures I have so far.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48918956@N07/sets/72157625795236895/

 

[Rick D]

It looks like a Mac to me. Don't know if a 25 or 26. I doubt if the history would make a difference to you. For one thing, I had two boats registered as 'home built' simply because it was the most expeditious way for the state authorities to issue a title. So, I doubt that NM registration is reflective of the boat's true origin. (Which is not to say it isn't a valid title. It probably is.)

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Back in 1971 MacGregor Yacht Corporation built only the Venture line. There was no 26 at the time, the largest product they made (I think) was the Venture 24. I'm certain that's what you have. This was also a year before HID numbers were required to be molded into the transom which is why you don't have one.

I'm curious, why the interest in a history report?

 

[Redemption]

I measured the boat bow to stern it comes in at 25 feet not including bow railing or outboard mount. I am interested in the history because I tend to think of the boat as more than a boat. Im a vet and somewhat a high anxiety person and sailing is the only thing that calms me down. for this reason the boat is extra special and important to me.

I am also comming to learn that this vessel has has an interesting history thus far. it was once registered in New York (Reg tags from 1990-2011 were just placed on top of the other)

then this with the titling and of course I would like to learn more about the vessel and get the correct cargo capacity etc

 

[Bill Roosa]

boat length

Typically when measuring a boat you include "every stinking inch you can" I think this is a guy thing (testosterone poisoning) till you have to pay for all those extra inches. So a 25' stem to stern is very likely a 26' with pulpit and stern light factored in. Always round up so 26.00000001 is a 27.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Check out this information:
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=68

If your information that the boat is a 1971 is accurate, it can't be a MacGregor 25 or a Venture 25, they were introduced in 1973 and 1974 respectively. Studying your pictures it's clear that the deck is not a pop-top so that eliminates a Venture 2-24. The only products remaining are the MacGregor 24, built from 1969 - 1971, or the Venture 24, built in (apparently) 1971 only.

It's interesting to note that the referenced site shows a picture of the MacGregor 24 with a Venture sail emblem.

 

[soling42]

There is a book on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Sailors-Book-Small-Cruising-Sailboats/dp/0071636528/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297352310&sr=1-2-fkmr0written by a proverbial expert on all production trailerable boats under 26'. The author was a Sail magazine contributor(among others) in the glory days of trailer boats during the 70's-80's who kept all the brag sheets sent to him by the boat mfgs that he compiled in his book.

He now lives in the retirement community where i work. He's a walking encyclopedia of sailing in that era and a great guy. I'll forward your pics and ask him. Maybe he'll chime in here but either way I'll see if he recognizes your new project.

You might also post this on the trailer sailors forum too. Forums>shared>trailer sailors. It looks nice, congrats and have fun.

Mike

 

[soling42]

I hadn't given him much info beyond the link to your pics. Steve Henkels reply:

"The mystery boat is definitely either a MacGregor or a Venture (made by the same company, MacGregor Yachts, which is still in business and has a website). She is probably a MacGregor 23 or a Venture 23, assuming her length is exactly or very close to 23'-0" on deck (when measured carefully from bow to stern excluding the projecting rudder). Neither 23 is listed in my book, because they are so close in character to the 21, 22, and 25, all of which varied somewhat in appearance over the years."

 

[Redemption]

except the problem with that is that excluding everything but the hull she comes in at 25 feet including the bow railing etc 26 feet so that leaves us no closer to the answer