Looking to find out how bad this is.

[Brett Brandon]

We inherited this vessel from our dad passing and am trying to find out how bad the damage to the hull is and if it can be fixed. It has been sitting on the trailer for about 15 years and the hull is pushed in from sitting so long. The keel was lowered to the trailer frame but the weight of the boat still pushed up into the hull.
I am attaching some pics and would appreciate any help/info on if this can be fixed or not.
Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

It is a 1984 MacGregor 25 if this makes a difference.

 

[justsomeguy]

Yeah, a bit of oil canning there. My old one too.
Macs are lightly built and will do that, but it doesn't seem to affect their sailing.
Bottom line, don't worry. Go sailing!

 

[dLj]

On that boat, it probably means nothing. But if you look inside at the structural connections, if none of them show any delamination, you are done. If they do, well you'll have to evaluate in that case. My vote is there is nothing, just put the boat in the water as @justsomeguy says, and go sailing! It'll fix itself in a good season of sailing...

dj

 

[Sailor Sue]

Since it doesn't look like you can adjust the bunks on the trailer I'd be inclined to try to add 3/4 to an inch of material under the keel near the back of the trailer. Raising the keel a bit will take some of the load off the bunks where the hull is deforming.

 

[jssailem]

@Brett Brandon sorry to hear the circumstances that brought the boat into your home. With a boat like this on a lake you can have a lot of fun. Your not going to want to sail to the Bahamas or across the Atlantic. It is not likely that you will sell the boat for a bunch of money. But for family fun as a day sailor it will great. Low to no cost and memories of your father it should be special experience.

 

[rgranger]

That is not a big deal. I've owned three different Macs (two 21s and a 22) and they all did that a little. You can actually push the hull in with your hand. If it does not pop back when you put it in the water, you can probably push it back with your foot from inside (once in the water). You can also lay a strip of foam (cut up a float noodle) tape it to the floor (from inside) and then lay a piece of resin wetted fiberglass cloth over the foam. Let it cure and that will create a stringer in the weakened area to stiffen it up.

Go sailing, find a nice cove, drop anchor and toss one back for you dad. Sorry for you loss.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I am sorry to read about your loss. He was a sailor, so I know he was a special person.

Take Sailor Sue's advice and support the centerboard a little more. If you launch your boat and leave her in the water for a month or so, she'll likely return to her original shape. In the mean time, you can add a couple more supports to your trailer bunks to help keep that shape. 15 years is a long time on a trailer. I had a Hobie that sat for half that time and ended up sitting on the ground around the trailer rollers. Having kids treat it like a trampoline didn't help . Bunks are much better.

Enjoy your dad's legacy.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[rgranger]

one more thing... sand and paint that keel before keeping it in the water. It is not in bad shape now but when they go get in bad shape, it is a much bigger job. An ounce of prevention in this case is warranted.

 

[Brett Brandon]

Yeah, a bit of oil canning there. My old one too.
Macs are lightly built and will do that, but it doesn't seem to affect their sailing.
Bottom line, don't worry. Go sailing!

Thanks for your reply. That makes me feel a bit better about it.

 

[Brett Brandon]

On that boat, it probably means nothing. But if you look inside at the structural connections, if none of them show any delamination, you are done. If they do, well you'll have to evaluate in that case. My vote is there is nothing, just put the boat in the water as @justsomeguy says, and go sailing! It'll fix itself in a good season of sailing...

dj

Thanks, I will definately have a good look inside.

 

[Brett Brandon]

Since it doesn't look like you can adjust the bunks on the trailer I'd be inclined to try to add 3/4 to an inch of material under the keel near the back of the trailer. Raising the keel a bit will take some of the load off the bunks where the hull is deforming.

Thank you. The keel is resting on the trailer and I checked and there is some slack in the cable.

 

[Brett Brandon]

@Brett Brandon sorry to hear the circumstances that brought the boat into your home. With a boat like this on a lake you can have a lot of fun. Your not going to want to sail to the Bahamas or across the Atlantic. It is not likely that you will sell the boat for a bunch of money. But for family fun as a day sailor it will great. Low to no cost and memories of your father it should be special experience.

Thank you so much. He truly loved being on the water and served in the Navy on a mine sweeper in the Korean war.
He was a civillian teacher at the Great Lakes Navel Base (math and electronics) until retirement which is where he had the boat moored. I live in Tennessee and only got to sail with him about a half dozen times.

 

[Brett Brandon]

That is not a big deal. I've owned three different Macs (two 21s and a 22) and they all did that a little. You can actually push the hull in with your hand. If it does not pop back when you put it in the water, you can probably push it back with your foot from inside (once in the water). You can also lay a strip of foam (cut up a float noodle) tape it to the floor (from inside) and then lay a piece of resin wetted fiberglass cloth over the foam. Let it cure and that will create a stringer in the weakened area to stiffen it up.

Go sailing, find a nice cove, drop anchor and toss one back for you dad. Sorry for you loss.

Thanks for the tip. He led a good and full life and will tip a glass of water to him as that is 100% all I drink anymore. I completely changed my lifestyle awhile back to try to ensure good health (I was born with a bad heart). I have seen way too many die in the last four years and almost all from cancer. My dad did not have cancer but was getting a bit of parkensens when he passed.

 

[Brett Brandon]

I am sorry to read about your loss. He was a sailor, so I know he was a special person.

Take Sailor Sue's advice and support the centerboard a little more. If you launch your boat and leave her in the water for a month or so, she'll likely return to her original shape. In the mean time, you can add a couple more supports to your trailer bunks to help keep that shape. 15 years is a long time on a trailer. I had a Hobie that sat for half that time and ended up sitting on the ground around the trailer rollers. Having kids treat it like a trampoline didn't help . Bunks are much better.

Enjoy your dad's legacy.

-Will (Dragonfly)

Thank you. He truly loved the water. Not just being on it, but swimming in it as well. He didn't do any fishing but did own a pet store for some time and caught thousands of fish...

 

[Brett Brandon]

Thanks to all here as I am new to this forum and it seems to be filled with friendly , helpful souls.
May the wind be with you and your sails never luff.

 

[LloydB]

Leave the swing keel supported by the trailer as you have it right now as that's the way it's supposed to be carried when on the trailer. If you lift it up into the boat the boat will have that weight added on the bunks instead of being taken off. (about 400 lbs)
When you're at the boat ramp then lift the keel off of the trailer so it won't slow the launch down, same when you bring the boat back to the ramp lift the keel all the way up while in the water to float onto the trailer the easiest.