Mac 25 top closures

[Tomasan1018]

I purchased an '84 Mac 25 last year; pretty good shape, just needed a some electrical re-wiring & new cushon covers. Locking the swing top took me a while to figure out how it works; bolts on the 4 corners have a SST "bracet" to hold the top closed. I have 1 of these brackets only. I have contacted Macgregor to see if it's possible to get more, no answer. Other than going to a local metal shop to reproduce more, any ideas? Tom

 

[J. Barrett]

Don't need them

Tom, I have had my 1985 M25 for a few years now. It did not come with the brackets and I don't really see a need for them. The top is heavy enough that it isn't going anywhere without help. The only real reason that I can see for the brackets is to allow you to secure your boat while it is not being used. I have the typical padlock hasp from the slider to the companionway panel but all it really does is keep the slider from working its way forward and allowing rain into the gap between it and the panel. I just put a small snapshackle through it to keep it closed. Anyone who would want in could just raise the top slightly and allow the panel to be removed from the companionway. Since mine is in a private slip (for now) I don't worry much about this. As far as when underweigh, the top hasn't budged a bit, even in some pretty heavy sailing. Unless you want them for security reasons, I wouldn't bother -John

 

[Tomasan1018]

It is for security reasons I want these top brackets. We have had a few boats broken into last year, & like you said, someone could slide the top open & gain entry. T

 

[Steve Paul]

The big question

Sticking my nose in here. I am the current Commodore at a large sailing marina in Southern Indiana. We have many boats and some are locked, some are not. We do have an intermittent security problem where one or more boats might be broken into. The question of whether to lock or not is a serious question. If you lock it up tight, we find the slime balls will break anything they can to gain entry. They are usually looking for anything worth money. What we find works best is to leave a small bottle of whiskey partially consumed in plain site. Take home anything you don't want to lose and the low life crud (usually teen agers) will leave with the booz and look at other boats, who we hope have nothing worth while either.I usually leave my lock closed but not locked. That way if a lock will work, the thieves move on without touching the boat since it looks locked from a short distance. Now boat alarms are available and we have marina security but not always at the docks. With lake access it's a tough call I know.Hope this is worth the read and will likely spawn a new thread.Steve P.

 

[Joe Pokorny]

Mac 25 Tor Closers

I had the same problem and made a new one using flat SS stock from West Marine. Not sure what the stock is referred to as (maybe "tangs") but ayway, took my time and bent the steek in a vice and came out with a pretty good copy.Good Luck