Macgregor motor mount

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azsailing

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Oct 8, 2014
51
NA NA NA
Hi Guys,
I am getting kind if serious about buying a 91 Mac 26s for sale in my area as my first sailboat. One issue with the boat I am looking at is it has no motor and no mounting bracket. I already posted a question regarding outboards, but I am wondering what people recommend for a bracket? I wish I had thought to get a pic of the stern, maybe this weekend.
 
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crpdm

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Oct 23, 2008
38
Macgregor 26D Highlake IL
If it is a 26S (swing center board) then it should not need a motor bracket. The motor clamps directly to the transom in the motor well. A bracket is only needed if you want to mount an oversized motor like a 4 stroke or, like me, a Johnson 35. If you need pictures of my home-made mount, I can post them.
Regards,
Karl Heinze
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
that is a good subject for the search as it gets asked fairly often. At the top of the page, there is a blue bar - use the search between "boat info" and "login".

the transom mount is one of the things I like about the 26D/S..
 
finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
You will notice that the trim piece on the transom mount is probably cracked and broken.
I don't think Roger put allot of thought into this area when he designed these boats. The trim piece hides a really bad joint between the hull and the cabin top.
On all of my boats the trim piece was damaged or just gone. I noticed that when you tighten your OB to the transom that the trim piece gets crushed as it's the only thing that sticks out that far. So the motor ends up sitting on a bit of an angle. Like this / instead of this l .
I have made a mold out of fiberglass to replace this trim piece and have made it so it isn't as low sitting so the motor mount doesn't press directly onto it. (Fits my Mercury and Johnson OB mounts anyway.) I'll post pictures of how my first piece comes out when it gets warm enough to make one. Or if I put a heater in the garage and make one this winter.
Here is a picture of the motor well from the back on my newest 26D. The other boats are all similar.
 

Attachments

finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
crpdm said:
If it is a 26S (swing center board) then it should not need a motor bracket. The motor clamps directly to the transom in the motor well. A bracket is only needed if you want to mount an oversized motor like a 4 stroke or, like me, a Johnson 35. If you need pictures of my home-made mount, I can post them.
Regards,
Karl Heinze
Click to expand
A Johnson 35!
Can you get the boat up on plane with that?
You will want to beef up that area between the well and the hull with some plywood and fiberglass or you will have problems. (It's not the strongest area and even thought there is a 1/4" piece of plywood in there I don't think it's enough structure even for a 9.9hp.)
I'd love to see pictures of your set up.
 
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azsailing

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Oct 8, 2014
51
NA NA NA
It does have a centerboard that swings down, so I take it that means it is a 26S? Thanks for the info guys. Yes I too would love to see photos of others set up, although I am glad to know I can go right onto the transom at least for now.
 
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katana750

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Sep 30, 2012
224
macgregor 26s 1993 cranbrook bc
I bought a garelick motor mount for four strokes on my 26s...I had the motor mounted to the transom for 3 seasons. I always found the outboard kind of awkward to use from that position. I bought the motor mount for a different set of reasons, but after I tried it out I noticed I really liked the new motor position. It should really help when im motoring in shallow water and keep my rudder down.
 
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azsailing

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Oct 8, 2014
51
NA NA NA
crpdm said:
If it is a 26S (swing center board) then it should not need a motor bracket. The motor clamps directly to the transom in the motor well. A bracket is only needed if you want to mount an oversized motor like a 4 stroke or, like me, a Johnson 35. If you need pictures of my home-made mount, I can post them. Regards, Karl Heinze
Click to expand

Hey Karl,
I am wondering what kind of speeds do you get with the Johnson 35? I would like photos of your set up if you have them.

John
 
K

katana750

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Sep 30, 2012
224
macgregor 26s 1993 cranbrook bc
I would have to guess not very fast.....but you could make a pretty impressive wake :)
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
I have a merc 2 stroke 9.9 in my well and it does fine as long as there is no handle it swings ok but I have asked about the mount too and it sounds like a fair mod, but to be clear its a low priority as there are plenty of other places to spend $.

My profile pic is one that shows the motor in the well.

Hey Marty, if your mold works out you may be able to make a little cash from some of us who need to replace ours. :)
 

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finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Great idea Doc!
I'll see how the mold lasts after I get the 3 I need out of it. (I didn't really make it to last for production...)
 
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BILLNPR

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Mar 9, 2009
84
Macgregor 26S New Port Richey, Fl
Garelick motor mount or Catalina Sailboat has a similar one. I have a less expensive one,but worry about it's strength. They make a great difference in motor handling.
 
C

crpdm

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Oct 23, 2008
38
Macgregor 26D Highlake IL
After my 9.9 was stolen, I didn't start out looking for a big motor, just one with electric start. (I hate when the motor dies pulling up to the pier and I have to turn around to pull the rope starter). I found this one at a great price so I made it fit.

I have not had the boat on plane with the 35, but I imagine I could if I carried fewer crew and less beer. I have had it wide open throttle only a couple of times but the boat was loaded.

I made the mount from a piece of 2 x 12 sandwiched between two pieces of .090 thick stainless. It is attached to the boat by two pieces of 2" x 4" aluminum extrusion made for industrial automation. There are two more .090 stainless backing plates inside the lazarette.

The mounting plate was too thin for the transom clamps on the motor so I added some cedar spacers. The plate bent on the first time out but has been fine that way for 10 years.

I retrofited the remote controls from an old Mercury because it's too hard to reach the tiller. This was true of the original 9.9 as well. For next season I will add a link to the rudder so they steer together.

Regards,
Karl Heinze
 

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walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Karl, looks like you were the original one to make a mount like that. Too bad I didnt see that a long time ago.

About five years ago, I made something similar. The thread below is where we discussed this - also shows some alternative ideas.

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=113962&highlight=nissan+rotate&page=2

I made a similar bracket that moved the outboard up 2.5 inches and back 2 inches so that it would full rotate - used a XLshaft so the prop ended up being 2.5 inches deeper than the long shaft. Shortly after, Sumner made something similar but his bracket raised the outboard by 5 inches and also made it removable so that he could put on his dingy outboard.

I’ve been using that setup for 5 years (just used it yesterday).. still very pleased with it. http://analogengineering.com/sail/mac/out9.jpg
 
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