new sailboat owner

[trainmanjess]

hello to all.... i am new to the sailboat scene.... i just bought my 1st sailboat, a MacGregor 25... i purchased it at a charity auction... i am eager to start sailing it, but it needs some work... it sat in the old owners back yard for 3 yrs before he donated it to the charity auction... i am proud of my investment, and if anyone has advice for me, please send it to me... i plan to take some refresher sailing courses at the local lake, for it has been about 15 yrs since i sailed... i learned when me oldest son was a boy scout.

thanks
Jess

 

[kloudie1]

Welcome aboard, Jess .. so it will be "All Aboard !" before pulling away from the dock !

 

[Nodak7]

hello to all.... i am new to the sailboat scene.... i just bought my 1st sailboat, a MacGregor 25... i purchased it at a charity auction... i am eager to start sailing it, but it needs some work... it sat in the old owners back yard for 3 yrs before he donated it to the charity auction... i am proud of my investment, and if anyone has advice for me, please send it to me... i plan to take some refresher sailing courses at the local lake, for it has been about 15 yrs since i sailed... i learned when me oldest son was a boy scout.

thanks
Jess

Welcome Jess! Good starter boat! You will have a blast with it. Is it in fair shape? Any water damage to the interior? Do the windows leak?

Good luck with her and have fun! Merry Christmas!~

 

[Merlin Clark]

Congrats on the boat Jess! There is an excellant Mac owners forum here on SBO, great participation and a lot of very cool projects.
Welcome aboard and Merry Christmas!

 

[Sumner]

Congrats on the boat Jess! There is an excellant Mac owners forum here on SBO, great participation and a lot of very cool projects.
Welcome aboard and Merry Christmas!

Yep, don't leave this board altogether but also visit us Mac owners over here...

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=68

...and congrats on the new boat. I also have lots of Mac/Venture links below,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[finding41]

Hey welcome. I was new like you last year. I didn't take any refresher lessons though. I joined a Yacht club and started racing once a week getting guys that knew what they were doing to crew with me. It comes back fast.
You have joined the right site to ask questions and get good answers to do with anything related to sailing or boat repair. There is a wealth of knowledge here!

 

[shemandr]

Congrats and where is Lake Monroe - forgive my ignorance.

 

[Indysailor]

Welcome! Are you trailer sailing or keeping it in the water? Always nice to see more sails on the lake.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

mac board here is very active.

-check the keel pivot hole / bushing/bearing... make sure you don't loose the keel!

 

[arknoah]

Welcome aboard! I've found the 25 to be a great boat, especially as I am a beginner and it doesn't have many complicated systems in it.

It's been great for us as has been this forum and the Macgregor Sailors forum as well.

 

[topcat0399]

Welcome to your new addiction and empty bank account!

A flock of silent sailboats is far more beautiful and exciting to behold than any gaggle of screaming power boats.

 

[trainmanjess]

it sat in the old owners backyard for 3 years, no cabin doors... it need new cushions, and bed.... and i will also replace the galley... there is some paint pealing from the ceiling, but otherwise it is in great shape.... the ropes all need replacing, a couple of the standing rigging needs some work, or replaced.... hull is in great shape, a couple of scrapes on it, but i have someone who can fix that, and give it a new paint job... overall, the sailboat is in great shape... needs cleaning and polishing on the hull and deck...

 

[rardiH36]

Hi:

Congrats on embarking on your new hobby/venture/obsession.

Re your description of the hull scrapes. Since you also mention the hull can use some polishing, I infer that aside from the scrapes that the gelcoat (i.e. the existing hull surface you can see) is basically sound. If this is the case, presume that you are anticipating that just the repair scrapes will be painted to match the rest of the hull? This is certainly the way to go. Resist the temptation to repaint the entire hull unless really really necessary. Dull gelcoat can be cleaned/buffed/waxed to almost new appearance. Just a note that gelcoat matching kits are readily available. While the repair might be noticeable on very close inspection, from even just a few feet away, no one (even you) will ever notice.

 

[Freedom77]

Trainmanjess: Welcome to the Legion of the Damned. Three years is not an acceptional time in fiberglass years. What year and hull number is she. Has she got a name, (very important). Freedom is our third "yacht" and is 36 years old and has been sitting in my sideyard in Nevada for all those years. Except for wear and tear and aging She is in pretty good shape. Haven't been out in a while since my beloved First Mate went to the big regata but I plan on "trying" to get out soon. Where is Lake Monroe? We have the opposite problem from other parts of the country. Humidity is not a factor. You could dehydrate the Sahara here. As my buddy Sumner says, check out MacGregorowners site and I might add find a sailing/Yacht club in your area. I guarantee that you will meet, with rare exception, some of the nicest folks you will ever come across and they are always willing to give advice and a beverage. Keep us posted on your progress. Happy Holidays...

 

[trainmanjess]

hello all

thanks for the advice. the scrapes on the hull are from the old trailer it was sitting on, in the old owners back yard. the old trailer broke when he was towing it home, and just parked it in his back yard, and left it to the elements for 3 yrs. i have done a full survey, and the hull and deck are in great shape. i have a friend who works with fiberglass and repairs boats. he said he can do the job for me. and he will also do the gelcoat for me too. and i will polish the rest of it. i was thinking about a full waterline paint job before i take her out in the spring. but as i have to buy a main sail, jib sail, and running rigging also, i think the paint job will wait until next winter. any ideas on sails, ropes, blocks, cleats, and other items for the running rigging. i do not have deep pockets and am on a budget for my new baby to fix her up. oh... lake monroe is a big lake in Indiana, just south of Indianapolis. it is a beautiful lake. it is where i 1st learned ot sail when my oldest son was a boy scout, at boy scout camp.

thank you
Jess

fair winds, and smooth sailing all

 

[Griffinroydonald]

Good luck to you. I also started with an old used boat years ago. I am slow and it took me two years to get it in shape where I felt safe sailing it. I replaced all the rigging and hardware as I could. I watched local papers and bought any used gear that I could find.I used what I needed and pass the extra parts to others who do not have deep pockets. I made deals with people who would use the boat for their labor and or parts. This works very well for me as I need help with the boat when launching and sailing. I even post on Facebook for crew when needed. I can't wait for spring.

 

[soldier1964]

welcome to SBO jess. nice boat to take on monroe. Im up at eagle creek with mine but its trailerable. sails can be had at pretty reasonable prices around. call some of them around indy for fair pricing on alot of your items and also here in the store. hope to sail with you soon either down here or on lake michigan...

 

[Indysailor]

Lake Monroe Sailing Assoc. has a sail sale toward the end of May. You may find sails or make connections with people who know of used sails. Just remember, they are the engine of your boat, so to speak, so if their is one place to invest, you may find it worth the extra dollars to not go on the cheap.