I just acquired a 1985 macgregor 25. the forward and aft compartments are jammed full of styrofoam blocks. i havene't sailed this boat yet and i am not familiar with the characteristics of this boat. However if anyone has an experience with these blocks i would appreciate input. looking for more storage space
Styrofoam in Macgregor 25.
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This topic comes up every few months. We need a sticky.
Before MacGregor built the X and M models - powersailors - a large number of buyers of their sailboats were first time, inexperienced sailors. MacGregor put enough styrofoam into them that they would float even if completely flooded. This was, imo, a marketing tool that helped reassure inexperienced buyers.
As you probably know, the great majority of sailboats don't have flotation and if flooded, would head for the bottom faster than a nuclear submarine. Well, maybe not that fast.
In my opinion, the danger of sinking is so small that if you have need of the space occupied by the styrofoam and don't feel uncomfortable with that small safety factor missing, then go ahead and take it out.
I don't yet have need of that space on my boat but if I did, I would have no qualms about removing the foam.
Keep in mind that if you want to resell the boat, the presence of the foam might be a good sales factor.
Before MacGregor built the X and M models - powersailors - a large number of buyers of their sailboats were first time, inexperienced sailors. MacGregor put enough styrofoam into them that they would float even if completely flooded. This was, imo, a marketing tool that helped reassure inexperienced buyers.
As you probably know, the great majority of sailboats don't have flotation and if flooded, would head for the bottom faster than a nuclear submarine. Well, maybe not that fast.
In my opinion, the danger of sinking is so small that if you have need of the space occupied by the styrofoam and don't feel uncomfortable with that small safety factor missing, then go ahead and take it out.
I don't yet have need of that space on my boat but if I did, I would have no qualms about removing the foam.
Keep in mind that if you want to resell the boat, the presence of the foam might be a good sales factor.
Unlike Robspan I say keep the flotation in. I am not a new "inexperienced" first time buyer. Over the past 40 years I have had three Ventures and all came with foam floatation. If you want to make more room for storage, do what I did. Cut the large blocks into smaller chunks and push them forward into the V-berth. Then put in a bulkhead aft of the blocks and you will pickup a good sized storage area for things not used all the time. I keep my anchors in this area where they are easy to get at but out of the way. AS far as the aft blocks do the same and shove them aft where you rarely go. These blocks are like insurance. You only find out you need them when you don't have them. Fair Winds and Full Sails...
Some of these blocks will be a chore to remove.
When scrapping a 1981 Mac 25, I discovered there is roughy 27 cubic feet of foam floatation in these boats, ranging from small "filler" pieces in the bow to larger 36"x12"x12" under the hull liner in the stern. I would think you could remove a percentage of them without adversely affecting things too much.
When scrapping a 1981 Mac 25, I discovered there is roughy 27 cubic feet of foam floatation in these boats, ranging from small "filler" pieces in the bow to larger 36"x12"x12" under the hull liner in the stern. I would think you could remove a percentage of them without adversely affecting things too much.
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fwiw, I see blocks of stryofoam sitting between trailers at the local northern tool store, that were used for shipping. You might be able to get new blocks free or very cheap.
The old foam seems to break up over time... some have painted the blocks to keep them intact.
-Will you be mostly on the banana river? or you plan on going offshore?
The old foam seems to break up over time... some have painted the blocks to keep them intact.
-Will you be mostly on the banana river? or you plan on going offshore?
I would leave them, too. The previous owners of my 26X had somehow managed to store enough stuff in the boat that it took my FIL and myself about half a day or so just to empty it. The pile filled half my garage. And that was with all the foam blocks in place. They had more 'stuff' in there than I had in my 34 footer, including a microwave, a TV, and a 120V mini fridge.
I think you would be hard pressed to fill it to where you need to start ripping out flotation unless you intend to live on it for long periods, like the POs of my boat, and they still had it all in there. I think they used it as a camper while it was on the trailer, which, by the way, they added a second axle to, in part (I suspect) because they had it so loaded down with 'stuff' that the original 3500 lb axle was overloaded.
I think you would be hard pressed to fill it to where you need to start ripping out flotation unless you intend to live on it for long periods, like the POs of my boat, and they still had it all in there. I think they used it as a camper while it was on the trailer, which, by the way, they added a second axle to, in part (I suspect) because they had it so loaded down with 'stuff' that the original 3500 lb axle was overloaded.
Fair Winds and Full Sails....Styrofoam input
I'm glad to hear this, my original thought was and still is to redistribute the foam around my additions(fresh water tank, holding tank) I will not be in open water on this vessel and will probably hand it down as I upgrade in the future. Thank you for this input.
I'm glad to hear this, my original thought was and still is to redistribute the foam around my additions(fresh water tank, holding tank) I will not be in open water on this vessel and will probably hand it down as I upgrade in the future. Thank you for this input.
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