Spring Startup

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
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kingtoros
Chief Steward
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 4:47 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Spring Startup

Post by kingtoros »

Anyone else got as long as a spring startup list as mine? Are we ever "done"? Is the boat ever "finished"?

I store my :macm: on the trailer at an Extra Space storage facility about 15mi away. On my way back to the house the tires deteriorated and needed all four replaced (date code of 2014). While on my way to the shop a couple guys were interested in the boat and asked a bunch of questions.. The most striking was "Is it a lot of maintenance?" My gut reply was no... Am I right, is this not a lot?

----------Spring Startup List
1. Turn Furler Drum 90 degrees
2. Retighten batten pockets
3. Verify outer shrouds are properly aligned and not twisted at mast head
4. Retie Main Halyard with Halyard Hitch knot
5. Inspect motor operation for water impeller issue
6. Seafoam Engine
7. Experiment with IcyBreeze Y pipe next to Galley pointing at Dinette
8. Enable sink with discharge to go to tank in galley instead of bilge and new faucet and pump
9. Repair sanipottie bellows
10. Velcro or fix main bed panels under cockpit from sliding out of place

That's added to the obvious, take tarp off, wash down the boat and add back the batteries...

But this was also on my startup list but is relegated to a future maintenance instead of prior to the first trip:

----------Spring Maintenance
1. Moeller Gas Can Fixes (see below)
- new fill glass for 2nd Can (cracked)
- Honda PBT G30
2. Change Fuel Filter
3. Increase engine idle to try to solve acceleration stalling
4. Home Depot for PVC
7. Create new mast crutch: https://bit.ly/3BqqC54
8. Possibly furler cradle

On top of which these are on the wish lists...

- - - Electrical System Upgrade
- Bought: https://bit.ly/3yKAwx0
- Measure wand Mount Switch and ACR onto plexiglass?
- Replace Perko switch with new switch and battery ACR
- Check Distribution Panel to review wiring
- Add the solar controller next to distribution panel for battery % reporting.
- Fix the Wago wiring in the battery well
- Route 12V plug to distribution panel
- Verify fusing is sufficient

- - - Create Bumpers
- There's line on all three bumpers.
- They need to be measured and a clip added to all for easy deployment and adjustment
- This is quick and easy, but I may want to update the line to match

----------FUTURE Medium Term
- Investigate potable water solutions (this got added to spring startup on we can wash the one year olds hads at sea)
- LED Bulb replacement
- Fuel Water Separator
- Consider head hinge replacement to allow for full opening/shutting
- Fix Head Hinge clip to be able to lock for girls
- Investigate new carpets

----------FUTURE Long Term
- Measure out life lines and take to West Marine to get new life line measured out and created (Pelican hooks are interchangeable)
- Investigate Bimini adjustment or replacement to accommodate boom and stern rail seats
- Storage Ventilation: https://bit.ly/3uX5FfB
- Daggerboard trunk carpet replacement

So you made it to the end.. I'll remind you of my question from the top... Is the boat ever finished??
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Dougiestyle
Engineer
Posts: 145
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:18 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Rockport TX

Re: Spring Startup

Post by Dougiestyle »

The love of the hobby is there to keep your mind sharp and help keep your body in shape. No the boat is never finished.
But dont let the maintenance get in the way of the fun :) .
Dougiestyle
1998 26X , Nissan 50D, "Water Buffalo"
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LakeMac26C
Chief Steward
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:28 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Lake Champlain

Re: Spring Startup

Post by LakeMac26C »

I hope I'm not stealing your thunder by posting my own boat "To Do" list here, but I keep a similar list. Some of them like "electric brakes" are going to be gruelling, and other ones require me to make precise measurements like for stainless steel bolts, etc then go find them at the hardware store. Most of them are not preventing me from sailing, but if I don't finish them now, I'll kick them down the road forever.
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LakeMac26C
Chief Steward
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:28 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Lake Champlain

Re: Spring Startup

Post by LakeMac26C »

PVC carrier for mast and furler for trailering
Touch up paint
Hardware for battery box lids
SS grip for ladder
SS grip for cabin door
Compass cover
Tiller extension (golf club)
Reinstall foam in boat
Pelican hooks for lifelines (dyneema?)
Fix fuel gauge
Weld cracked stantion
Remove and replace waterline
Polish stainless
Rear white light right side doesn't work
Add curtain to head
***⅜" delrin rod for Shear pins for rudder
***PVC tubing for grip next to ladder
-baby stay = 1"x2
-shrouds=1"x4
-14" tall
***PVC piping for basin drain
***Sail slug clips
-¼"x1-¼" min (2)
Clean and polish windows
Pull handle for centerboard
Reef lines installed in sail grommets
Throttle tiller extension
Funnel for CB well
Throttle extension and gear shift pushrod
Red stripes on mast crutches, etc
Scope out trailer rust
Electric brakes
Trailer Inspection
Transfer radio MMSI code
Remove old transducer
Install transducer and chartplotter
Front Hatch weatherstripping
-longer hold down pin mod w/ spring
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kingtoros
Chief Steward
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2021 4:47 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: Spring Startup

Post by kingtoros »

Dougiestyle wrote: Tue Jun 06, 2023 7:01 am The love of the hobby is there to keep your mind sharp and help keep your body in shape. No the boat is never finished.
But dont let the maintenance get in the way of the fun :) .
I like this... You and the others I've met inspire me to buff my own boat.. next year :D
LakeMac26C wrote: Tue Jun 06, 2023 7:07 pm I hope I'm not stealing your thunder by posting my own boat "To Do" list here, but I keep a similar list. Some of them like "electric brakes" are going to be gruelling, and other ones require me to make precise measurements like for stainless steel bolts, etc then go find them at the hardware store. Most of them are not preventing me from sailing, but if I don't finish them now, I'll kick them down the road forever.
Thanks for posting your own list, I've added a few from yours to mine :D I agree that not many of these prevent sailing, the list to go out on the water is far shorter. It's the time before, in between and after
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