MacGregorSailors.com

Howdy folks,

Just got a new-to-me 26M that's seems to be in pretty good shape, but it has some cosmetic defects here and there. The carpet I would say is appropriate for it's age, but there is mold or dirt in some places, and I figure I'd much rather just remove the carpet on the side walls altogether.

Has anyone done that? How big of a job do you think it is?

I wouldn't be in a rush to replace the carpet because I think the fibreglass would look fine, too. But maybe in the future some faux wood paneling might look interesting.

Thoughts/concerns?

Can’t help because X’s do not have carpet. I think you would have to put up some more mouse fur carpet or paint after a lot of sanding. Some of the M folks will answer soon. I am just guessing.
Richard

Firstly, WELCOME to the forum. We have 20 years of Mac experience to draw from.


I would ask why do you want to replace carpet? If it's dirty, a good steam cleaner and some good chemicals (bleach etc) can work wonders.

Russ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:09 pm Firstly, WELCOME to the forum. We have 20 years of Mac experience to draw from.


I would ask why do you want to replace carpet? If it's dirty, a good steam cleaner and some good chemicals (bleach etc) can work wonders.

Thank you! I'm very happy to finally have a MacGregor and to be here!

It looks like the part of the carpet that is dirty/moldy is beyond cleaning. It's gone black! It is the section of carpet under the cushions directly opposite the entrance to the head. Some of the mold also made it into the seat cushions, too. Other than that there are some light water stain streaks in one or two other places on the side wall carpet.

I don't want to replace them, I want to remove them! I'm assuming that removing the wall carpets will:

• -be relatively easy to do. Destruction is always easier than construction
  -Will look pretty good.
  -Will make it easy to remove mold in the future if it takes root

But if a steam clean will do it, I'm open to that, too.

I can understand you.

My M also needs replacement of the carpet I think.

I have no plan yet. Would it be easy to get the carpet out? I guess yes... Then how to prepare for the new?

Better than a carpet maybe leatherette could be. Much easier to clean...

Welcome!

Pizza?

returnofthemac wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 5:55 pm Howdy folks,

Just got a new-to-me 26M that's seems to be in pretty good shape, but it has some cosmetic defects here and there. The carpet I would say is appropriate for it's age, but there is mold or dirt in some places, and I figure I'd much rather just remove the carpet on the side walls altogether.

Has anyone done that? How big of a job do you think it is?

I wouldn't be in a rush to replace the carpet because I think the fibreglass would look fine, too. But maybe in the future some faux wood paneling might look interesting.

Thoughts/concerns?

Somewhere along the way you're going to need some sort of solvent; whether to remove the carpet, or to remove residue, or both. Either way, be sure to be well vented, along with wearing a good mask; K95 won't do

The carpeted wall does have a somewhat echo reducing, quieting effect.

Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to seeing some pics. I don't recall anyone posting about removing the interior covering material. I'd bet it's secured with contact adhesive though. Mine has a few dark tan streaks in it, which I've been told was adhesive bleed-thru. I'm sure it will take some elbow grease. And, getting the adhesive off the hull, so you can get a decent paintable surface may be a challenge. But, it should be doable if you're determined.

My guess is, the carpet was used to provide a quick, user friendly, surface over the rough layup.

Again, welcome!

Many sailboat manufacturers used carpet for the cabin walls and roof. It was a cheap and easy fix to slap the stuff on raw glass and be done with it.

It can be removed. I have done it once on a larger boat and it was a miserable job. A lot of hard work, cussing, and swearing.

There are tons of videos on YouTube that will walk you through the process.

Welcome aboard ,
I remember a few yrs ago someone on here removed their carpet from their & then I believe he sanded it all down then painted it , myself if I was doing it , I,d remove that fuzzy carpet & then replace it with a good quality short pile carpet ,our condo building we just replaced all new carpets in the hallways it looks like vinyl tile but it,s actually carpet so should b easier to clean than that fuzzy stuff , plus if u do recover it with carpet u would not have to b as fussy with the clean up as u would b covering it anyway ?
Lge pizza extra cheese , pineapple & anchovies pls.

also I think the carpet gives u a little more insulation from the heat & cold or damp days & the water rippling along the boat water line
J

If u keep one of these in the boat at all times u,ll never have mold or mildew issue's I buy the larger one last about 4 yrs once it turns red u just toss it in the reg garbage & replace , I keep mine in the aft birth looks just like a small pillow



J

Congrats on the purchase of your 26M. I am also in Austin, TX. Lake Travis to be more specific. Are you planning to sail on Travis? PM me if you are interested in meeting up out there.

Can you provide more information such as year, color, type of outboard?

I have never been a fan of the carpet either. I would prefer the simplicity of the bare fiberglass surface like the 26X has. Way easier to clean. Since I purchased my Mac new, I have been able to take decent care of the carpet, but there are places where it is showing it's 17 years. I think that kurz is onto something with his suggestion of using leatherette (marine vinyl). I am way too lazy to sand and paint the interior of the boat. Gluing on marine vinyl might not be too bad. I think that removing the old carpet might be the hard part. Let us know how that works if you have a go at it.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you get your 26M in the water soon.

Brian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 8:53 pm Congrats on the purchase of your 26M. I am also in Austin, TX. Lake Travis to be more specific. Are you planning to sail on Travis? PM me if you are interested in meeting up out there.

Can you provide more information such as year, color, type of outboard?

I have never been a fan of the carpet either. I would prefer the simplicity of the bare fiberglass surface like the 26X has. Way easier to clean. Since I purchased my Mac new, I have been able to take decent care of the carpet, but there are places where it is showing it's 17 years. I think that kurz is onto something with his suggestion of using leatherette (marine vinyl). I am way too lazy to sand and paint the interior of the boat. Gluing on marine vinyl might not be too bad. I think that removing the old carpet might be the hard part. Let us know how that works if you have a go at it.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you get your 26M in the water soon.

It's a 2011 Mac with a blue hull and a 60hp Evinrude outboard. It came all the way from North Dakota!

Yeah, I didn't realize the fibreglass was rough underneath, I thought it was smooth like the X. That's good to know, because I'm also too lazy to go through the entire process now that I have a clearer idea of what it entails.

I'd rather address the small section of mold and then live with the carpets for now! I ordered the moisture bag and will look for a dry mold treatment. Reading around elsewhere, steam and bleach aren't viable long-term options.

Good topic!

I was also curious about carpet repairs to our 2005 .

Ours came to us barely used, but stored outside, from North Carolina. Inside was nearly pristine until I left a hatch open overnight and racoons came for a visit. (Shame on me!) They tore up a cushion, dug at the carpet in the tip of the V berth, and left souvenirs in some of the storage compartments. Really awful to clean up, but certainly could have been worse.

I've been thinking of patching the offending 2" hole in the v berth carpet (not that anyone is complaining about it), but pulling it off the wall entirely might be another option. Have to agree that the beige carpet, plaid cushions, wood window frames and t-molding feel very 80s to me.

Congrats on your mac and welcome!

We're also in Austin (just south) and would be delighted to swap stories/beers/tools in whatever combination or order you'd like. Have ours stored in Corpus Christi for the summer and have been enjoying weekends afloat.

Pulling that carpet off the wall will be a job. And under it, you will find rough nasty bare fiberglass. As mentioned above, Macgregor found it cheaper to just glue some carpet on the wall than try to make the surface clean and smooth.

I would first try cleaning it and treating it. But this also brings up the question: Why is there mold there in the first place. Is there water leaking in above?

I'd rent a steam carpet cleaner and have at it and see if it comes out. It would be so much less work than redoing all that.

Maybe use something like this.


THEN..........search for water ingress.

Post some pictures so we can see what you are up against. Click "Add image to post" below the edit box below.