Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 23 by Gord Stewart

Year built	1976
Location of boat	Lake Fanshawe, London Ontario
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1995
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Most definitely. This is a sweetheart, with classic lines and good upwind performance.
Gear that's been added	Saturn bulkhead mounted compass, Eagle fishfinder (depth), spreader light, all-round anchor light.
Structural or complex improvements	12 inch wide bowsprit to support the stock pulpitand an anchor roller to carry the Bruce anchor. Modified the rudder with large 1/4 inch aluminium cheekplates and modified the upper end so that the blade will pivot clear of the water for easy boarding while anchoring out in shallow water (stern in so you keep dry). Added a mast raising kit from MacGregor that makes raising and lowering the mast virtually a one person operation. Installed a pivot type motor lifter and disabled the standard lock on the motor bracket to make raising and lowering the motor a breeze.
The boat's best features	Most of the time I've sailed her in 10 - 15 Knots of wind. On occassion, I have gone out in stronger conditions with reefed main and staysail only. Once due to a bad weather forecast I was caught 10 NM offshore in 25 Kt winds gusting to 40 Kt. Although we took water aboard she was a trooper and other than a lot of heel and a lot of weatherhelm she took it all and brought us home. This is a good solid boat that will not let you down. I've made "improvements" to her but not because I've had to.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The standard trailer is not well suited to long distance travel. I had the axle moved back 8 inches to put positive tongue weight on the hitch thus doing away with the tail wagging and added electric brakes to do away with the "push-back". These modifications make it a dream to tow. The winch tower is too high to facilitate easy loading and launching. You must remove the bobstay or risk damage as it tears its way through the "V" rest on the tower. I lowered my tower by 6 inches and installed an electric winch. recovery is much easier now.
Sailing characterisitcs	She goes well to windward and on a beam reach in a stiff breaze is exciting. Downwind performance is a challenge. You are better to make a series of jibes and run slightly off the wind on broad reaches rather than straight down wind. There is no way to set up to truely go wing on wing (on wing).
Motoring characterisitcs	Responds well to the Johnson 9.9 longshaft I rarely need full throttle
Liveability	This boat is great for 2 people "Gunkholing" for up to one week or one person for a little longer. After that, mutiny is a word that comes to mind.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	The area MacGregor supplier has been great and very helpful. I make at least one visit to this store annually. They have my information on file and although I live an hour and a half away know me as a person, not a number.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Purchased this gem privately
Other comments	This boat is solid. It is also a good teacher. It may catch you off guard and shake you up, but will always forgive you once you see the error of your ways. In the 11 years I have sailed the Venture of Newport I have never regretted my descission to buy her.

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