Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 25 by Alan Larkin

Year built	1986
Location of boat	Elizabeth City, NC
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	16-22 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1992
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, definitly. I was looking for a boat I could trailer because at the time I was in the Coast Guard and subject to transfer, but mostly to take her out in the sounds where the water sometimes gets a bit shallow, but yet do some serious gunkholing. I have found the boat to be an all around stout vessel. Hand laid glass hull. I have sailed the Chesapeake Bay in 30 knots of wind, Albermale sound, and Pamlico Sounds of NC in similar conditions, and never felt the boat would fail me.
Gear that's been added	I have made numerous improvements including single jiffy reefing for the main, downhaul for the jib, and all lines led aft including the topping lift. Crossing the jib sheets around the leeward winches and bringing them around the widward ones to the jam cleats allows me to stay on the windward side of the boat and by just pulling the line between the two allows me to sheet in without having to use a winch handle. VU JADE" has been a fine vessel. If MacGregor had made a 30 foot boat, I would buy one as I am ready to upgrade and pleased with their product. Additionally, I have designed a jib bag that you just un-velcro (trademark) un-snap a headstay snap, and hoist the sail right out of the bag. It falls to the deck for easy closure when you lower the sail. Works great and many of my friends have had one made.
Structural or complex improvements	None
The boat's best features	Hand Laid hullSwing keel ( Keeps the center of gravity low)Good interior layout
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The interior keel winch hanle is inconvinent. Gets in the way in the cabin and prevents putting items needed nest to the companionway, IE: flashlights, fire extingusher and electrical panel. Cut a hole in the forward cocpit facing and rotated my winch 180 degrees so it is in the cockpit for single handing. Put foam around the opening to keep water out( works great. Can actually hoist the keel while tending the tiller)..
Sailing characterisitcs	Solid boat, but tends to round up in high winds or gusts. Attribute this to the thin deep keel. Easing the sails keeps that from happening.
Motoring characterisitcs	Boat tends to turn if the tiller is not tended, also, single handing tends to be a problem when you are motoring as the shift in weight when you go forward to do work causes the boat to round up, or fall off depending of the direction of the wind. I use a 6HP Johnson, and it has always provided me the power to get where I need to. I think any more is a waste of HP
Liveability	Comfotable for about 3 people. Any more gets crowded. Have had as many as 9 aboard for swimming. (NO FUN) Filled the porta potty rather quickly
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	They have provided me with replacement parts cheaper than aftermarket vendors. A Till for $25.00 + shipping isn't bad.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	No, Just went in and bought it as it was wwhat I was looking for and the price was acceptable.
Other comments	Really wih they still made " True SAILBOATS"

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