Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 17 by Rob

Year built	1973
Location of boat	York, PA
The boat is sailed on	Rivers
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	solo
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2008
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes. Great solid boat. Nice size for a quick solo sail after work, or a day out with the wife or friends. Easily maneuvered on/off the trailer by one person, where a heavier or longer boat might need two people. Tows nicely with a 6 cylinder car.
Gear that's been added	Moves near hull speed with a 4 horse outboard that's light and small enough to store on the floor of the cockpit. I made a PVC pipe "field goal post" to hold the mast while I pin it to the mast step and prepare to raise it solo. With two people I don't need it. I removed the cushions from the V-berth and put carpet on the floor and walls for 2" more space and less fear of ripping a cushion when shoving the boom in the cabin. I added a GPS/depthfinder -- epoxied the transducer to the inside of the hull. Works great. Bought a swaging tool and made my own shrouds using components from Lowe's. Can't do that sort of thing on a big boat. Added a brake winch for the keel. Added a Windex. Clamp-on battery powered Nav lights from Wal Mart.
Structural or complex improvements	I made a 12' tongue extension for the trailer so I could launch it with a station wagon without dunking the rear of the car on the notoriously shallow ramps around here. When launching with a pickup truck I don't use it, but I'm in the water up to the center of the rear wheels.
The boat's best features	Fits in a garage, easy to tow, Nice size to launch and retrieve. Moves along in the faintest of puffs, but also blasted along in 20+ mph winds and 4-6' waves on the southern Potomac. (see youtube video)
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Non-brake keel winch and galvanized cable replaced early on with a cheapie from Harbor Freight. The pawl on that failed and nearly broke my arm. Ordered a US-made $44 brake winch from Northern Tool and wish I'd have done it sooner. Pine hatch slides split - made new ones out of teak and used brass hardware. Classed it up a bit. The mast holder (for trailering/storage) on the bow interfered with the jib on a few occasions. I got rid of it and mounted a piece of schedule 40 pipe on the trailer to hold the base of the mast.
Sailing characterisitcs	ghost along in the faintest puffs with a working jib and stretched out main. Near hull speed on a reach under unreefed main alone in 20+ mph winds. Batten blew out but otherwise nothing broke or even gave indication of being near breaking point. Very impressed! Tacks easily. Accelerates quickly (light weight) Heels to 30 degrees.
Motoring characterisitcs	near hull speed with a 2 stroke 4 HP Yamaha long shaft that has a one gallon internal tank. No messing with fuel hoses and plastic tanks in the way... Drop down motor mount requires tilting the motor to get the prop completely out of the water. I lock the motor in forward and steer with the rudder, only turning the motor for very tight docking maneuvers.
Liveability	A couple could overnight with ample gear stowed in the quarter berths. A family of 4 would have to put some gear (or a sleeper) in the cockpit. Someone installed a 7x7 hatch with removable screen near the bow. This helps with airflow.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
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