Macgregor Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Macgregor 22 by Jim Bethea

Year built	1981
Location of boat	South Carolina
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
How the boat is used	Multi-week coastal cruising
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2001
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	I have been a licensed captain since my college days when I ran summer offshore charters to help pay tuitions. I have owned many boats (power
Gear that's been added	Name it...Imagine it...and it is either in or on the "Russian Lady II"........I have a state of the art electrical systems....compare it to the last boat that I had a 53 Hatteras SF.It has GPS....Rescue Equipment...VHF..Telephone..PA...speader lights...radar reflector...instant distress locator-transponder...great but limited galley...I have installed hatches w/cushions on the cockpit seats with undlying large containers w/ drains for ready accessible items such as life vests, extra anchors, sea anchors which is really nice and frees the interior for room to sit and snooze....I have installed twin #27 batteries with separate switch blocks....also have installed solar panel on the cabin slide with coil connections.....A/C and shore power....Twin compasses...twin inclometers...3 panel switches with twin battery monitors....all new teak...teak vents in cabin door...vents on cockpit
Structural or complex improvements	This boat had always been garaged or either in the water and was also well maintained, so there was very little to do to the the structure..I did do a bit of cosmetic touch-ups on a few enevitable areas.I did a complete compounding of the boat with a good mirrow glazing and the best wax I could find, which left it looking like brand new. The boat is in Palm Beach condition......
The boat's best features	The pop-top makes it very accessible during calm periods, but it has to go done when it is 3' to 5' seas.The cabin is OK.....I am use to larger boats but I can deal with this fine for now.It is a wonderful boat for people who like smaller boats.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Absolutely nothing is wrong......I did replace all running rigging with new braids.I replaced all pulleys
Sailing characterisitcs	I do not have a great sail inventory and I certainly do not expect to spend much more money in the sail department for the kind of sails that I prefer.The sails that I have are fairly new and I have thoroughly cleaned and Lysoled them....I keep them stored properly.The sailing characteristics are very managable, but I have never had the boat on flat water like a lake, etc., so from my experiences in the Atlantic, it stands good, responds properly, but does not present the speeds that I would like.But in the boat's defenses, you can't expect a boat that was make for lakes and daysailing to sail fast and endure the abuse of offshore.
Motoring characterisitcs	It has an Evinrude 6 Yachtman motor. I had it completed gone through and it is a nice dependable motor. I have cleaned and resurfaced all of the underwater parts, and anti-foiled them.I do not use it if there is wind, however, I fire her when I have to run in or out of a rough inlet, just in case.
Liveability	We have spend a little night time on this boat. Usually a small party
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	I have not dealt with them directly.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I have purchased boats from dealers but not from a MacGregor dealer.You have good dealers and not so good dealers, however, due to my past experiences, I can usually size a dealer or a broker up in a very few minutes.
Other comments	It is a great, safe, fun boat for what it is....

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