Learn About Chartering

Guests always wonder what it takes to get ready for the boating season.

Every October, we head back to Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor where McGregor has been hauled out for the summer. We spend several weeks doing maintenance and various jobs that our charter guests rarely see.

This year, after some research with our good friends at Sam's Marine and combing the Hatteras Tech Talk forum, we tackled a big project. Taking apart our 8" diameter exhaust risers, reinforcing a few of their fittings, and replacing all the hoses was a bigger job than we expected!

We also drilled a 3 3/4" hole in the bottom of the boat (YIKES) so we could install a transducer for our new Garmin GPSMAP 741xs. Not only is it a chart plotter, GPS, and fish finder, but we can now tell our guests some very important information - The Temperature of the Water…which, has been a balmy 82 degrees.

Next up on the project list was to take out the old fiberglass battery boxes, replace the floor with a new sheet of 3/4" marine plywood and fiberglass it in. The finishing touch was installing new heavy duty Todd Marine battery boxes.

Some yearly maintenance includes sanding McGregor's bottom and laying a fresh new coat of bottom paint. As if that's not enough, Captain Tim gets his workout in by waxing the hull and cabin top.

It is always an exciting, yet anxious day when the 100 ton Travel Lift comes to pick us up and carry us to the yacht basin….Back in the water, where McGregor II belongs!