[Buying] Bought 1985 Mac 25
Gentlemen, after 20 years (well, 10, with last 10 drysailing) of sailing Catalina Capri 18, I decided (i.e. the Admiral let me) to buy a larger boat ( this was the first season I took my 10-year old son sailing and he LOVED it! Life is good...). I narrowed it down to 3 - an '86 Hunter 23 (pampered toy, about $1,800 too much, and a bit small), an '83 Catalina 25 fixed keel (3 hrs away, haven't seen her yet), and an '85 Mac 25 (at the boatyard 15 minutes away but no trailer). The Hunter asking price is $5,600, Catalina $4,500, and Mac $2,900 with winter storage and launch includedI'm leaning toward Mac mostly due to price and no major obvious problems. However, the locking pin hole is elongated by about 1/4 inch (no sign of damage) and the hull where the back of the keel is in the up position seams to have been repaired. The repaire seems to have been professionally sanded, but the material does not look like fiber glass - more like a car bondo. The repair does not leak . I have a quote to re-glass and sand it for under $500 and I think much less if I do the sanding. Mac showes signes of wear (the electric system works, but needs retrofit), but no obvious damaged areas. So, the first question is it a fair price?
Second question - by comparison, most of the original hardware on my Catalina appears to be of higher quality, and, frankly, some engineering on the Mac looks almost primitive by comparison. The first thing I'd like to change is the mainsheet system, then add a reefing system, then vang. Finally, update/upgrade lifelines (vinyl is all gone), cleats, TRY to restor exterior wood, and change the shroud/stay chainplates to turnbuckles. Other than IdaSailor abd BWY, are there any other sources for parts for Macs? And am I being too ambitious?
Thanks
Gentlemen, after 20 years (well, 10, with last 10 drysailing) of sailing Catalina Capri 18, I decided (i.e. the Admiral let me) to buy a larger boat ( this was the first season I took my 10-year old son sailing and he LOVED it! Life is good...). I narrowed it down to 3 - an '86 Hunter 23 (pampered toy, about $1,800 too much, and a bit small), an '83 Catalina 25 fixed keel (3 hrs away, haven't seen her yet), and an '85 Mac 25 (at the boatyard 15 minutes away but no trailer). The Hunter asking price is $5,600, Catalina $4,500, and Mac $2,900 with winter storage and launch includedI'm leaning toward Mac mostly due to price and no major obvious problems. However, the locking pin hole is elongated by about 1/4 inch (no sign of damage) and the hull where the back of the keel is in the up position seams to have been repaired. The repaire seems to have been professionally sanded, but the material does not look like fiber glass - more like a car bondo. The repair does not leak . I have a quote to re-glass and sand it for under $500 and I think much less if I do the sanding. Mac showes signes of wear (the electric system works, but needs retrofit), but no obvious damaged areas. So, the first question is it a fair price?
Second question - by comparison, most of the original hardware on my Catalina appears to be of higher quality, and, frankly, some engineering on the Mac looks almost primitive by comparison. The first thing I'd like to change is the mainsheet system, then add a reefing system, then vang. Finally, update/upgrade lifelines (vinyl is all gone), cleats, TRY to restor exterior wood, and change the shroud/stay chainplates to turnbuckles. Other than IdaSailor abd BWY, are there any other sources for parts for Macs? And am I being too ambitious?
Thanks
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