I own a 2002 26x which I purchased new from Boating Atlanta and took to the Bahamas, the vessel is now back at Boating Atlanta with the water ballast pouring water into the cabin (she went down under me the next time I took her out) the interior sections are seperating from the hull and the exterior hull has stress cracking. WE ran into some 3-5 ft seas on the way back however the advertising said the vessel is made to go offshore. Anybody else had a problem with one coming apart?
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Norman
Wow!
How is the ballast leaking into the cabin? I have a 5 month old 2002 X and have not had any of these problems. Although I've only been out in rough water once (SF Bay). I've been following the 2 major 26X fourms for about 4 years now, and have never heard of this happening to anyone. Try your post over at trailorsailor.com 26x fourms. There is a wealth of knowlagable people there. Norm.
How is the ballast leaking into the cabin? I have a 5 month old 2002 X and have not had any of these problems. Although I've only been out in rough water once (SF Bay). I've been following the 2 major 26X fourms for about 4 years now, and have never heard of this happening to anyone. Try your post over at trailorsailor.com 26x fourms. There is a wealth of knowlagable people there. Norm.
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Norman
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MArk
Smells fishy
Hey Madison, Is this the same boat of which you were making inquiries about leaks on 9/24/2002? "Does anyone have any knowledge of any water ballast problems with the Mac 26X? Leaking, Sinkings etc. Please , I need to know. mgb@blackwells-inc.com Thank You!" - Madison Blackwell And was sunk the next month? "The Eden, a Mac 26x purchased new less than one year before she went down, sank in the Chattahoochee River due, so the insurance surveyor determined, to a large leak which developed in the vessel's water ballast compartment. Now the insurance company is saying that I have a manufactors defect and I am still waiting to hear back from Macgregor.Nothing like having a new boat which one is paying on and cannot use for its intended use and purpose. Will keep you posted as to developments. Has anyone else had a water ballast problem?" - Madison Blackwell To which I replyed on 10/18/2002: "Sorry to here about your loss. I'm assuming the boat didn't actually sink but filled with water to the gunwales. I'm thinking about buying a 26X or 26M in the spring and any information would be helpful to me. From the little I know about the 26X it would seem that even if the balast tank failed and the fill valve was closed, you would just get wet carpet. I too recommend you get your own lawyer and be sure to get your own independent marine suveyor inspection. If this goes to court, you may have to prove that someone else is liable." - MArk And you said you had a lawyer looking into it on 10/22/2002? "A 26x will go down by the stern when the 50hp motor is attached. (note the company ads show a 26x without a motor) Elton Porter Marine / Midland claims are insurers. I had expected the Macgregor company to take an avid interest in finding out why the water ballast container failed (thought they would want to strengthen any suspect areas etc.)Have retained a lawyer ( its an adversary system we live in) My happiest thought is that this sinking happened in the river and not out of sight of land." - Madison Blackwell Many others reply to your message at that time also but we never heard what the final outcome was. Is this the same boat or did you manage to buy both of the only 2 MacGregors ever built to have this problem? Unless this boat fell off the trailer, was in an "accident" or was dropped from lifting slings, I can't see what you are saying ever happening. The 26X is hand laid. The ballast tanks are integral to the hull structure, not just glued on. We deserve an explaination as to what is really going on here. Please explain yourself and don't just duck out of sight for another 6 months like last time. (quotes taken from archives) MArk
Hey Madison, Is this the same boat of which you were making inquiries about leaks on 9/24/2002? "Does anyone have any knowledge of any water ballast problems with the Mac 26X? Leaking, Sinkings etc. Please , I need to know. mgb@blackwells-inc.com Thank You!" - Madison Blackwell And was sunk the next month? "The Eden, a Mac 26x purchased new less than one year before she went down, sank in the Chattahoochee River due, so the insurance surveyor determined, to a large leak which developed in the vessel's water ballast compartment. Now the insurance company is saying that I have a manufactors defect and I am still waiting to hear back from Macgregor.Nothing like having a new boat which one is paying on and cannot use for its intended use and purpose. Will keep you posted as to developments. Has anyone else had a water ballast problem?" - Madison Blackwell To which I replyed on 10/18/2002: "Sorry to here about your loss. I'm assuming the boat didn't actually sink but filled with water to the gunwales. I'm thinking about buying a 26X or 26M in the spring and any information would be helpful to me. From the little I know about the 26X it would seem that even if the balast tank failed and the fill valve was closed, you would just get wet carpet. I too recommend you get your own lawyer and be sure to get your own independent marine suveyor inspection. If this goes to court, you may have to prove that someone else is liable." - MArk And you said you had a lawyer looking into it on 10/22/2002? "A 26x will go down by the stern when the 50hp motor is attached. (note the company ads show a 26x without a motor) Elton Porter Marine / Midland claims are insurers. I had expected the Macgregor company to take an avid interest in finding out why the water ballast container failed (thought they would want to strengthen any suspect areas etc.)Have retained a lawyer ( its an adversary system we live in) My happiest thought is that this sinking happened in the river and not out of sight of land." - Madison Blackwell Many others reply to your message at that time also but we never heard what the final outcome was. Is this the same boat or did you manage to buy both of the only 2 MacGregors ever built to have this problem? Unless this boat fell off the trailer, was in an "accident" or was dropped from lifting slings, I can't see what you are saying ever happening. The 26X is hand laid. The ballast tanks are integral to the hull structure, not just glued on. We deserve an explaination as to what is really going on here. Please explain yourself and don't just duck out of sight for another 6 months like last time. (quotes taken from archives) MArk
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Madison Blackwell
It does smell, now
This is the same boat, the timeline is pretty streightforward, Sank Aug.11, 2002, still awaiting settlement tho it is now back at the selling dealer. Sorry that I haven't been as attentive to this forum as I perhaps should have been.
This is the same boat, the timeline is pretty streightforward, Sank Aug.11, 2002, still awaiting settlement tho it is now back at the selling dealer. Sorry that I haven't been as attentive to this forum as I perhaps should have been.
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Timm Miller
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Madison Blackwell
No sir, Merchant Marine Officer
Nope, I am a merchant marine officer and have been one for over 13 years now. Never owned a bayliner and researched the Mac for a couple of years before I bought her. Sometimes facts are a little strange however, the boat speaks for herself.
Nope, I am a merchant marine officer and have been one for over 13 years now. Never owned a bayliner and researched the Mac for a couple of years before I bought her. Sometimes facts are a little strange however, the boat speaks for herself.
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Timm Miller
It's true
Boating Atlanta confirmed this....... with the kinds of beatings we can get here in the Chesapeake and the Sounds of the Carolinas.......I surely hope that this is one in a million thing.
Boating Atlanta confirmed this....... with the kinds of beatings we can get here in the Chesapeake and the Sounds of the Carolinas.......I surely hope that this is one in a million thing.
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Norman
1 in approx 5300
One in about 5300 it seems. Since thats approx how many were built. I still don't understand how the water "leaked" out of the ballast into the boat.
One in about 5300 it seems. Since thats approx how many were built. I still don't understand how the water "leaked" out of the ballast into the boat.
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Madison
seam split, or a seperation
I am not sure either,Mark at Boating Atlanta has had a better look at it,we are most glad that we did not pull the ballast plug out on the gulf stream!
I am not sure either,Mark at Boating Atlanta has had a better look at it,we are most glad that we did not pull the ballast plug out on the gulf stream!
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Timm Miller
Thats right
Boating Atlanta verfied it and say that it happened on a return crossing from Bimini........
Boating Atlanta verfied it and say that it happened on a return crossing from Bimini........
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Madison
sinking
We (the wife and myself) took the Eden to the Bahamas and returned after a two week stay at the end of June,2002. We trailered her back to sanctuary, put her in the boat port, cleaned her up and she stayed drydocked until Sunday afternoon 8/11/02 when I put the boat into the Chattahoochee River motored downstream for about 10 miles, dropped the anchor, pulled up the ballast plug and took a nap. I awoke feeling something was wrong and found the cabin full of water.I tried to 'dump' water out of the vessel by the normal means of draining the water ballast, this however caused the motor to go under and stop.She eventually drifted close enough to the bank to be secured by anchors and lines and I went to find assistance. The next day she was under water except for a small portion of the bow, held upon the bank by lines.I did not realize the extent of the vessels damage until it was surveyed at Boating Atlanta.We now know that God was with us on the return crossing and that had we pulled up the ballast plug then,or, had the stress cracking penetrated the hull, or had the seams come apart to a greater degree, this story may well have had a very different ending. AS it is,the sad story continues causing me to ponder the appropriate course to take with the insurance company and Macgregor.
We (the wife and myself) took the Eden to the Bahamas and returned after a two week stay at the end of June,2002. We trailered her back to sanctuary, put her in the boat port, cleaned her up and she stayed drydocked until Sunday afternoon 8/11/02 when I put the boat into the Chattahoochee River motored downstream for about 10 miles, dropped the anchor, pulled up the ballast plug and took a nap. I awoke feeling something was wrong and found the cabin full of water.I tried to 'dump' water out of the vessel by the normal means of draining the water ballast, this however caused the motor to go under and stop.She eventually drifted close enough to the bank to be secured by anchors and lines and I went to find assistance. The next day she was under water except for a small portion of the bow, held upon the bank by lines.I did not realize the extent of the vessels damage until it was surveyed at Boating Atlanta.We now know that God was with us on the return crossing and that had we pulled up the ballast plug then,or, had the stress cracking penetrated the hull, or had the seams come apart to a greater degree, this story may well have had a very different ending. AS it is,the sad story continues causing me to ponder the appropriate course to take with the insurance company and Macgregor.
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MArk
2 Year Warranty
Madison, According to the 26X manual, the 2 year warranty should cover you as long as you are the first owner and the damage was not caused by one the excluded conditions. You have taken the proper steps by going through Boating Atlanta. Although they are not responsible for damages, they are responsible for inspecting and documenting damages for MacGregor and prcessing warranty claims. You need your own (independent) surveyer report to cover your own interests. As a last resort (as much as I hate lawyers), the Georgia Lemon Law may apply in your case. It may even supersede MacGregor's warranty. There are a number of lawyers in GA that specialise in this and will take your case on contingency. Lawyers... can't live with'em, can't shoot'em (without being sued)! MArk
Madison, According to the 26X manual, the 2 year warranty should cover you as long as you are the first owner and the damage was not caused by one the excluded conditions. You have taken the proper steps by going through Boating Atlanta. Although they are not responsible for damages, they are responsible for inspecting and documenting damages for MacGregor and prcessing warranty claims. You need your own (independent) surveyer report to cover your own interests. As a last resort (as much as I hate lawyers), the Georgia Lemon Law may apply in your case. It may even supersede MacGregor's warranty. There are a number of lawyers in GA that specialise in this and will take your case on contingency. Lawyers... can't live with'em, can't shoot'em (without being sued)! MArk
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Ken
Confused
I'm a little confused about what is meant by"pulling the ballast plug". My MAC ('96) has a vent in the cabin step, as well as adjustment lever for a second drain.. IF.. the vent plug is removed AND either the transom or secondary drains are open....then it is seemingly plausible that a boat with a heavy motor and lots of gear would take on sufficient water to swamp. Once the ballast tank reaches the "full" point, I close all valves and never open the ballast valves until it is on the trailer and waiting to be pulled up the ramp.
I'm a little confused about what is meant by"pulling the ballast plug". My MAC ('96) has a vent in the cabin step, as well as adjustment lever for a second drain.. IF.. the vent plug is removed AND either the transom or secondary drains are open....then it is seemingly plausible that a boat with a heavy motor and lots of gear would take on sufficient water to swamp. Once the ballast tank reaches the "full" point, I close all valves and never open the ballast valves until it is on the trailer and waiting to be pulled up the ramp.
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