I need some advice. I’m looking at a used 1984 Macgregor 25S. It looked like a pretty nice, well maintained boat. It comes with the original, factory trailer. They want $5,000. My concern is where the bottom of the boat sits on the bunkers. On the Port side at the rear of the bunker the bottom of the boat is caved in or oil canned about 2 inches. On the Starboard side I would say it is about sunk in about 5 inches. Is this a big problem, or a small one? Should I walk away from this thing?
Deformed bottom of the hull
- Thread starter Driver50x
- Start date
Yes, almost for sure walk away, especially at that price - which is closer to what you might expect to pay for a boat that is ready to sail with no serious work.
It might be the sort of thing that, if you got it for free, might be an achievable project. But, it is almost certainly not something you would want to pay for. The fact that they are asking $5000, itself, is a red flag that they are looking for someone who doesn't know what they're getting into. It reeks of dishonesty or ignorance - neither really signals someone you want to buy a boat from.
Depending on the exact cause, that "can" be repaired. It looks like the problem is that it was improperly supported on the trailer for a long time ... in the heat, causing the hull to gradually deform. The repeair depends on some specifics, but there is no good scenario that I am aware of.
It might be the sort of thing that, if you got it for free, might be an achievable project. But, it is almost certainly not something you would want to pay for. The fact that they are asking $5000, itself, is a red flag that they are looking for someone who doesn't know what they're getting into. It reeks of dishonesty or ignorance - neither really signals someone you want to buy a boat from.
Depending on the exact cause, that "can" be repaired. It looks like the problem is that it was improperly supported on the trailer for a long time ... in the heat, causing the hull to gradually deform. The repeair depends on some specifics, but there is no good scenario that I am aware of.
Thanks man. The ad also says that the boat has a “new motor”. When I asked her in person what year the motor is, she told me it’s a 2017. LOL
I see that you are already thinking of walking away. Good Idea! While it is not unheard of for a boat stored on a trailer to develop some indentations, be aware that this is governed by design, engineering and adequate inside structure. The builder of that boat was considerably below Catalina in all regards. (Rigging was quite light on their boats, also.)
Far better to look around for a nicely maintained Catalina 25. Far better.....
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,141
Did you get the Catalina 22, and now you're looking for a bigger boat?
The Catalina and the MacGregor 25S are two very different types of boats.
My opinion:
The Catalina 22 was designed to be a sailboat. While it can be trailered, its design came with a fixed keel, a wing keel, or a swing keel. The first two keels would be my preference for a sailboat.
The Macgregor was a compromised design, mixing an outboard motor boat with a mast and a centerboard (keel). Although considered lightly built, some concerns were raised about the quality of construction. It was considered a "Ford Model T" of its time. The shallow draft (1.5ft) allows the owner to run it up to the beach.
Only you can decide the type of boat you want and how you plan to use it.
If you are looking for a bigger sailboat, look at the Catalina or the CAL in the 25-foot size range.
The Catalina and the MacGregor 25S are two very different types of boats.
My opinion:
The Catalina 22 was designed to be a sailboat. While it can be trailered, its design came with a fixed keel, a wing keel, or a swing keel. The first two keels would be my preference for a sailboat.
The Macgregor was a compromised design, mixing an outboard motor boat with a mast and a centerboard (keel). Although considered lightly built, some concerns were raised about the quality of construction. It was considered a "Ford Model T" of its time. The shallow draft (1.5ft) allows the owner to run it up to the beach.
Only you can decide the type of boat you want and how you plan to use it.
If you are looking for a bigger sailboat, look at the Catalina or the CAL in the 25-foot size range.
The Mac25 is an award winning purpose built boat. I bet it was used as a storage shed. Lots of weight on the small bunks supporting it. Likely sitting a long time.
A 1984 Macgregor 25S has a swing keel, and it is definitely a sailboat. Later they built the sailboat/motorboat combo.
I’m still trying to find a decent Catalina 22 in my area, that is ready to sail. All of the ones I have seen so far are definitely project boats. I see some 400 miles away or more that look like good deals. I’m looking for a swing keel, because I plan to trailer it, and because there are so many shallow spots where I sail, in the Tampa Bay and the Boca Ciega Bay.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,141
The beauty of the internet - lots of opinions....
I'm going to take a different tack. ( See what I did there?)
Can you get inside the boat and see those deformations? If you can't, don't bother with the boat.
However, if you can, then look very carefully for small spider cracks. Look all over the outside of the hull also. No little spider cracks anywhere? Might be just fine. Put the boat in the water. Sail it for awhile - as long as you can stretch out a "sea trial". See if those deformations are coming back out.
Make a big deal about all this. Let the owner know this could be a serious problem. (Maybe it is - maybe it isn't).
If there are no cracks anywhere and those deformations are coming back out - offer the owner $2000 and see if you get the boat.
Those panels on that boat are quite flexible. If you don't have any spider cracking anywhere inside or outside, there may be nothing at all wrong with that bend.
dj
I'm going to take a different tack. ( See what I did there?)
Can you get inside the boat and see those deformations? If you can't, don't bother with the boat.
However, if you can, then look very carefully for small spider cracks. Look all over the outside of the hull also. No little spider cracks anywhere? Might be just fine. Put the boat in the water. Sail it for awhile - as long as you can stretch out a "sea trial". See if those deformations are coming back out.
Make a big deal about all this. Let the owner know this could be a serious problem. (Maybe it is - maybe it isn't).
If there are no cracks anywhere and those deformations are coming back out - offer the owner $2000 and see if you get the boat.
Those panels on that boat are quite flexible. If you don't have any spider cracking anywhere inside or outside, there may be nothing at all wrong with that bend.
dj
There are a few brands that have similar trailer/sailer capabilites. Tanzer, Hunter, Precision, Com-Pac all make some decent boats.
Macgregor specialized in making boats easy to trailer, but that compromise costs some performance, seaworthiness, and comfort.
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Honestly, it looks like the trailer's design does not fit the boat's... That style boat will have a rather flat bottom towards the back half... whereas the trailer's supports look contoured, upsweeping somwhat as an attempt to support the swing keel's casing. The trailer should support the bulkheads, same as when you position a crane's swings when lifting a boat out of the water.
You might ask the owner to drop it in the water, perhaps the hull will spring back to the proper shape. If so, then you can consider refining the trailer's support boards, and reinforcing the boat's bulkheads, so both are working together instead of being in conflict.
That said, it'll be easier to find another boat, one that has a conscientious owner who has already dealt with the glaring problem and would never thing of showing a boat with such an obvious issue. Good luck.
You might ask the owner to drop it in the water, perhaps the hull will spring back to the proper shape. If so, then you can consider refining the trailer's support boards, and reinforcing the boat's bulkheads, so both are working together instead of being in conflict.
That said, it'll be easier to find another boat, one that has a conscientious owner who has already dealt with the glaring problem and would never thing of showing a boat with such an obvious issue. Good luck.
As a former MacGregor dealer , I will chime in. It appears that the trailer could be the original trailer. There are issues. The starboard bunk board should be supporting the hull all the way; however, you can see airspace between the bunk board and hull which is not good As for bunk board itself, it may have weakened or broke at top of the rear support worsening the situation. There is no third support nor are they adjustable either. The trailer needs a lot of repairs. As a result the hull is deformed which is not good. You do not know if the structural ability has been compromised. If you do consider this boat, I would suggest that you have the owner put the boat into the water and run the motor too.
With the boat in the water do check the starboard inside hull adjacent to the swing keel housing for any water intrusion inside.
The 40 year boat sold for appx. $10,000 to include trailer and motor new. Due to hull damage with repairs needed for the trailer, I would not offer more than $1200 to $1500.
I was also a Catalina and Hunter dealer too
With the boat in the water do check the starboard inside hull adjacent to the swing keel housing for any water intrusion inside.
The 40 year boat sold for appx. $10,000 to include trailer and motor new. Due to hull damage with repairs needed for the trailer, I would not offer more than $1200 to $1500.
I was also a Catalina and Hunter dealer too
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Well it was new - in 2017.
You see this kind of thing in boat ads all the time. "Only 1,000 hours on engine since rebuild..."
These vessels are responsible for opening the doors for many of today’s incredible sailors. I hope to be one of them. Long live the Mac25 and us broke wannabes 
Those are some good thoughts. I may try to get the boat in the water this weekend. What you probably can’t really tell from my pictures, is that the trailer is very short compared to the boat. There is a lot of boat hanging off the back unsupported. That is very possibly the origin of this problem. You would have to weld about a three foot extension on the back off the trailer, and make the bunks longer. Welding and fab work is right up my alley, but I’ll have to decide if I want to go down that road. The price would have to be right to even think about it.
There's some problems with this boat that some of the replies have not mentioned even though generally accurate and well meaning. As an owner of a Mac 22 S I'd like to mention a couple problems that hasn't been addressed even though obvious. I don't think you can buy a brand new trailer, a new set of sails, a new outboard motor for 5K. Looking at the picture of the oil caned bottom I don't think you have a problem because that is typical results when you leave the keel held up into the boat from the travel position for a year of non sailing on the hard. If you make a big thing about how bad it looks to you before you make the purchase you can probably take a few boat bucks off the price from the seller for the (potential) repair. Before you purchase the boat you shouldn't mention that storing with the mast up and clamping the boat to the ground will cause extra stress(weight) to the boat bottom. (although it's OK to strap the trailer down) It's a sailboat you will not see any speed over 10 miles an hour except when the boats on the trailer behind your rig (even with brand new wind).
I dont know that boat.. but to echo the post just above, thought I heard at one time that the keel should be resting and supported by the trailer. Ie, the heavy keel weight is supported by the trailer and not through the hull to the trailer bunks. Pictures in the first post sort of look like the keel is suspended off the trailer? I think likely your main issue buying that boat is that if you cant get everything working like its supposed to (and maybe the dent even comes out), when you go to sell, everyone who looks will have the same issue you are with the dent. Could be a good boat but should come with a huge discount over the asking price. This all assuming there isn't any structure damage and that its just a dent. Just another opinion..
There appears to be some flaking of paint at the aft end of the keel trunk, especially on port side Would check the fiberglass carefully for cracks in that location