I purchased a 1989 Mac 26D about a month ago. She's my first sailboat (have had a 17'ski boat for years) and so far I'm quite happy with her. I'm fairly new to sailing and still have a lot to learn, but I've noticed that when I mention my recent aquisition to people who supposedly know something about sailing, a few of them have been pretty condesending about owning a MacGregor. I don't understand this, she seems like a fairly sturdy little boat to me. Sure, she's not the kind of boat that I'd want to sail to Hawaii in, but as a nice little camper on the lakes around here (including Tahooe)I can't see the problem. Sure, she's a bit spartan in outfitting (she came bone-stock but in excellent condition)but I can take care of that. And when you consider I only spent $5k, I think I got a good deal. So...I guess what I'm asking, am I fooling myself? Is this boat really nothing more than a big plastic toy? Should I expend a lot of time and money to outfit her for pocket cruising or should I just leave her as-is and figure on getting something better as soon as I can afford it? How did Macgregor come to have this reputation? Any input from experienced sailors and Mac owners would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeff.
- Status
Don't Feel Bad
This is from a recent review on a hunter 260 "No. The boat was delivered from the factory with a leak in the water ballast tank. Hunter refuses to replace the boat. They want the dealer to start cutting holes in the cabin floor to try to locate the leak and patch it. I find this unacceptable for a brand new boat. " Not that Macgregors are any better. It only takes one drill hole into the cabin floor in the wrong spot to cause a leak like this. (All water balasted boats should have a dig safe program) Oddly enough, I couldn't find a bad review on a 250 Catalina. (one point goes to Frank Butler)
This is from a recent review on a hunter 260 "No. The boat was delivered from the factory with a leak in the water ballast tank. Hunter refuses to replace the boat. They want the dealer to start cutting holes in the cabin floor to try to locate the leak and patch it. I find this unacceptable for a brand new boat. " Not that Macgregors are any better. It only takes one drill hole into the cabin floor in the wrong spot to cause a leak like this. (All water balasted boats should have a dig safe program) Oddly enough, I couldn't find a bad review on a 250 Catalina. (one point goes to Frank Butler)
Works for me!!!
I, too, purchased a boat last year (our first) and have nothing but good to say. Our first endeavor put us on the rocks. We were so far in the Marine Patrol couldn't get to us. It was my error for not reading the charts laid out on the table, but our first trip on the Atlantic found us beating against the rocks near shore. Not only did our Mac take it, but she did it with grace and not a hole in her hull. Sure she had a couple of scratches, but she stood the test and got us home safely. Let people say what they want, and spend what their conscience will allow, but I'm sticking with my Mac..... Hope this doesn't sound like a sales pitch. I wouldn't know how to start selling one, but for vouching for the sea worthiness of this product line (MacGregor), I don't have much negative to write. I think if you enjoy it, then it is the right boat for you.
I, too, purchased a boat last year (our first) and have nothing but good to say. Our first endeavor put us on the rocks. We were so far in the Marine Patrol couldn't get to us. It was my error for not reading the charts laid out on the table, but our first trip on the Atlantic found us beating against the rocks near shore. Not only did our Mac take it, but she did it with grace and not a hole in her hull. Sure she had a couple of scratches, but she stood the test and got us home safely. Let people say what they want, and spend what their conscience will allow, but I'm sticking with my Mac..... Hope this doesn't sound like a sales pitch. I wouldn't know how to start selling one, but for vouching for the sea worthiness of this product line (MacGregor), I don't have much negative to write. I think if you enjoy it, then it is the right boat for you.
MacGregor market
MacGregors have always been a boat meant to occupy a niche market (affordable and trailerable.) They have also been highly innovative (swing keels, power-sailers, water ballast). Consequently, they tend to be light, simple, and mass produced for a range of size and use. They are a boat of many compromises, and are open to many criticisms by everything else. But they don't pretend to be anything else, they have been consistently good for what they are.
MacGregors have always been a boat meant to occupy a niche market (affordable and trailerable.) They have also been highly innovative (swing keels, power-sailers, water ballast). Consequently, they tend to be light, simple, and mass produced for a range of size and use. They are a boat of many compromises, and are open to many criticisms by everything else. But they don't pretend to be anything else, they have been consistently good for what they are.
The Mac is a great boat.
Hi Jeff, The first thing I would do is ask those people who supposedly know something about sailing if they have personally ever sailed a Macgregor. I’ll bet you will get a resounding no. Most of the people that I have met that put the boat down have never sailed one and they are basing their opinion on hearsay. The next thing to realize is that these boats are a compromise. They were designed to be light weight and easy to trailer. The X and M were built to have a plaining hull so that they will motor faster. They have a swing keel or centerboard or dagger board which make them ideal for shallow areas. They were built inexpensively but don’t let that lead you to believe that they are cheap. They are a very well built boat. These compromises make the boat capable of things that the so called people that know something about sailing could never do with their boats. We have taken our 26X to the Bahamas and sailed in the lakes here in Tennessee. We love the boat and it’s versatility. It’s really nice to be able to put it on a trailer drive down to Florida and sail it to the Bahamas while our friends with their keel boats are stuck back at the lake. It’s nice to be able to beach the boat and explore a Cay (See attached picture). Notice that there are 6 Macs in this picture. There are 4 26Xs, a 26S and a Venture 22. All of them came over with us from Biscayne Bay along with a large number of other boats. Most of them Macgregors. 25 boats in all. 22 of them were Macs. You check out our entire Cruise at http://hcgiles.home.mindspring.com/macflotilla.htm Fair winds and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Hi Jeff, The first thing I would do is ask those people who supposedly know something about sailing if they have personally ever sailed a Macgregor. I’ll bet you will get a resounding no. Most of the people that I have met that put the boat down have never sailed one and they are basing their opinion on hearsay. The next thing to realize is that these boats are a compromise. They were designed to be light weight and easy to trailer. The X and M were built to have a plaining hull so that they will motor faster. They have a swing keel or centerboard or dagger board which make them ideal for shallow areas. They were built inexpensively but don’t let that lead you to believe that they are cheap. They are a very well built boat. These compromises make the boat capable of things that the so called people that know something about sailing could never do with their boats. We have taken our 26X to the Bahamas and sailed in the lakes here in Tennessee. We love the boat and it’s versatility. It’s really nice to be able to put it on a trailer drive down to Florida and sail it to the Bahamas while our friends with their keel boats are stuck back at the lake. It’s nice to be able to beach the boat and explore a Cay (See attached picture). Notice that there are 6 Macs in this picture. There are 4 26Xs, a 26S and a Venture 22. All of them came over with us from Biscayne Bay along with a large number of other boats. Most of them Macgregors. 25 boats in all. 22 of them were Macs. You check out our entire Cruise at http://hcgiles.home.mindspring.com/macflotilla.htm Fair winds and good sailing, Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Attachments
For many reasons.......
Initial buying cost, maintainance costs, trailerable, sailability all make a Mac a great boat. Whether it be just for yourself or for family adventures, a Mac gives a lot back to it's owners. If it isn't a good boat, according to the so called experienced sailors, why are there so many still around?
Initial buying cost, maintainance costs, trailerable, sailability all make a Mac a great boat. Whether it be just for yourself or for family adventures, a Mac gives a lot back to it's owners. If it isn't a good boat, according to the so called experienced sailors, why are there so many still around?
It's not a "status" boat.
In my opinion, unless someone is a die-hard sailor who owns and lives on a keel boat, any money spent on a more expensive boat is like throwing money into a hole in the water. What better boat is there for Trailer Sailing, for interior space, for general fun, for much lower purchase price than a MacGregor? Sure, some people would gladly stand under a cold shower while tearing-up 100 dollar bills just to prove that they can, but are they really having THAT much fun? What does a boat do? It floats in the water. It gets you from point A to point B. Am I missing something?
In my opinion, unless someone is a die-hard sailor who owns and lives on a keel boat, any money spent on a more expensive boat is like throwing money into a hole in the water. What better boat is there for Trailer Sailing, for interior space, for general fun, for much lower purchase price than a MacGregor? Sure, some people would gladly stand under a cold shower while tearing-up 100 dollar bills just to prove that they can, but are they really having THAT much fun? What does a boat do? It floats in the water. It gets you from point A to point B. Am I missing something?
The VW of Sailing
All of these posts are on target. It is the people's boat! Easy to trailer. Easy to sail. Easy to afford. No slip to rent. No barnacles to scrape off. A great boat for the money. Those who paid 6 or 7 times for their boats that are no better than a Mac are just trying to justify their expenditure of money. For a lark, sometime on a downwind run challenge any other non-water ballast sailboat to keep up with you. A reasonable wager would be appropriate. When you have em hooked, have a crewperson let the water out of the ballast. You can let the unneeded ballast out, but they are stuck with a ton of lead to haul around. Say bye bye, argument over. Just don't forget to put the ballast water back in when you turn back into the wind. You can pay for the upkeep of your boat this way.
All of these posts are on target. It is the people's boat! Easy to trailer. Easy to sail. Easy to afford. No slip to rent. No barnacles to scrape off. A great boat for the money. Those who paid 6 or 7 times for their boats that are no better than a Mac are just trying to justify their expenditure of money. For a lark, sometime on a downwind run challenge any other non-water ballast sailboat to keep up with you. A reasonable wager would be appropriate. When you have em hooked, have a crewperson let the water out of the ballast. You can let the unneeded ballast out, but they are stuck with a ton of lead to haul around. Say bye bye, argument over. Just don't forget to put the ballast water back in when you turn back into the wind. You can pay for the upkeep of your boat this way.
Great boat for the Sailor who knows what he wants
I have owned a '69 Coronado 25 (full keel), owned and lived aboard a '72 Columbia 34 (for almost 3 years) and now have a Mac25 (1986). For the beginner or the experienced sailor the Mac can be a great boat. The difference between the two being that experinced boater (sail or power) realize what they want and what they need and understand how to marry the two affordably and comfortably. The Mac serves my purpose, it is a fine looking little boat, sails very well, and is easy to maintain. Contrary to all the misconceptions, a boat doesn't have to be a "hole in the water in which to throw money" but they do require maintenance and TLC on a regular basis. It is also beneficial to have some skills with tools (not just a hammer) this saves time and money in the long run. Best of luck sailing, as long as you are happy, the boat is right for you. CK
I have owned a '69 Coronado 25 (full keel), owned and lived aboard a '72 Columbia 34 (for almost 3 years) and now have a Mac25 (1986). For the beginner or the experienced sailor the Mac can be a great boat. The difference between the two being that experinced boater (sail or power) realize what they want and what they need and understand how to marry the two affordably and comfortably. The Mac serves my purpose, it is a fine looking little boat, sails very well, and is easy to maintain. Contrary to all the misconceptions, a boat doesn't have to be a "hole in the water in which to throw money" but they do require maintenance and TLC on a regular basis. It is also beneficial to have some skills with tools (not just a hammer) this saves time and money in the long run. Best of luck sailing, as long as you are happy, the boat is right for you. CK
Go spend $160,000
These boats are what they are. Inexpensive versatile trailer sailors. Did you see the small boat comparison in Cruising World this month?? There is a 28 ft sailboat listed as a $160,000 boat! "What"? I didnt know you could put that much gold on a sailboat! Macgregors are the least expensive 26 footers on the market, granted you wont win many races, (without holeing your competition) but you will enjoy many hours of adventure and leisure with a minimum of fuss and easy trailering and even easier maintanence and cleanup. A Beneteau 393 can be delivered out here in the water for $160,000 new, problem is while I do want a beneteau 393, I dont want to part with $160,000!
These boats are what they are. Inexpensive versatile trailer sailors. Did you see the small boat comparison in Cruising World this month?? There is a 28 ft sailboat listed as a $160,000 boat! "What"? I didnt know you could put that much gold on a sailboat! Macgregors are the least expensive 26 footers on the market, granted you wont win many races, (without holeing your competition) but you will enjoy many hours of adventure and leisure with a minimum of fuss and easy trailering and even easier maintanence and cleanup. A Beneteau 393 can be delivered out here in the water for $160,000 new, problem is while I do want a beneteau 393, I dont want to part with $160,000!
Great boat
When I decided to purchase a 26X when it came out, I got a lot of grief by other "experienced" sailors. I've been sailing for about 12 years, and wanted a more "weekender" sailboat than my little O'Day with just a cutty cabin. I chose the Mac first because of cost. As I learned more about them, I realized that was the boat for me. It is a good sailboat and a good power boat, which I can't say about some other boats. If you like it, it's right for you. When I was ready to buy, The 26M was about to go into production. I just got my 26M 2 weeks ago. I finally got to get it wet this past week. I hoisted the sails and discovered it sails like a dream. It was more responsive (in my opinion) that the Capri 22 I sailed in June. Anyway, I got so many positive comments from owners of other brands. These people might look down on the Mac, but they know a lot about the specs, and know every word of the web site. Why would they visit the web site so much? Maybe a bit jealous? Enjoy your MacGregor!
When I decided to purchase a 26X when it came out, I got a lot of grief by other "experienced" sailors. I've been sailing for about 12 years, and wanted a more "weekender" sailboat than my little O'Day with just a cutty cabin. I chose the Mac first because of cost. As I learned more about them, I realized that was the boat for me. It is a good sailboat and a good power boat, which I can't say about some other boats. If you like it, it's right for you. When I was ready to buy, The 26M was about to go into production. I just got my 26M 2 weeks ago. I finally got to get it wet this past week. I hoisted the sails and discovered it sails like a dream. It was more responsive (in my opinion) that the Capri 22 I sailed in June. Anyway, I got so many positive comments from owners of other brands. These people might look down on the Mac, but they know a lot about the specs, and know every word of the web site. Why would they visit the web site so much? Maybe a bit jealous? Enjoy your MacGregor!
Stand Proud
I too heard those remarks from a local marina owner when I first asked him about MacGregor sailboats. He had me thinking that the only way the Macgregor image could get any worse was if O.J. endorsed it. Last year I rescued a 1982 22' MacGregor and brought it back to life. It looks so good and sails so good that the marina owner has had nothing but nice things to say about it (and he's a Hunter dealer!) So stand tall and proudly proclaim, "My name is Jeff and I'm a MacGregor owner!"
I too heard those remarks from a local marina owner when I first asked him about MacGregor sailboats. He had me thinking that the only way the Macgregor image could get any worse was if O.J. endorsed it. Last year I rescued a 1982 22' MacGregor and brought it back to life. It looks so good and sails so good that the marina owner has had nothing but nice things to say about it (and he's a Hunter dealer!) So stand tall and proudly proclaim, "My name is Jeff and I'm a MacGregor owner!"
jealous
I think all those other owners are a bit jealous that we sail a boat as good as the Macgregor for so little cost - Just got my new (to me) Macgregor two weeks ago - spent the last two weekends on it - loved every minute - plan on spending some $ to do some upgrades to make life more comfortable (mama wants the cabin more comfortable - I want some addiotnal features in the sailing part - guess who wins?) I expect that after I spend the $ to add all the other creature comforts the other boats have (shower, water on demand, house battery, roller furling, etc) I'll still have a lot less into it than some other brands I could have purchased. Enjoy your boat.
I think all those other owners are a bit jealous that we sail a boat as good as the Macgregor for so little cost - Just got my new (to me) Macgregor two weeks ago - spent the last two weekends on it - loved every minute - plan on spending some $ to do some upgrades to make life more comfortable (mama wants the cabin more comfortable - I want some addiotnal features in the sailing part - guess who wins?) I expect that after I spend the $ to add all the other creature comforts the other boats have (shower, water on demand, house battery, roller furling, etc) I'll still have a lot less into it than some other brands I could have purchased. Enjoy your boat.
Great Boat
I too bought an 89 Mac 26D in June. It is my first sailboat and my family and I are having a great time with it. The man I bought it from is a very experienced sailor, and, he won quite a few races with it. (he says he has aged out of sailing) As for the sleeping arangements, to me the 26D is a pop top camper in a world of Motor Homes. While you can sleep on it, It still feels like camping
. By the way I paid $6,000 and I feel like I got a deal as well, so, Way to Go.
I too bought an 89 Mac 26D in June. It is my first sailboat and my family and I are having a great time with it. The man I bought it from is a very experienced sailor, and, he won quite a few races with it. (he says he has aged out of sailing) As for the sleeping arangements, to me the 26D is a pop top camper in a world of Motor Homes. While you can sleep on it, It still feels like camping
. By the way I paid $6,000 and I feel like I got a deal as well, so, Way to Go.They May be Critical, but they Always Look!!
Just came back yesterday from another weekend on the Chesapeake Bay. Saturday night my wife and I were anchoring at Fairlee Creek when later in the evening just after we had finished dinner and a bottle of chilled wine another couple came up and set anchor about 150 feet away in what looked like an older Catalina, guessing maybe 22 footer. We exchanged waves and after a few minutes he asked, "Is that one of them MacGregors", I said yes and he said, "You have a planing hull right", again yes, and then "Geez you can get home faster than I can". Finally, and this has happened on many occasions since I bought the boat last winter, he said, "Sure is a pretty boat". I have heard that so often and in exactly those terms. The word "pretty" is the predominent choice. It is handsome to be sure and I will tell you with a few extras added for sailing comfort and control, this boat is easy to sail and a pleasure to spend a weekend aboard too. The second night we were at the Marina transient slip in Worton Creek and lot of people came out to look at our Mac. Now these are people with Hunters, Catalinas and Bennetaus (sp?).... I heard that word "pretty" a lot with a lot of questions about how she works in the water. There was no snobbery there, only true sailors who recognized EQUIPMENT and not necessarily the name. And as we were sailing up the bay on Monday running with 10kt wind from the southwest, we were doing as well as or better than many of the other sailors out there. No apologies, the only thing you need to do is recognize that you have a boat that meets your needs and when you look at the other equipment at most Marinas you find that that is exactly what other people do too. I can take my Mac home and clean her up in a half an hour and everytime I show up to launch this baby gleams and looks fine. One final thought. I read Sailing magazine and it is a generally good publication, but the one thing I have not seen since I began reading it several years ago, are any articles or placement of Macs in any reviews. A lot of people tend to herd themselves in a way that conforms to group thinking. If "the group" doesn't think it, then by golly, that is the way anyone on the "inside" should think. If it isn't in Sailing magazine, for instance, than it can't be a sailboat. That is how the logic goes. I just read the story of the Wright Brothers in James Tobin's book, "To Conquer the Air" and to all those who knew about flying back then, the Wrights were reclusives who were often dismissed and even accused of fraud, but in the end, they alone understood what was important and what needed to be done. And they did it by following their own ideas and observations and not getting caught up in the "group think" of the day. Happy Sailing!!
Just came back yesterday from another weekend on the Chesapeake Bay. Saturday night my wife and I were anchoring at Fairlee Creek when later in the evening just after we had finished dinner and a bottle of chilled wine another couple came up and set anchor about 150 feet away in what looked like an older Catalina, guessing maybe 22 footer. We exchanged waves and after a few minutes he asked, "Is that one of them MacGregors", I said yes and he said, "You have a planing hull right", again yes, and then "Geez you can get home faster than I can". Finally, and this has happened on many occasions since I bought the boat last winter, he said, "Sure is a pretty boat". I have heard that so often and in exactly those terms. The word "pretty" is the predominent choice. It is handsome to be sure and I will tell you with a few extras added for sailing comfort and control, this boat is easy to sail and a pleasure to spend a weekend aboard too. The second night we were at the Marina transient slip in Worton Creek and lot of people came out to look at our Mac. Now these are people with Hunters, Catalinas and Bennetaus (sp?).... I heard that word "pretty" a lot with a lot of questions about how she works in the water. There was no snobbery there, only true sailors who recognized EQUIPMENT and not necessarily the name. And as we were sailing up the bay on Monday running with 10kt wind from the southwest, we were doing as well as or better than many of the other sailors out there. No apologies, the only thing you need to do is recognize that you have a boat that meets your needs and when you look at the other equipment at most Marinas you find that that is exactly what other people do too. I can take my Mac home and clean her up in a half an hour and everytime I show up to launch this baby gleams and looks fine. One final thought. I read Sailing magazine and it is a generally good publication, but the one thing I have not seen since I began reading it several years ago, are any articles or placement of Macs in any reviews. A lot of people tend to herd themselves in a way that conforms to group thinking. If "the group" doesn't think it, then by golly, that is the way anyone on the "inside" should think. If it isn't in Sailing magazine, for instance, than it can't be a sailboat. That is how the logic goes. I just read the story of the Wright Brothers in James Tobin's book, "To Conquer the Air" and to all those who knew about flying back then, the Wrights were reclusives who were often dismissed and even accused of fraud, but in the end, they alone understood what was important and what needed to be done. And they did it by following their own ideas and observations and not getting caught up in the "group think" of the day. Happy Sailing!!
Both Sides Now
Hi Jeff, I must say I know what you mean re: Mac reputation. I love to sail; a laser or a swan, it's all good. And for what it's a worth, imho, the Mac has it's own unique place too and should be proud of it. My dad has (and is getting ready to sell) a 26x. I noticed when I mentioned his plans to buy it, sailing friends were not that warm about the idea. We found a local club made of up mostly Macs. They love the boat. They sail it in Mission Bay mostly; short trips, and then they tie up together for a social. Nice folks, very friendly and helpful. And I think the boat is great for that. I think the boat, like all boats, has its good points, and areas of where improvements could be made. I have sailed my dad's boat a few times, and spent an overnighter on it. It is what it is, a set of benefits and consequences from design objectives. You also have to consider the numbers. The boat must be good at something to have some many owners and to hold its value fairly well. I think my dad will get close to what he paid for the boat; no way he could say that about his bayliner, which is also a good boat. One last thing: Maybe the 26x is sort of like the VW camping van. To those of us who love the one we had, we can't say enough good things about them. But to a Winnebago owner, it's not too hard for them to be a little snobby about any comparisons. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh? OK... One more last thing: any one with an opinion about a boat who has not been on one, should so disclose and their audience can discount greatly any pearls of wisdom being shared. my two cents. enjoy your boat. the mac brings a great deal of pleasure to so many people. And that's all good. Duane
Hi Jeff, I must say I know what you mean re: Mac reputation. I love to sail; a laser or a swan, it's all good. And for what it's a worth, imho, the Mac has it's own unique place too and should be proud of it. My dad has (and is getting ready to sell) a 26x. I noticed when I mentioned his plans to buy it, sailing friends were not that warm about the idea. We found a local club made of up mostly Macs. They love the boat. They sail it in Mission Bay mostly; short trips, and then they tie up together for a social. Nice folks, very friendly and helpful. And I think the boat is great for that. I think the boat, like all boats, has its good points, and areas of where improvements could be made. I have sailed my dad's boat a few times, and spent an overnighter on it. It is what it is, a set of benefits and consequences from design objectives. You also have to consider the numbers. The boat must be good at something to have some many owners and to hold its value fairly well. I think my dad will get close to what he paid for the boat; no way he could say that about his bayliner, which is also a good boat. One last thing: Maybe the 26x is sort of like the VW camping van. To those of us who love the one we had, we can't say enough good things about them. But to a Winnebago owner, it's not too hard for them to be a little snobby about any comparisons. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh? OK... One more last thing: any one with an opinion about a boat who has not been on one, should so disclose and their audience can discount greatly any pearls of wisdom being shared. my two cents. enjoy your boat. the mac brings a great deal of pleasure to so many people. And that's all good. Duane
Tim, when you beach your boat,
do you put your anchor on the stern? What about getting sand or gravel in the centerboard well?
do you put your anchor on the stern? What about getting sand or gravel in the centerboard well?
Once bitten, twice shy.
I think the model number is correct although I am not sure. I have heard it referred to as a "Classic". As to why MacGregor's have a bad reputation, the following is an excerpt of a letter which I wrote to them, and may give an indication as to the reason. MacGregor did not even respond, and this is usually a good indicator of what to expect. I have posted copies of the photographs which were included with the letter on my website, and anyone who may wish to view them should go to:- www3.telus.net/Callisto (Case sensitive) Click on the link to the Server, then Downloads -> Special -> Files, and you will find a copy of the photographs there. They are labelled MacGregor 1, 2 and 3. I should add also that, in the correspondence, I also mention that there was very little caulking in the hull-to-deck joint, and, to be more specific, I think the actual length of this joint is in the region of 60', and, as close as I could measure it, my boat only had about 42' of caulking, and not all of this was as wide as one would expect either. ************** "I purchased one of the above boats in 1994, and am writing to convey to you how thoroughly disgusted I am with this product. We have no local dealer in this area, and consequently I was required to drive approximately 1,400 miles to take possession. Apart from what I considerd a very serious delivery problem, which has nothing to do with your Company, when I arrived home I found there was about 10 gallons of water in the storage area below the bunks. The dealer had told me that he had washed the boat and I thought therefore that he had merely been a little careless with the hose. I dried it and about 2 weeks later tried the boat on our local channel. When I arrived at the overnight anchorage, I discovered that I had holed the water bottle and so, once again, I had water under the bunks. I removed this and thought it strange that there was more water than the bottle held, but concluded that I must have missed some previously. Within the first 3 weeks of using the boat, I discovered that the mainsail control line was either faulty, or simply of such inferior quality material, that it should not even be on the market. As you can see from the enclosed photograph, which I have labelled #1 on the back, the inner core popped out at intervals for a considerable length. I then purchased a set of cockpit cushions, and when they arrived, the seat portion of the cushions did not fit. I contacted the dealer and he had these replaced. It was some time later that I realized the the cushions which had been sent, were the long port side bunk cushions, which had been covered in vinyl, rather than the other fabric used in the interior. This could only have been done by MacGregor. The next problem I encountered was that I could not adjust the mainsail to allow a smooth air flow. The sail had a permanent crease in it which could not be corrected. I once again contacted the dealer who arranged for it to be sent to a sailmaker for repair. The sailmaker advised me that the problem was caused by the rope on the leading edge of the sail being too short, and consequently the sail could not be fully extended. My next purchase was a boom vang, confident that there was almost no possibility whatsoever of again receiving lines of the poor quality I had received previously, but, as you can see, once again, from the enclosed photograph, labelled #2, there was no improvement. I have also only used this twice, so I expect it will get much worse. For the first 3 years of ownership, 1994 - 1996, the water problem continued, and was very serious at times. I could always rationalize where it came from, but was never certain. This was extremely annoying, because a sailboat with water in is a sailboat with water in, but a MacGregor sailboat with water in is a sailboat with water in that has no storage. Finally I had it completely dry and it was sitting in my driveway, when it rained. The rain lasted about 6 hours and when it was over, the boat had about 5 gallons of water in it. I then knew that there was something drastically wrong, and started trying to trace the problem. Almost immediately I found that when water was poured onto the forward running light, it did not all run off. A considerable amount of it ran through and into the boat. I removed the light and found that, apart from the socket of the screw holding it on being stripped, there was almost no caulking beneath it. I corrected the caulking, and then added an additional amount along the entire seam of the hull to deck rubber seal, Although this did help a little, it did not solve the problem. I tried everything to stop the leaks but finally gave up in disgust. In mid 1996 I placed the boat in storage and swore I would never use it again. However, this year I decided to try to sell it, but it is well known in this area as being a "lemon", so I knew I had little or no chance of success. Except for the front 3 feet, it had been under cover the entire 3 years, and when I opened it, it had about 15 gallons of water in it. I knew then that my only alternative was to re caulk the hull to deck joint. When I opened this, I found the source of much of the problem, but still have not solved it completely. I knew for sure then also that MacGregor, apart from using sub standard materials, could not possibly have any quality control at all. Not all the bolts securing the joint were silver either, as one would expect from stainless steel. Some were a very distinct brown colour. Judging by the condition of the heads on a number of them also, I would guess that the damage also was not caused by only one use either, unless the wrench used in the assembly did not fit correctly. I believe that it is more likely that the bolts were not new. Many were not tightened and, in fact, in one group of 10, nine were loose. One did not even have a nut on. I also found an insignificant crack in the deck section of the cockpit and although I believe this has not contributed to my problem, I cannot but wonder whether or not there is another that I have not found. The one part of the process which was easy, was actually removing the existing caulking, not because of the product used, but because there was so little of it. I am enclosing a photograph, #3, of some of the strips removed intact, which shows this very clearly. I should add that some sections did not have any at all."
I think the model number is correct although I am not sure. I have heard it referred to as a "Classic". As to why MacGregor's have a bad reputation, the following is an excerpt of a letter which I wrote to them, and may give an indication as to the reason. MacGregor did not even respond, and this is usually a good indicator of what to expect. I have posted copies of the photographs which were included with the letter on my website, and anyone who may wish to view them should go to:- www3.telus.net/Callisto (Case sensitive) Click on the link to the Server, then Downloads -> Special -> Files, and you will find a copy of the photographs there. They are labelled MacGregor 1, 2 and 3. I should add also that, in the correspondence, I also mention that there was very little caulking in the hull-to-deck joint, and, to be more specific, I think the actual length of this joint is in the region of 60', and, as close as I could measure it, my boat only had about 42' of caulking, and not all of this was as wide as one would expect either. ************** "I purchased one of the above boats in 1994, and am writing to convey to you how thoroughly disgusted I am with this product. We have no local dealer in this area, and consequently I was required to drive approximately 1,400 miles to take possession. Apart from what I considerd a very serious delivery problem, which has nothing to do with your Company, when I arrived home I found there was about 10 gallons of water in the storage area below the bunks. The dealer had told me that he had washed the boat and I thought therefore that he had merely been a little careless with the hose. I dried it and about 2 weeks later tried the boat on our local channel. When I arrived at the overnight anchorage, I discovered that I had holed the water bottle and so, once again, I had water under the bunks. I removed this and thought it strange that there was more water than the bottle held, but concluded that I must have missed some previously. Within the first 3 weeks of using the boat, I discovered that the mainsail control line was either faulty, or simply of such inferior quality material, that it should not even be on the market. As you can see from the enclosed photograph, which I have labelled #1 on the back, the inner core popped out at intervals for a considerable length. I then purchased a set of cockpit cushions, and when they arrived, the seat portion of the cushions did not fit. I contacted the dealer and he had these replaced. It was some time later that I realized the the cushions which had been sent, were the long port side bunk cushions, which had been covered in vinyl, rather than the other fabric used in the interior. This could only have been done by MacGregor. The next problem I encountered was that I could not adjust the mainsail to allow a smooth air flow. The sail had a permanent crease in it which could not be corrected. I once again contacted the dealer who arranged for it to be sent to a sailmaker for repair. The sailmaker advised me that the problem was caused by the rope on the leading edge of the sail being too short, and consequently the sail could not be fully extended. My next purchase was a boom vang, confident that there was almost no possibility whatsoever of again receiving lines of the poor quality I had received previously, but, as you can see, once again, from the enclosed photograph, labelled #2, there was no improvement. I have also only used this twice, so I expect it will get much worse. For the first 3 years of ownership, 1994 - 1996, the water problem continued, and was very serious at times. I could always rationalize where it came from, but was never certain. This was extremely annoying, because a sailboat with water in is a sailboat with water in, but a MacGregor sailboat with water in is a sailboat with water in that has no storage. Finally I had it completely dry and it was sitting in my driveway, when it rained. The rain lasted about 6 hours and when it was over, the boat had about 5 gallons of water in it. I then knew that there was something drastically wrong, and started trying to trace the problem. Almost immediately I found that when water was poured onto the forward running light, it did not all run off. A considerable amount of it ran through and into the boat. I removed the light and found that, apart from the socket of the screw holding it on being stripped, there was almost no caulking beneath it. I corrected the caulking, and then added an additional amount along the entire seam of the hull to deck rubber seal, Although this did help a little, it did not solve the problem. I tried everything to stop the leaks but finally gave up in disgust. In mid 1996 I placed the boat in storage and swore I would never use it again. However, this year I decided to try to sell it, but it is well known in this area as being a "lemon", so I knew I had little or no chance of success. Except for the front 3 feet, it had been under cover the entire 3 years, and when I opened it, it had about 15 gallons of water in it. I knew then that my only alternative was to re caulk the hull to deck joint. When I opened this, I found the source of much of the problem, but still have not solved it completely. I knew for sure then also that MacGregor, apart from using sub standard materials, could not possibly have any quality control at all. Not all the bolts securing the joint were silver either, as one would expect from stainless steel. Some were a very distinct brown colour. Judging by the condition of the heads on a number of them also, I would guess that the damage also was not caused by only one use either, unless the wrench used in the assembly did not fit correctly. I believe that it is more likely that the bolts were not new. Many were not tightened and, in fact, in one group of 10, nine were loose. One did not even have a nut on. I also found an insignificant crack in the deck section of the cockpit and although I believe this has not contributed to my problem, I cannot but wonder whether or not there is another that I have not found. The one part of the process which was easy, was actually removing the existing caulking, not because of the product used, but because there was so little of it. I am enclosing a photograph, #3, of some of the strips removed intact, which shows this very clearly. I should add that some sections did not have any at all."
No sand in the trunk
Hey Jack, When beached we put our anchor on the beach. I think that you can see how we did it in the attached photo on my previous post in this thread. One of the guys also added an anchor from the stern to keep it from swinging when the tide came in. As far as getting sand in the centerboard trunk we haven’t had any problem with that. We haven’t tried beaching on gravel and don’t think I would wish to. I would be concerned about scratching the hull. Hope this has answered your questions. Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Hey Jack, When beached we put our anchor on the beach. I think that you can see how we did it in the attached photo on my previous post in this thread. One of the guys also added an anchor from the stern to keep it from swinging when the tide came in. As far as getting sand in the centerboard trunk we haven’t had any problem with that. We haven’t tried beaching on gravel and don’t think I would wish to. I would be concerned about scratching the hull. Hope this has answered your questions. Tim Bastian Zephyr’s Aura Hixson, TN
Has MacGregor foresaken his X customers
One possible reason could have something to do with my article"Has macGregor foresaken his 'X' customers!
One possible reason could have something to do with my article"Has macGregor foresaken his 'X' customers!
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