Potential Mac Customer, Confused by Drunk Sailors???!!!!???

[craiglaforce]

Ken,
Doesn't that cruise ship owe you a new boat or repairs?
They are responsible for damage caused by their wake. SOunds like you had some damage. Did you get the boat name?

[ConfusedByDrunkSailors]

Thanks again all, and Paul S thanks for the straight forward outlook on the quality. I agree, the price is still right all things considered.

Question:

Would a 26M work ok on the intercoastal, say Clearwater Fl, by lowering the board a bit and having the ballast full, that area seems to average 9-11 ft.depth, and motoring to the gulf....shut off the motor/tilt and disconnect..let the board down full...raise the sheets and have fun? Is this boat viable in that area, and for the most part during good weather conditions?

Waternwaves,

Have I got the boat/aircraft for you! Go to www.aso.com, click on amphibs and check out the Gruman Albatross. The price would pale in comparison to maintaining it, but hey......8 or so partners and..........

Thanks,

Even less confused

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I SOLD my Mac26S for the Mac26X. BOTH GREAT BOATS. Plenty of Room, Comfortable, Easy to Sail, and dont let anyone KID YOU...They're plenty FAST !! I HAVENT found a disappointed MAC OWNER YET !!. My MARINA has MAC OWNERS that are quite "HAPPY" & "SATISFIED".
A real SOLID, WATER TIGHT, FUN-BOAT !!

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I'm a MacGregor dealer in the midwest (S.E. Wisconsin). If you contact me I'll send you some info on the 26M.
If you would like references, you can ask on this site.

[Chip Hindes]

That said...our boat (you can look in the archives) was apparently built by drunk monkeys...fit and finish was terrible..blue gelcoat scratched all over..poor gelcoat finish...parts falling off the boat..engine trouble...hardware issues...Apparently this is considered normal, as I was pointed out early on...that we got a boat better than average...

As I've posted before, I simply can't agree.

My 26X, delivered by the original Havencraft in September '00 had none of these problems. Both the interior and exterior of the boat were immaculate. There were a few issues (very few) regarding hidden problems with factory fit and finish, and they were offered to be remedied instantly. Since I'm 3 1/2 trailer hours away from the dealer, I chose not to transport the boat back to there, in which case the required parts and materials to do the repairs myself were shipped to me overnight.

Since owning the boat for five years, I've since had occasion to question some of the placement choices made by Havencraft for accesories I ordered with the new boat. With the exception of the compass being placed too close to the power panel, most of that had to do with personal preference.

The original Havencraft is gone, and not to be confused with the current Havencraft, home of the drunk monkeys, but if you're in the FL area you're nowhere near them anyway. Bill at Boats 4 Sail is a frequent contributor and as far as I've seen has a stellar reputation, but you're even further away from him. You're on your own finding another "good" dealer, though a specific question on that subject on this website is certain to get you some suggestions.

But bottom line, I guess what I'm saying, is shoddy workmanship, fit and finish are not normal or average at all. If you're buying a new boat, make your expectations clear to the dealer up front and there will be no problems.

[playmaker]

I sail in John's Pass/Clwtr/Safety Harbor area. Its a great boat for this area. You will not be disappointed. Nice shallow draft and can get us out of those summer stroms in a hurry.Have even beached in Honeymoon Island before. I have a 2001X with a Yamaha 4 strk 50. Your welcome to come along. I sail every week usually thurs or fri.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

The first 26M I sold was to a customer from Florida.
This September, I sold two 26M's to customers in Florida.
I presently have a 26M in stock that is going to a customer in Florida.
I have another potential customer in Florida whose boat was destroyed by Wilma, who I think is going to buy a 26M.

[ChrisNorton]

Confused,

I have been the recipient of more than one round of abusive statements from drunk and sober sailors regarding my X (see a past posting about one particular gentleman who kicked my boat out of disdain while I was actually inside). Generally, they don't consider it seaworthy, sailable, racable or even a real sailboat. But as others have pointed out, in the three years I have had my Mac, nearly all of my sailing neighbors at my marina in Connecticut have been out of commission for extended periods of time (mostly related to breakdowns of their dodgy deisel engines.) I've also seen them all stuck out on the Sound for hours getting back to the slip when the wind suddenly dies (as it does often on Long Island Sound.)

All of my neighbors own so-called better sailboats (Sabres, Hunters, Catalinas, J Boats) but every one of them is a pre-1990 and none of these guys bought them new due to the prohibitive costs. When you own a 20 year old boat, expect to put some time and money into upkeep and repair. With a Mac, you can afford a newer boat and by extension, fewer problems. BTW, compare a repair bill for an outboard (like on the mac) to a diesel (like on most sailboats) and see which one busts the bank.

I love my boat for its simplicity, multi-functionality, ease of repair, fun and cost. I am not a good sailor but I can regularly sail my boat at 5-7 mph and from what other sailors tell me, they can't sail that much faster (although they do go faster than I am capable of sailing because they all pass me out there.)

[Paul S]

That said...our boat (you can look in the archives) was apparently built by drunk monkeys...fit and finish was terrible..blue gelcoat scratched all over..poor gelcoat finish...parts falling off the boat..engine trouble...hardware issues...Apparently this is considered normal, as I was pointed out early on...that we got a boat better than average...

As I've posted before, I simply can't agree.

My 26X, delivered by the original Havencraft in September '00 had none of these problems. Both the interior and exterior of the boat were immaculate. There were a few issues (very few) regarding hidden problems with factory fit and finish, and they were offered to be remedied instantly. Since I'm 3 1/2 trailer hours away from the dealer, I chose not to transport the boat back to there, in which case the required parts and materials to do the repairs myself were shipped to me overnight.

Since owning the boat for five years, I've since had occasion to question some of the placement choices made by Havencraft for accesories I ordered with the new boat. With the exception of the compass being placed too close to the power panel, most of that had to do with personal preference.

The original Havencraft is gone, and not to be confused with the current Havencraft, home of the drunk monkeys, but if you're in the FL area you're nowhere near them anyway. Bill at Boats 4 Sail is a frequent contributor and as far as I've seen has a stellar reputation, but you're even further away from him. You're on your own finding another "good" dealer, though a specific question on that subject on this website is certain to get you some suggestions.

But bottom line, I guess what I'm saying, is shoddy workmanship, fit and finish are not normal or average at all. If you're buying a new boat, make your expectations clear to the dealer up front and there will be no problems.

I dunno..the few other M boats I have seen (dealer's boat)...were all worse shape than the one we got. (chips in gelcoat, scratches, ill-fitting panels, missing/poor fitting hardware, poor gelcoat repairs)

I would say 50-75% of it was factory quality issues ....that havencraft COULD have fixed before delivery..but were not. Our boat came with some options..but not installed (most notably roller furler) but paid installed price. Channel was supposed to be installed pre-delivery- it wasn't..can go on.

Havencraft (new) dropped the ball IMO. Add insult to injury..selling us a non-USA non-warranted motor..that had a faulty valve cover, linkage that failed, and a water pump that failed.. blamed it on me...just doesn't go with a stellar boat buying experience.

All I know is the few other NEW Ms I have seen were at the same level of fit and finish. Our first boat was horrible (hull 225) and he ended up using it as a demo boat it was so bad. our new boat (360) was in 10 times better shape..but still far less than I would expect it to be in.

The drunk monkeys are Macgregor workers..not havencraft. Not sure what the original rigger was thinking....maybe he was drunk too...we will never know. Not impressed...

But even after ALL that ...still wouldnt buy any differently..

Paul

[ALX357]

bought used X, motor not stellar just garden variety 50 hp, getting up to 17mph in present trim, load, and prop, hull and rig in fine shape, NO quality issues at all, everything fit and finish as good as any other mfg. product I ever had.
....good point was made of the outboard motor, easy to work on, easy to see. Those inboard deisels.... if the prop fouls, you are going diving. Impossible to clear or even inspect if the water is too cold. Below waterline thru-hulls, prop shaft packing. have to pump bilges regularly. The other outboards, low powered, forget it in a strong cross wind... and how could we ever get used to WOT going only 7 kts. after having the Mac's speed. ?

[baldbaby2000]

Maybe we lucked out or are less picky. I don't see any "horrible" quality issues on our M or even any significant poor quality. It's not excellent but it's good enough. Some of the extra stuff supplied by the dealer was done sloppily but I fixed most of that. I think there are some design issues that should be addressed like the somewhat sloppy rudder system. I do agree that the paint job on the trailer sucks. Our dealer agreed that it would be under warranty but forgot to apply to Macgreggor within in the warranty period so he said he'd cover the cost to have it repainted. I'm on my 3rd Macgreggor and third trailer. They look kind of flimsy but I've put many miles on them with no problems.

BB

[richandlori]

My 2004M is comparable to my Honda Civic, not my dad's Lexus Sedan.

After a little more than a year of ownership the only regret I have is not buying it sooner. Time, my friends, is not something you can get back once it is squandered. Get a Mac, get out there, and start creating memories, which for the total cost of ownership, just can't be beat!

This Could be YOU.

[ALX357]

Mac like a Honda Civic, yes, but even more like the Volkswagen bug from the late sixties ....

inexpensive, light-weight, but functional, well designed, practical, unique, lovable, easy to work on, begs for personalizing, adequate for its intended use, and adaptable for all sorts of conditions and arrangements ..... and just like the VW Beetle, either you get it, or you don't. I had one, vintage '67 the best year. Also had a VW double-cab, 3-door, drop-side pickup .... remember those ??
A guy with a couple of wrenches, a cinder block and a 2x6 could pull the engine out from under them in less than ten minutes without even dropping it on the ground.

[Catigale]

65 was a better year for the Beetle.....last year of that venerable 1200cc....we dont need no stinking cam bearings....

that 12V in 1967 sure cut out a lot of pushstarts though...

(Here was my list of VWs...
66 Beetle
70 Beetle
1972 KG conv.
1970 Bus
1971 Bus
1965 Beetle
1965 Beetle
1982 Vanagon diesel
2002 Eurovan Camper
2003 New Beetle Conv.

Im sure I missed some..

[Jim Bunnell]

Catigale, '65 was a good year, but they took a lot of the fun out of Bug driving when they went soft and put in a fuel guage. Nothing like driving a '60 on the expressway late at night, feeling that stutter - then dead- motor, and reaching out with your toe to find you hadn't reset the reserve last time you filled up. Didn't take too many times to learn to carry a jug of gas in the trunk - just in case