Perfect Boat Length

[Robert T. Pierce]

I have seen many posts on the board discussing a larger version of the Mac. What would your ideal length be?

[Arthur Kelly]

Rob: Great idea for a poll. Should be interesting to see the final results. Put me down for a 28 footer. My slip won't fit anything bigger.

[Frank C]

I'm assuming the replacement is still a Mac, still trailerable. Tough choice. More is better, to a point, but I figure that 30 is the maximum length I'd want to tow.

[craiglaforce]

I voted for 30 feet as well. just enough room for a shower /nav station and closet.

[Billy]

Actually, I would like 10 more feet, slightly wider beam, and another mast if a taller rig wouldn't work and capable of bolting on 300 plus hp. I know, a lot to ask for a trailable, water ballasted boat. (Would probably have to add a second axle.)

[LCB]

32-35 Marconi rig sloop, 9'-12' beam, fin keel, cutaway forefoot, skeg mounted rudder. Good speed on all points of sail. Small enough to be reasonably handled by one person. Large enough to carry passage supplies, and be livable for a family of 2-4. Not likely to be trailered very easily.

Trailerable??? My guess is that the X is about as good as it is going to get. Perhaps some cosmetic and material improvements, but volume and livability will remain about the same.

Russ

[Tom Root]

Billy....I love it! You were definately the inspiration for "Tool Time" weren't you? I can actually see you doin' it too! I needed a good laugh...thanks!

[Robert T. Pierce]

I would tend to agree with the comments made by "Guest".

I would also like to see some improvements to the fit and finish as well as the durability of some of the boats parts. Having read posts on this board for some time now, it is incredible that MacGregor hasn't taken it in the shorts from a lawsuit. Broken steering, broken rudders and centerboard problems seem to be ordinary occurences. These are vital systems to a boat and shouldn't be prone to such regular failure.

It is a sad state of affairs when we have individuals on this website who are now experts on dealing with these issues. All I can say is thank god for this site and some of the individuals here willing to help. Take it from someone who knows. you are not going to get this kind of assistance from the dealer or the factory, especially if you didn't purchase your boat new.

I wish there was an affordable alternative to MacGregor. The Hunter 260 and Catalina 250 both push $40,000 well-equipped and consequently are out of reach for most first time buyers. I wish I had the time to start building boats. It sure appears that there is a market here and with today's technology and materials, the costs to design and produce are more efficient and cost effective.

[Chip Hindes]

I would also like to see some improvements to the fit and finish as well as the durability.... Broken steering, broken rudders and centerboard problems seem to be ordinary occurences.... I wish there was an affordable alternative to MacGregor. The Hunter 260 and Catalina 250 both push $40,000 well-equipped and consequently are out of reach for most first time buyers.

Do you detect a theme here? I'm not exagerrating too much when I say "Anybody" can make a nice 26 foot boat. Hunter and Catalina can, for $40K. Mac can too; for $40K. For $10K less, be ready to deal with some compromises. There's no doubt that many of the boat's systems are on the hairy edge.

It's human natrure: Those who have had a particular problem cite it on this website. Others who have had the same problem jump on the bandwagon. Some become experts on the subject. Some can get pretty vocal, even belligerant about the problems. This can lead (or in some cases mislead) others into believing these problems are extremely common. It's the same human nature: those who haven't had a particular problem remain silent.

Several of the vocal ones have been warning me about my doomed, stock Detmar steering system for over two years. Mine's had zero maintenance, zero problems, and still operates with one finger. Lucky, maybe. Or maybe those who have had problems have been unlucky, or maybe they're using their boats in a particular way which I'm not, but which places extra loads on the steering system. In any case, since it's come up a number of times, if mine breaks tomorrow, I'll let everybody know. After four years of trouble free operation, though, I'll probably refrain from going off about what a piece of crap the steering is.

I've had my '01X for almost four years, and have not had any problems with the steering, centerboard, rudders, and rigging. I'm certain many others can say the same. You want my problems? Cheezy water system, underrated trailer, voids just under the gelcoat that break thru and reveal the unsightly, unfinished fiberglass underneath. I'm just as certain there are others who have not had any of the problems in these areas that I have.

Poll ten people and you'll probably get fifteen different answers as to where they'd have been willing to pay extra. Knowing what I know now, I would gladly have paid more for a better trailer, no voids under the gelcoat and a better water system. I wouldn't have given an extra penny for better steering, rudders or centerboard. I don't need them. I can assure you the guy who keeps his boat in a slip all year couldn't give a rat's ass about a better trailer.

Would I like to see improved fit and finish, more durability, better hardware, a nicer trailer, yadda yadda yadda? Of course, but lets's be realistic. I'm pretty happy with my boat, I think I got pretty much what I paid for. There is a fundamental beauty in this system in that we can decide where and how to invest the extra time and money in the things we need, and not pay extra for stuff we don't need.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Those $40k Hunters and Catalinas are not trouble free either. Every boat has it's flaws.

On our '96 there has not been any failures of factory systems although a number of them have been upgraded by our choice. Even our trailer is amazingly rust free.

Everything on a Mac is the lowest cost possible system that works. It's that way by design. That's why there is no other competitor that can match the Mac's price. If you want better quality and have the money to spend, go somewhere else for your boat. If your like me, who want's to get his family on the water at a very low cost, the Mac is the perfect boat. It's hits it's target market dead on. Don't expect it to ever change.

Some other company will have to make the high end powersailer, it won't be MacGregor.

[Tom Root]

Duanne.....so very true, and I wouldn't want it any other way, even his 65' debut was at an amazingly bargain price of $150.000, ready for taking on the 7 seas! Nobody could ever come close, and there really is no competition! These boats do what they were designed for, and it has never failed to perform it's duties for me!!!

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I think the fact that no production manufacturer is able to compete with MacGregor on price is simple proof that you are wrong. They always have to compete on what they feel is inferior quality to justify their higher price.

If it is so easy to build a better boat cheaper where are they? It's not like MacGregor is something new. They have been building boats since the late 60's. No one has surplanted them as the price leader in the market in over 30 years.

Could you find a yard that would drop it's drawers for a one off? Sure if they are starving enough. But they aren't going to build 5000+ of them for that price.

None of the volume manufaturers have been able to bring even an equal low end product to market at the price of a Mac let alone a better built one. If they could they would.

[jsserene]

I don't get it. If Catalina and Hunter are so great, why are you waisting our time with your messages, and why should you care anyways about the Mac's? I have owned three Catalina's in the last 10 years which were great boats for what they are, (sailboats). The Macgregor powersailors are not even in the same category as any other boat, especially a non-powersailor. As for quality, it can always be changed. Nobody says you have to keep the boat stock OR even keep the boat.

By the way if it is that important to you, why don't you sign on as a member instead of a guest?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I actually consider my Mac SUPERIOR to both the Hunter 26 and the Catalina 25. They can't hold a candle to the Mac's versatility. They can have solid gold parts and still not match a Mac. They are just small plod along sailboats. For what they cost I could buy a much bigger and older used plod along sailboat. But then I'd just have a big plod along sailboat. Even if they were the only choices in at the low end of the market I wouldn't own one. Neither could come close to meeting the varied needs of my family of 5 on the water.

There is far more to a boat than the individual parts and pieces that go into it. It sounds like you, as part of the boat building industry are hung up on whether the parts on one boat are perceived as higher end than the parts on another boat. I really don't care, as long as the parts on my boat work as designed. Everything on my Mac functions exactly as intended. Just because the high end steering wheel says Edson on it does it somehow magically steer better? Oh, and then I get to buy the overpriced Edson instrument pod for the pedestal. Don't forget the overpriced matching table. How much for those Edson cup holders? I'll take the Mac pedestal and wheel thank you very much. It doesn't matter who's name is on it if it serves it's purpose. Sure I've upgraded some things, but those upgrades are choices I've made to add more functionality, not to replace something that didn't work. And by the way, they are all things NOT included in a Hunter or a Catalina as well.

You may try to trivialize the fact the MacGregor built 5,000+ 'X's over 7 years, but Hunter and Catalina haven't ever come close to that kind of production. Where they have priced their boats precludes them from ever reaching that kind of volume, and at their prices I would expect there is even more dealer and factory margin in their boats than in a Mac. It's a boat, a luxury, not a necessity. Everything "Marine' comes at a premium price. MacGregor has made it possible for those of us not willing to throw gobs of money into a huge hole in the water to still enjoy the luxury of a boat. I don't grudge them their profit. There is no other boat I could have bought for under $20k, complete, that can be used in all the varied ways a Mac can. If they weren't in business I wouldn't have a boat.

If you think you can do better then put your money where your mouth is. Start a competitor, design a better powersailer, sell it for less than a Mac, accept a lower margin. I'm sure we'll all come knocking on your door. But until then, you can take your superiority complex elsewhere.

[LCB]

Not sure what difference this makes. My only point is that a better boat can be built with better hardware for a similar price.

Also,, the sasquach is real. Just because we havent got one doesnt mean they are not real.

Russ