Dissapointing 2005 26M

[FISHMAN]

I bought a new 2005 26 M from H&S Yachts in San Diego. I had the dealer install every bell and whistle I could think of including a marine head, ST4000 MK2 autopilot, pressure water system,chart plotter/fishfinder, stereo, and more. (I'm afraid I'm not so handy as to have the confidence to do all that by myself). I was too new to really know what to look for as far as bad quality goes. Anyway, maybe I was just lucky, but I have been extremely happy with everything. H&S did a great job commissioning the boat and teaching me how to use it and I have not found a single thing to complain about as far as quality from the factory goes. Of course, I realized that these are boats designed to appeal to people like me that didn't have a lot of money, so I didn't expect the boat to look like a Catalina. I also understand your frustration with all the problems you had. All I can say is that my boat was fine and H&S Yachts was fantastic. I'm really sorry you had a bad experience, but I don't think your experience is typical. (Either that or my experience is not typical).

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

Has it been determined if it:
came that way from the Mac factory?
was damaged in shipment from the Mac factory to the dealer?
was damaged by the OBM installer?
other?

[albion]

Has it been determined if it:
came that way from the Mac factory?
was damaged in shipment from the Mac factory to the dealer?
was damaged by the OBM installer?
other?

Bill, what would you do if Macgregor delivered a boat to you in that condition? The one you sold to me is fine as far as finish to gel coat goes, only one very small patch where it came out of the mold. One small leak that took me 5 mins to fix. As for that transom, I could have done a better job with a $20.00 repair kit. I cant understand how someone left all those holes in it and didnt fill them in. I,m glad I bought from you Bill.Why would anyone take delivery of something so bad?

[Catigale]

wasnt trying to be mean Rich - that transom damage would have irked me...well, it is fiberglass and can be repaired after all..Chip posted some pix of his transom after getting hit by a car and it looked awfull - cant believe how good it looked after the repair.

[rjs11116]

I made the dealer aware of the transom issue and other problems in April 2005.
If the motor installer caused the damage would you think there was not enough material (resin, fiberglass, plywood)to prevent problems as the motor is bolted on ? So if there is not enough material to prevent damage as the motor mount bolts are tightened.......?



The first season was trailered, rigging takes longer than claimed, not a problem I'm ok with that. Most every time it took 15-20minutes longer because people either knew what it was and wanted to know how it it was working out or never saw one and had lots of interest and questions.
I bit my tounge and didn't bash ,just said it's ok
Second season was slipped,longest walk in the place and people still walk down to check it out. Our dock neighbor thought it was for sale because fo all the interest.

I felt like if I had a better experience I could have sold 10 or more

[opie]

I lurked here for 2 years, reading eveything. I bought in Sept 2006. I read this current post about faults and the replies from the other owners, and my feeling is "picky, picky." A guest on your boat would never know. Get over it. For anyone out there that is contemplating buying a X or M, go for it. My wife and I could not be happier!!!

[ALX357]

I'd be interested to learn of any endemic problems with X boat construction, as I have noticed no defects / faults in my own second-hand 2000X. Maybe the two PO's fixed them all, but I saw no evidence of troubles.
There is such a vast difference in our experiences with Mac's.
Could our poll format be adapted to give some kind of overview on this ? A 'Consumer Reports' sort of year-by-year evaluation would be great, but prob. beyond reasonable reach.

[Frank C]

I made the dealer aware of the transom issue and other problems in April 2005.
If the motor installer caused the damage ...

1. ... would you think there was not enough material ... as the motor is bolted on ?
2. So if there is not enough material to prevent damage as the motor mount bolts are tightened.......?

Roy,
I had to parse your quote to make sure I'm understanding it. Your comment implies that you're unsure if the damage existed PRIOR to the Honda dealer?

As for there being adequate "material" in the transom, there are more than 7,000 of these transoms now in the marketplace. Most are carrying 50 hp, a goodly percentage, like mine, mounting even more horsepower, and a couple of them with the Suzuki DF-140. I've only ever read of one other with a damaged transom, and that was ascribed to a faulty motor installation. Many add some sort of transom backing plates before bolting down the engine, as on my Suzuki-60 both inside and outside the transom ... it surely would have been my first thought had I never seen a Mac transom. I have never before seen any photo of a boat leaving the Mac factory in such condition as your transom pictures, and as for the crazing or stern light ... I'd just punt.

You're also disappointed with performance of your Honda 50? If you haven't already, search on "HONDA" and then spend a half day reading our Archives about the Honda outboard. You'll find about half the owners are tickled-pink, the other half unhappy because it's not as fast as they'd hoped.

It seems you discovered this forum well after your purchase. That's unfortunate. I found this place a year before making my purchase. I already knew, before writing my purchase order, that I didn't want a Honda 50 for my X, and the M benefits even more from extra torque.

Concluding .... your Mac dealer denies seeing the transom damage, and you're unsure? With due respect, if those are the circumstances, it seems obvious to me that the motor installer damaged the transom, then did a very sloppy repair ... just one opinion.

[daver360]

I think I would have that transom inspected by a fiberglas pro in your area. An inspection should be able to detect if it was done installing the motor, or shotty manufacturing. An inspection should show also if theres something seriously wrong with your transom or if its just superficial defects. If its just cosmetics, then its minor. If theres something wrong with the transom, more then likely someone rollerstamped the paperwork at the manufacturing plant and it shouldn't be tolerated. I would hire a lawyer then if theres a serious defect and sue the company. When you looked at your macgregor pamplet, that was the product that you purchased, not something with transom problems. Plain and simple.

I would be curious to see if you were to take something metallic and tap the fiberglass to see if theres some hollow spots. If it were an older mac like mine. If there was fiberglass damage or a hollow spot in the transom. (tapping will tell) I would router out the damage and band aided jell coat on the upper side, take a air nozzle and blow air out the hole on the bottom and see if the air comes out the upper side. If it does I would take a peace of fiberglass cloth on a hot summer day and fill it with resin and cover the lower hole. Then fill the top with resin mixed with fiberglas and pour it down from the top. Then jell coat when its done.

I don't think your transom is that messed up though, but... I would get it checked out.

[Jim Cate]

It's not clear to me exactly when the boat was delivered or what the entire circumstances were, but if the needed repairs (repairs needed or already made either for you to use the boat or sell it) are as costly as you say, I think you should consult an attorney. If you decide not to go forward with the suit, you may be able to file a claim in small claims court, depending on the laws in your State, and collect at least some of the damages or get MacGregor's or the dealers' attention. The fact that MacGregor's "warranty" has expired may not mean much in such a situation, depending on the laws of your State. Again, I'm not suggesting what the outcome would be or what your or MacGregor's or the dealers' legal rights might be, but in view of the damages you are talking about, I think you should look into the legal issues expeditiously, since statutes of limitations may be running.

Jim Cate

[macsailor]

I had problems with my dealer as well when I bought my x new in 1996. Promised the world and provided nothing. I ordered a set of engine controls that summer( have a 9.9 hp) and I have yet to get them from him. Is 11 years a bit long to have an item back ordered. Fortunately I found another dealer, who has helped me with whatever may need. Icall him in Vancouver, tell him what I need, and its on the way that afternoon. Can't beat that for service, especially when I never bought my boat form him

[Randy McCotter]

macsailor... where did you buy your boat? Alberta or Ont?

[Frank C]

... I would hire a lawyer then if theres a serious defect and sue the company. When you looked at your macgregor pamplet, that was the product that you purchased, not something with transom problems. Plain and simple....

WADR, my advice is diametrically opposed.

Either get over it ...

or if it really, really bugs ya, then sell it.

A lawyer would just add enormous cost and stress to your life.
Besides that, I'd guesstimate ~10% probability of success.

[eric3a]

..

[daver360]

I agree with you on the attorny expenses and headaches. That was my advice only for serious damage. Hopefully it is only cosmetic. Hopefully theres nothing that will keep rjs out of the water this spring!

Thank goodness though our aircraft repairs don't look like that one. If I told a customer to just get over it. I wouldn't have a job. Aircraft and boats do have one thing in common. It isn't good when one or the other goes down unplanned!

My dad bought a brand new 21 foot regal in the late 70's. Came out of the factory with just the shell, no glass reinforcement. It cracked. It was repaired then it cracked a 2nd time. This time with my two sisters on board and this is before vhf and cell phone. They barely made it back. Without litigation, it all went good and he somehow ended up with a new 24 footer. Dad, I and the family are still enjoying the boat 30 years later.