Finally took delivery last night of our 04 M

[Harry van der Meer]

Your experience is not a reflection on MacGregor but on the dealer. Last year May, I took possession of a used 01 X sold by a dealer in New Jersey. The dealer spent almost 2 days with me rigging, launching, sailing, motoring, retrieving and de-rigging. We practiced rigging and de-rigging several times until we had it down pat. The boat was very clean and well maintained. Other than a wax job, we were ready to go sailing when we came home. We loved the first season sailing Narragansett Bay, and even camped in the boat at a camp ground in Acadia NP, Maine.

[Paul S]

>>Being a MacGregor owner, I know corners are cut to keep the price down and I accept that; however, the problems here reflect a severe lack of quality control at the factory. This reflects very pooly on the MacGregor line<<

I just don't know if this is an isolated problem (with gelcoat flaws/swirl marks/repair attempt) or common issues. The dealer said this boat was in the best condition of all that he had. I would hate to see the others...lol...The first boat we got titled to us was seriously flawed. This one is a creampuff comared to that hull (#225) which is now his demo boat.

It seems to be a combination dealer/mfr issues.

I am starting to think that the reputation of Macgregor being poorly built boats is true. If care can't be put into the final product..where else did they cut corners...in areas you can't see...does not say a lot for their quality control....

Delivery was pretty much ...drop it off in my driveway...He said he (or someone he contracts with) will come down and give me a dry run on the systems when the weather improves a bit.

I'm at wits end...don't know if I should just get out of the game now (return/sell boat) or hang in there....This is more painful then having our Audi serviced...and that is not good..

>>Your experience is not a reflection on MacGregor but on the dealer<<

It is Macgregor at least 25% I would say. The gelcoat repair (factory) was so pi$$ poor. The wax job and swirl marks were from the factory...but dealer should have attempted to buff out or repair before delivery.

I think there are too many owners that accept less than perfect...which allows this to go on. People need to complain more. I am a tough consumer...I have simple needs...quality products or service at a reasonable price..not a lot to expect.

If this were a new $30,000 car...no one on this board would accept the car if the paint had the same number and seriousness of flaws.

Paul

[Mark Prouty]

I am starting to think that the reputation of Macgregor being poorly built boats is true. If care can't be put into the final product..where else did they cut corners...in areas you can't see...does not say a lot for their quality control....
Paul

I sincerely believe that the 26M is fundamentally a well built boat.
http://www.macgregor26.com/construction.htm

The problems you are experiencing are cosmetic.

I'm at wits end...don't know if I should just get out of the game now (return/sell boat) or hang in there....This is more painful then having our Audi serviced...and that is not good..

Look at this quote:

Our first experience on the dealers demo boat for 6 nights was wonderful. Could not ask for a more comfortable experience. Haven't used an X at all to compare though.
Paul

Hang in there till you get satisfaction. You have a truely beautiful one of a kind boat. You'll have best lifetime experiences with it.

[Paul S]

But if this experience is a sign of things to come....it is one thing borrowing a boat....but when you spend a good amount of hard earned cash and do not get what you expect...it is not good.

They are mostly cosmetic flaws..but I don't think they can be repaired to my satisfaction. I am pretty critical (no suprise at this point I am sure)

The other issues are plain negligence and lack of proper prep. if this is what it is like at delivery...what is going to happen for warranty repairs if any?

The boat is overall good..but that is not good enough..Stuff not being installed....everything I have an issue with could have been prevented pre-delivery...

Paul

[Paul S]

I guess when it rains it pours....

Just took the cap off the mast (installed with rivits). Found a white foam block. I removed the block to find more yellow (expanding?) foam filling the cavity.

So I guess there is no way to fish wires, at least with this mast. This was our one of our greatest concerns with the boat. He assured us that it had one (was in the purchase contract there would be a channel) Another disappointment.

Adding that to the list of things that need to be addressed by the dealer

Paul

[mike]

I guess when it rains it pours....

Just took the cap off the mast (installed with rivits). Found a white foam block. I removed the block to find more yellow (expanding?) foam filling the cavity.

Ouch. Wasn't this the primary reason why you rejected the first boat? For the life of me, I can't figure out why MacGregor seems to have forgotten all about the fact that they list the PVC tube for wires in the mast as a feature. Though I personally wouldn't be quite as worked up as you are over the other stuff, THIS would infuriate me, especially considering that this is boat #2, and that it was specified in the contract. If I were the dealer, given the fact that this was such an important issue to you, I would have been in constant communication with the factory to ensure this was not forgotten.

But again, you shouldn't even have to ask for this... it's supposed to be a standard feature.

(edit: Just for the heck of it, you might try digging down an inch or two... maybe the channel is there, but was just hidden by an overflow of expanding foam.)

--Mike

[Mark Prouty]

Its time for the Consumer Protection Agency or the Federal Protection Agency. Nobody should have to go through all this!!

The Federal Trade Commission and other federal agencies address national consumer protection issues. Through litigation, the Office seeks injunctions to stop fraudulent or deceptive practices and recovers monies for injured consumers.

Maybe your state has something like this:
http://www.ohiolemonlaw.com/oll-site/oll-boat_law.html

There is also this:
http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/
You'd better make a move soon. There might be time constraints.

[Paul S]

I guess when it rains it pours....

Just took the cap off the mast (installed with rivits). Found a white foam block. I removed the block to find more yellow (expanding?) foam filling the cavity.

Ouch. Wasn't this the primary reason why you rejected the first boat?
For the life of me, I can't figure out why MacGregor seems to have forgotten all about the fact that they list the PVC tube for wires in the mast as a feature. Though I personally wouldn't be quite as worked up as you are over the other stuff, THIS would infuriate me, especially considering that this is boat #2, and that it was specified in the contract. If I were the dealer, given the fact that this was such an important issue to you, I would have been in constant communication with the factory to ensure this was not forgotten.

But again, you shouldn't even have to ask for this... it's supposed to be a standard feature.

(edit: Just for the heck of it, you might try digging down an inch or two... maybe the channel is there, but was just hidden by an overflow of expanding foam.)

--Mike

We never rejected the first boat. The dealer just wanted it as his demo since it had some significant damage...which was OK with me.

I dug down about 7 inches and nothing was found. I am just beside myself.

It infuriates me because I said for 6 months to my dealer that the boat has to be perfect. Otherwise no deal. I wanted it sail/power-ready.

Several parts not installed...several significant gelcoat flaws, poorly secured mast (and loose steel wires) causing more fiberglass damge... All preventable and should have been taken care of at dealer prep, IMO.

Sh!tty gelcoat repair (at factory) TOTALLY unacceptable. I mean it is really bad..no really...It is bad..trust me. If your car came from the dealer with this huge lump of paint 4" long and 1/8" - 3/16" thick proud of the surface on the hood..you would (well I would) punch out my salesman.

The (lack of) channel in the mast has totally sent me over the edge.

Oh yea.. I am pretty lit over this. Probably (Actually I know I am) overreacting...but it just gets to me when you do not get what you pay for.

[Mark Prouty]

Paul,

What are you going to do? You're going to take some kind of action aren't you?

[Paul S]

Its time for the Consumer Protection Agency or the Federal Protection Agency. Nobody should have to go through all this!!

The Federal Trade Commission and other federal agencies address national consumer protection issues. Through litigation, the Office seeks injunctions to stop fraudulent or deceptive practices and recovers monies for injured consumers.

Maybe your state has something like this:
http://www.ohiolemonlaw.com/oll-site/oll-boat_law.html

There is also this:
http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/
You'd better make a move soon. There might be time constraints.

I wouldn't quite call it a lemon..just a boat below my expectations. I know I am overreacting..but on the other hand...I also told the dealer I wanted it flawless..ready to sail.. I don't want to spend hours buffing/waxing the boat..installing hardware that should have been done when prepped.

Paul

[Paul S]

Paul,

What are you going to do? You're going to take some kind of action aren't you?

The boat will either be fixed by the dealer to my expectations, or returned or sold. No biggie. Not the end of the world. There is nothing significant enough to warrant legal action.

Paul

[mike]

Paul,
The boat will either be fixed by the dealer to my expectations, or returned or sold. No biggie. Not the end of the world.

Make him fix it or take the boat back! If you simply sell it, you lose and he wins... don't let that happen!

--Mike

[Tom Root]

EEKS,
Well you do have some issues there for sure. I bought my boat used, (exactly one year old) and the dealer had made good some minor and one major problem. Evidently, the steering system failed, and the system was replaced promptly as I understand it. I am coming up on the 2 year warranty mark, and can't see any issues that need resolving. My suggestion is to voice your concerns as LOUDLY as you can. You paid for an expected bill of goods. Give them a reasonable amount of time to correct the problems.

I would not want to have my finish flawed from new as you recieved it, but my advice is to watch the method of repair, as you are going to gouge the finish in the future (trust me on this) and you can do it yourself, and save a bundle of money to boot! Then again, there are those out there that allow someone else to do it and can swallow the big repair bill. Of course insurance claims help lessen the burden in some instances also. So, it just may be a blessing in disquise?

The blue gel will be a challenge, as I have a blue gel Mac Venture out back, and it is impossible for me to match it . I guess that's why I appreciate my now "Great White" 26X, easier to repair those dings IMHO.

So, it's a wait and see game for you now by what you are saying, it's just a shame you have such remorse with your new baby. Hopefully it can and will be resolved and you can enjoy life.....that's why we have our great Macs....right?

Tom Root
2002 26
Great White
San Diego

[Paul S]

Paul,
The boat will either be fixed by the dealer to my expectations, or returned or sold. No biggie. Not the end of the world.

Make him fix it or take the boat back! If you simply sell it, you lose and he wins... don't let that happen!

--Mike

We got a pretty significant discount (over 3 grand) off the sticker price. I guess this is pretty good. I figured I could sell it for what I paid or more. It has never been titled..still brand new.

[Tom Root]

As Paul Harvey says....And now....the rest of the story. I'd be a happy camper if I were you. Now you get paid for fixing those mistakes, sounds like a good deal to me. The way I see it, you paid less than my X was brand new ( Boat sans options of course). Look at some of the already posted threads, and let the fun begin!

The way I see it, we Mac owners are in two camps (Generally) Those who have more time, and less money, so we do it ourselves. Or those who let others do the mods and repairs because they have more money than time.

Take a guess which camp I'm in?

Tom Root
2002 26
Great White
San Diego