Head in 26m

[ALX357]

completely agreed

[DLT]

v 2003 v 2005 is all personal preference...

None of us has had all three, so none of us can definitively answer which is better. Even if we could, it would be tainted because it would be a personal opinion that likely doesn't fit the 'prospective' owner very well.

As for me, I'm very happy with my 2005 . There are features of both the and the 2003 that I like. But, there are also features of my boat that I like.

The kicker, for me, was I didn't want to inherit someone else's problems or ideas of how it should be done. I have never bought a new car. But, I really wanted to stay away from "PO" issues, so I bought new. I had the opportunity to buy a new 2003 model, but decided to go with a 2005 model, since it is more flexible. The 2003 model fixes where the galley is, period. With my 2005, I can move it around as needed. hull, I can remove it completely if I want...


Bottom line: any or will pull up the rear in ANY sailboat race (at least with me at the helm)... Likewise, I'd be pretty foolish to enter ANY powerboat race. BUT, I didn't buy the boat to race...

The motor pulls the kids fast enough on the tube to make it fun. I can plane two tubes stuffed full of kids and/or adults. So, there is no need of more speed... I can also cruise under sail for free (burning no gas).

Besides, I defy you to find another truely trailerable boat (without requiring a special tow vehicle and/or permits) with comparable interior space... Can it be done, maybe, but not for the price I paid...

So, the Mac was the boat for me, and everyone else on this board.

The was the model for me, because of personal preference...

Moe makes a great case of why the is a better boat. And I truely believe it is, for him. In fact, I truely respect (and pay very close attention to) whatever he has to say.

But, I'm quite fat, dumb, and happy with my .


As for the head on the , it is a sit down only affair... Once you accept that, then the carpet, or whatever else, isn't an issue... I am 6' and so far over 200 lbs that I'd rather not get specific. But, even I can sit comfortably, if a bit cramped, on a "standard" sized port-a-pottie to do my business...

I suspect it would be a similar affair on an .

I do like the full fiberglass enclosed head on the , but I couldn't really comfortably shower in there anyway, so it isn't much advantage.

As for the 's head location, that is the most valuable piece of real estate on the boat. If you can't make it another 5-10 feet, you probably should just go over the side...

[Catigale]

Sjack - I was surfing the ads and saw quite a few boats in the Midwest area for sale if you want to pursue the used route.

Towing the Mac is really a snap - I move mine from Erie PA to Boston with a 200 HP VW Eurovan. Borrowing an F150 like vehicle to bring back a prize would seem worthy of enabling a route that could save you 10k easy.

My 0.01 Euros, future valued.

[Scott]

As far as the X vs M debate I dont know. Ive outsailed an M with a novice captain many times. I own an X, never been on an M undersail. I like the interior of the M.

As for someone looking for a near mint X, I have one. I maintain mine to a level of anality seldom acheived in the world of grown up toys. I have every factory option and darn near every aftermarket and custom Mod you can dream up.

If you want my boat, show up on my driveway with a Corsair 31' and its yours. If you show up with a NEW Telstar 28' youll have to feed me a lot of beers but youll still prob pull away with a nice X hooked to your truck.

[Moe]

The 26X was the first thing I've bought used in a long time (except my kids cars going through high school and college). There were some things that the PO didn't do the way I would've, and there were some things I had to fix. The $10,000 savings, every time I look at the bank account, and having the layout we HAD to have, makes fixing the few little things a lot easier to do. Had we had to finance it, it would've represented much more.

[Sjack]

Catigale -

The problem I have about about traveling to buy I used boat is this:

I would hate to travel 300, 400, 500 miles to find a boat that I wasn't happy with. I would want more time to study the boat - look it over, stem to stern.

I see a few of boats within that distance. I have no problem towing that distance in my Explorer (though I would probably have both hands gripped to the wheel that first trip - especially with someone's used trailer).

But, that is the way it would have to be done in my case. I'm not in southern California, where I can walk past a dock with a Mac for sale, look at it three or four times, and then start asking questions.

A good used X could save a lot of money, could have a lot of extras on it already, and could be worth the hassel. I haven't looked hard enough (yet) a find a Mac I am willing to take time out to travel for a better look.

All that being said, I think I could be happy either way - now that I have decided on a Mac. I took me some time to adpot the Mac philosophy. And in a lot of ways, it is still a consession on my part.

I hate engines - they are loud, messy, troublesome, expensive. I love the feel of a boat under sail. I love knowing that my skills can harness the wind to take me where I want to go.

However, I would hate (even more) to take my wife and two young children on a several hour road trip to one of the areas I consider worth while to sail and find no wind. I would hate to cut a day of sailing short because it will take two hours for use to get back to the boat ramp. I would hate to miss out on a quick outing on the Ohio River with my kids because you can't really sail on it.

I got to drive a few hours to get to any descent sailing spot. With a Mac, I can make that drive, stay a few days, get my my fix as a breeze rider before I zip back to the ramp so I can be back at work Monday. There is only one other boat that I know of that can do that, but a Mac is a hull of a lot cheaper.

So to me X or M isn't apples to oranges - its green apples to red apples. And all I really know right now is that I really want and apple!

All in all, I'm having a great time exploring my options.

[ALX357]

Last year i was in a hurry to buy a Mac. I traveled by air to he Chesapeake Bay area to look at a likely X, but it was kind of beat around more than i liked. The next trip was 180 miles to Louisville to see a really nice one, but the owner wanted 24000, A local owner here in Nashville also wanted 24000. I went about 250 miles each way to see a NEW '04 M at a great deal, 20000, but the Admiral agreed that it was to us a non-functional interior. I still sometimes regret not buying it.
The Mac i finally bought was about 150 miles away in Alabama, privately sold after a not-met-reserve no-sale on eBay.
I WISH I HAD WAITED A WHILE LONGER, as i did not get just the exact boat i wanted, but it would have probably cost me another YEAR. After some mods and extra purchases $$ i have it now more or less like i want. Since then I have seen several better (to me) boats go for thousands less than i paid. Wish i had waited longer, and learned from this site more BEFORE i bought.
But i would advise just bide your time, search for a few months on eBay, look at other boat-for-sale sites, including the little picture classifieds boat sale mags at the local speedy gas markets, and large boat brokerages. Large number of boats for sale at the end of the summer season. Broaden your search to other venues. Look online with searches. You'd be surprised that a seller may be near to you unknown, and unaware of this site. WAIT for the perfect X with the motor etc. you want, at a good price, and then GO for it. Financing in hand, or cash.

[Frank C]

... if you want my boat, show up on my driveway with a Corsair 31' and its yours. ( or ) with a NEW Telstar 28' ... youll still prob pull away with a nice X hooked to your truck.

VBG





(very BIG grin)

[Catigale]

Sjack

I hear you on the travel. COnsider playing it this way. Call up prospect, have them video the boat from stem to stern and get a feel for a bunch of boats before you make the plunge.

3 trips at 10-20 hours of driving round trip plus motel is still < $1000 in my book though, and you are looking at spending 10-15k less.....the real win would be if you could pick up more than one boat prospect on a trip of course.

Or maybe thing about vacationing in an area (CA, Northeast) for a long weekend where you can check out 5-6 boats rather than trying to day trip?

Hope you get your apple soon.

[Divecoz]

Wow the savings keep going up $10,000.00 to now $15,000.00 I have a pretty complete 05 and have about $27,000.00 in it with everything new and bigger wheels and tires a 50 HP4 stroke BF Merc. etc etc . . . I too looked a lot on the Net and found most nice late model Mac's almost all X's btw but a few M's too in the 19K to 24K . I guess I missed all those pristine Macs in the $12K to $18K and I thought I had looked a lot . . .. I think it still comes down to the interior layout and the transom . . .

[Catigale]

UR right Divecoz

I plead guilty to creeping the price (in this case the savings) to make my case feel even better.

Its probably 10k saving between a new and a 'like new' at most.

[richandlori]

hey if uncle Sam can call a surplus that NEVER actually happend yet a surplus and then wind up 300-400Billion/year in the hole, what's a few thousand amoung friends?

Rich

[Divecoz]

But I would think the savings are more $5 to maybe $7K for a loaded Pristine X or M and $10+ K for older and less desirable X or M. . . AS soon as we begin using words like pristine. . . and lightly used. . almost new. . . it all comes down to who is using the words to describe the object.... The interior is the make or break and the transom opening . . .well if you don't lie the cabin the transom doesn't even matter. I think you could like the cabin on my M and still NOT like it enough to live with the transom .In my case I am building a dive deck off the starboard side of the transom for mine and a side mountable ladder as well. IMHO and I know so little its considered to be nothing but everything else is is mute about both boats if you dont like the cabin. .

[Catigale]

I love the M cabin but like the X cockpit....its bigger than my friends J35 and great for family...

[Rolf]

Yes, I prefer the x head. Yes, it sails well under genoa only. Yes, my boat looks like new because I l love it and keep it that way after every sail and it is actually almost easier to single handedly launch and set up my boat than my 8 foot walker bay I have to wrestle off the top of the car and set up while in the water. The x is ready to go in just 30 mins now(including mast, dodger, stand up bimini set up).
The x made a great first impression on me that got better as I investigated and learned all its features. The m might of made the same first impression if I had never seen an x-- and I probably would have bought it, too. I definitely would have been pi$$ if they came out with the x later, tho! Anyone really STUCK on getting a almost new x, I would be patient. It is only a short matter of time now(the m molds are almost worn out) and Roger will bring out a better version of the x/m morphed together. Either that or it will be a 33 foot in the water x(with 150 horse option!).
Rolf