MacGregorSailors.com

Hi all,
My name is Tom Clayton i have been an avid reader of this sight for the last year. Im currently deployed to Iraq and plan to buy a Mac 26m when i return. I wonder if the voices of experience would relay those dealers whom i should be cautioned from. Im not opposed to buying from either cost i currently live in Colorado. I have been leaning towards the west coast because when i return from this tour i will be relocating to Hawaii so shipping from that coast would be easiest. I realize there are some miss givings about relaying negative impressions on those dealers who are less than desirable but it seems to me if we all were to relay our experience with all Mac or sailing products and above all customer service, then we can as a group influence those who supply our needs to come up to the standards of customer support/satisfaction that seems to be lacking in many business models today.
Please feel free to also lead me to those who have served you all well, its a huge investment for my wife and myself and we hope to do it right the first time. I thank you all for any time you take on my behalf and i look forward to any and all responses, CPT Tom Clayton, US Army Nurse Corp, 10th Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad Iraq.

First of all I want to thank you for your service to your country. I've had excellent service from Blue Wate Yachts (BWYachts.com) in Seattle Washington. Good luck and keep safe.
Regards

Thanks for your reply, i was actually looking there because they also make the stern seats and seem to be design experts of custom Mac hardware, i was just concerned that i might become a little fish in their big pond its good to hear thats not so, Tom.

I dont think you will find a Mac dealer on the west coast that is any better or more responsive than Blue Water Yachts at dealing with and there really good at setting up your Mac for where ever you are sailing the inland water way to Alaska or open ocean like around Hawaii. I suggest all lines led back to the cockpit and just a 110 jib for open ocean sailing. BWY's dodger and full enclosure biminy are the best.

Ditto on the thanks for your service. We understand what a sacrifice you are making.

We bought our M from Blue Water Yachts. Nice friendly folks who take time with you and make you feel comfortable with your choices. Ray took us out all day for an orientation even though I've been sailing for over 30 years. What a great guy.
They also have some nice options, like the stern seats. We love them and can't imagine the boat without. They also have a great cruising package that gives you a lot of basics. I just recently learned the split table is their creation. I really like that as well. Everything has been very solid with how they rigged the boat and motor. I also believe they are the only Mac dealer authorized to install the larger 70 HP motors.
No problems at all.


--Russ

Hey Tom,
Thanks for your sacrifice and I wish all of you home safe and soon. As for my experiences buying my Mac just a couple of months ago: I don't see how you would go wrong with Bill at Boats4Sail in Wisc. Great guy and very knowledgeable about Macs and sailing in general. Extremely low pressure and talked me out of a couple of options he just didn't think I'd need or use. Also, a former military man himself, though from another war. You've probably come across some of Bill's posts on this site or heard other members sing his praises. Anyway, just my two cents worth.
Bob

We recommend Arena Yacht Service in San Rafael, CA. Both Jeff and Dan have lots of experience and treated us great, we were first time boat buyers.
They took us for an afternoon test-ride on the Bay, to help us deciding if the Mac is right for us prior to purchasing.
Jeff spend another day with us on the bay when we took delivery of the boat, explaining the specific features of our setup. They did not try to oversell us, but advised against some options we had looked at. We would not hesitate to buy from them again.

Thank you for your service and good luck with your boat.

Jurgen and Connie

Hello Tom,

Thank you for serving this great country.

My wife and I bought from Mike Inmon in Marina del Rey in 2007 and we are very happy with the service that we have received during the 2 1/2 years that we have had the boat. Mike has since moved to the factory location in Costa Mesa, Ca.

Now, take good care of yourself and return safely.

Finn

The Anchorage in Lyons does an excellent job with rigging and mods and Super Sail in Kearney Nebraska if you're looking for quality used.

Bob

I bought my used 02X from Supersail in Kearney, and know two others who purchased Macs from John. He did what he said he was going to do, at what I thought was a fair price.

Ron

Tom, Ditto on the appreciation of your service!

I also bought my M from John in Kearney, NE. He's a wealth of knowledge and set up a great deal for me with custom rigging!

Doug

Thank you all for your well wishes, i will be home soon and cant wait to start my next adventure in Hawaii , back in the arms of my family enjoying my new Mac. I also thank all of you for all the support that we soldiers recieve from back home it makes us all feel good about why we are here. I look with comfort at the recomendations that all of you have made and have contacted several dealers mentioned. i am now feeling more confident selecting any of these now reputable dealers to purchase from.This is a big step for my wife and I as it will be our first boat. I see the Mac as a stepping stone to meet some of my future retirement goals and look forward to the good times to be had. i believe the Mac to be good source for learning what i want to learn and just plain having fun. Thanks again all, and know that when your soldiers get hurt over here and they come to our hospital, know that we care for them as our family with the goal of getting them back home safe to yours. I have been here 12 months and proudly relate to you all that we have not lost a single soldier to battle injuries or illness in our Intensive Care Unit. Testomony to the care, professionalism and dilegence of our staff of Dr's, Nurses and the Medics both on the scene and here at the 10th CSH, its our war cry here in the ICU that "Nobody dies on my shift" thankfully we have been able to meet that challenge and I am confident that our relief will be able to continue that tradition, until we get all of soldiers home again, Thanks, Tom.

Have a safe few months and get home safe. Hawaii is a great place to sail and start a new life after the service. Good luck

Hi Tom - 1100/11/11/09
Thank you for your service.
I hope you enjoy Hawaii, more than I did, the last time I was there. Heading back to CONUS from Nam in August of '65, we stopped there for re-fuling and were told there was a steak dinner inside. I wouldn'nt get off the plane, thinking it was a trap to send me back to Nam. After 1-1/2 years in Africa and 1 year in Nam I was an old man of 21.
Stay safe.
- Bill

My wife and I bought our boat from Mike Inmon in 2008. We live in Washington state and Mike personally delivered the boat to us maybe he will deliver yours to the Islands. Check him out, he's great.