MacGregorSailors.com

Having found an so soon after rediscovering sailing from twenty years ago, has me feeling almost like it is a big daydream.

It was about a month ago, when I woke up early one morning, to drive twenty miles to the lake to take a chance there may be some sailboats for sale. It was no pre-plan. Just had a whim I wanted one. From far back memories of my youth. Summers spent on lakes. Always too poor for any boat, as a kid. Family had only money for nessary things. Seldom anything in the way of extravagant. We did not own a car the whole time I grew up, let alone a boat to pull anywhere.

At the lake a month ago, I looked almost with passion, at the boats laid out before me. Big ones, small ones. Green ones, yellow ones, and one boat stood out from the others. It was a MacGregor 25 I was later to learn.

It was ever bit twice the size of the two sailboats I owned as a young married man. Those sailboats had only one sail, and no below deck areas. No complicated rigging. Only pure joy from flying in the wind with the boat between myself and the water. This Mac 25 seemed huge. Daunting, impossible to ever think I could go from a small boat twenty years ago to something with two, and even three sails, and what looked like 200 ropes, wires, and pulleys and wenches controlling it all. Well, in an hour, I owned that boat. In two hours, I had a boat motor. Never owned a boat motor before. Never operated one, or really ever imagined sailboats even used them. In a couple of days, I was spending my free time, sailing on the lake, something I had not done in twenty plus years, and had never done in such a commanding way with multiple sails, and such a fast boat.

As I pushed through the fog I was in, I saw other MacGregors, larger, more powerful, with many more refinements.

Well, that was a month ago. Today, that first sailboat is all tuned up, and the engine is serviced, and the whole kit n kabootle is for sale on Craig's List. Not because I changed my mind, or got tired of it, or because It was a passing thing. No, I have it for sale because three sailboats purchased in the first month back on the water, would be a pain in the neck to mow around! Yep, I purchased a second sailboat that first day, and three weeks later, the next move was to call John at Super Sport Marine and twist his arm into selling me an

So in three weeks, I went from no thought of sailing, to dreams of power sailing.

Yep, my wife thinks I have lost it. She is for the most part, somewhere between respectful of water, to down right afraid of it. Her memories of small sailboats with 20 mph winds are not good ones. However, she is a good wife, and can roll with the punches when she sees her hubby has gone off on an adventure. She is a good wife. Good wife of twenty eight years putting up with my odd ball nature.

Enough about me, what has brought you to this point, of wind in your hair, sun in your face, and a MacGregor between the water and the sky, under your feet? Why sailing, and why now? What does it mean to you, and why the pull at your heart? I know the pull, I feel the force, so I know what you are going through. Tell us your feelings about sailing that has brought you to this place.

GaryMayo wrote:wenches controlling it all.

That pretty much sums it up!

Seriously, I came from earlier sailing, and boating roots similar to your mention, except mine went way back to 1966 in the Indian ocean, and Swan river in Perth Australia. Six years ago my wife's uncle died and we bought his 1988 18.5ft Sandpiper from his son. It was love at first sight and we did many memorable cruises on our Lake Ontario, as well as mostly mast down traverses on the Trent-Severin and Rideau Canals. We were inveterate campers before that, so the small boat was not much different than sleeping in a tent equipped with sails (and a motor).
We were introduced to our first look at a Mac (X) by a couple from Ottawa while on our first trip on the Rideau waterway while floating (camping) at a lock overnight. That we eventually progressed to the purchase of a new was a forgone conclusion from that point on. Two years of lurking on this site may have helped a bit as well!
As we are now both retired, and our children finally running their own lives, it is a joy for us to contemplate the many future years ahead that will be shared with this terrific boat, and the places and people it will continue to introduce us to.

Keep on trucking Gary!

Ross

Simple, "Perfect Fit".

"Sub" Ed

ANSWER: Oh Crap!! What have I done now?

...but keep an eye out for the question, and my answer to, "How do you like your Max after the first season?"

GaryMayo wrote:Having found an so soon after rediscovering sailing from twenty years ago, has me feeling almost like it is a big daydream.

Enough about me, what has brought you to this point, of wind in your hair, sun in your face, and a MacGregor between the water and the sky, under your feet? Why sailing, and why now? What does it mean to you, and why the pull at your heart? I know the pull, I feel the force, so I know what you are going through. Tell us your feelings about sailing that has brought you to this place.

Great story, GARY.

Personally, I wouldn't be boating and sailing if I had not discovered the MacGregor (a trailerable boat, big enough for family fun, weather tight, comfortable, and built in floatation safety). My amazing story is that I stumbled onto the Trailerable 26 footer in much the SAME WAY of your story.

At first, I stumbled onto a very clean '92 Mac 26S, bought it, loved it, but wanted a little more cabin room, engine power, etc. Thus, it was sold, and now I'm likewise a Mac X owner for several years. Today, our X is slipped in a comfortable wind-protected Marina, always ready to go. Yep, it's enjoyed as much as the first day I towed it home. I bought it from a "one owner" that took great care of it. The FUN doesn't wear off in my opinion.

Nope, I wouldn't be as content with any other boat of similar size -- at least not at the prices on "those" other brands. The FUN doesnt wear off in my opinion (opps, already said that).

Happy Sailing ... keep the hatch closed during rain

For us? It was on one of our many trips to Cozumel Mexico. We would have along with us, another couple. One that had never been to Mexico, let alone Cozumel.
Long story short..
We did a Sunset Sail down the coast of Cozumel.. Just far enough off , not hear the noise and close enough in, to see all the lights..
It Was Magic! Hours later , after a Very Nice ...dinner drinks and dancing and back home and in bed.. My wife turned to me and asked? Could you learn to do that? I said I felt I could.. She then asked could we afford one of those? ( a 27' Catalina) I answered , I'd look into it.. We returned home and immediately scheduled a return trip. I scheduled two days of sailing classes.. We were hooked.. We again returned home. I remembered my younger brother having a smaller sail boat and he said it was built by Roger Macgregor.. Hum Macgregor Sailboats .. Click.. BINGO and Bingo again and again...
I found this site and a few months later and having had all of 2 lesson and about 4 hours on the water.. We found ourselves @ Bills Boat shop in Wisconsin. and a few days and another trip latter we owned a Brand New 26 M .. I have never regretted the purchase and have yet to lose the smile on my face..

...but keep an eye out for the question, and my answer to, "How do you like your Max after the first season?"

6th season...and still, "Perfect Fit"

"Sub" Ed

I bought my first Mac in my mind when I was age 5. 35 years later, I got the real thing. I felt like a 5 year old again.

I picked up my 25 from a guy whose sailing partner had moved away and thus switched over to a power boat since it was just him. He needed more room in his yard and took my extra 1995 mustang GT convertible in trade. Why trade well.... I already had a 95 mustang faster and better shape then the vert. Plus I had grown up with my friend's father on a Hobie 16 then on an M22. The better part of my childhood was spent driving either an hour north to cochiti lake (AKA THE TOILET it is said if you can sail there you can sail anywhere, because the wind swirls and goes from the lake being a perfect mirror to 40mph gusts in less than an hour.) or on better trips 4 hours north to Lake Heron New Mexico. Having spent so much time in peace with the wind as a youngster I was dieing to introduce my wife to it. However it turned out to be a world of difference sailing someone else's boat vs sailing your own. There are just so many more things to think about. The 25 had been been messed with for lack of better words, an electric keel winch was a big no go for me since if you enjoyed yourself with the radio all day you were not going to be lifting the keel, and going home. One thing after another came up and was fixed including all new interior wood and upholstery, wheels and tires, new brake winch for keel lifting, electrical etc etc... You know what B.O.A.T. Means.... Bring On Another Thousand. 2 years in I found the boat had just too many owners doing too many things to it and I hated everything about it, especially the keel (here in the desert 50 yards out can suddenly become only a foot or two deep). My wife convinced to me to sell. I found a guy who was dieing to buy just my boat (completely re-worked and fine tuned for the average person, finally...) he had an extra jet ski he wanted to part with. So we drove and made the exchange. Under one condition my wife got a jet ski again (having sold both of our old ones earlier in the year) Since she was happy having skis again I got to look for an m26. 3 years I looked EVERYWHERE for just the right boat when the perfect one came up. Originally purchased in my home town in 1995 hull number 7xx one of the last (true sailboats) was sailed once at the above mentioned cochiti then slipped down south at our biggest lake here in New Mexico (elephant butte) slipped for about 6 years where a family used it regularly they rarely even slept aboard. In 2001 they paid it off and pulled out of the water since the kids had left the home The boat was left in storage (outdoor) for 10 years till I purchased it on July 30, 2011. A month of repairs later (all 4 rings on the sails tack ring for example had torn out) upper shrouds were frayed.... The usual I now have the PERFECT boat for me and my family! Absolutely couldn't't be happier! Completely unmolested. Everything about it is there even receipts for the radio and bimini install from 1997. It was a LONG LONG road to PURE bliss!

Remember Bill Cosby when he got his shelby cobra?

"Look out America!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-JQksYxgM0

Good thread Gary, looks like most here had some previous experience even if small but we came into it with only fishing and dinghys, although had dreamt about boats and sailing to nearby countries 40 years ago and even though I checked out the papers etc it quickly became apparent that we never had the finances and the wife was NOT having anything to do with it.
Our intro to trailer sailing was sitting around a campfire in the West Australian goldfields and a fellow traveller mentioned he regularly travelled to the east coast around Sydney and the Hawksbury from Perth with his RL28, so always wanting to be different thought I would check it out when we got home.
Looked at a few ads for RL's but nothing clicked and then saw a 97 on ebay and after reading the description etc got keen, it was a shonky deal so never went further but the seed was sown and next thing I was onto a US dealer and the factory who informed me in no uncertain terms that the only way I could buy new was through the Aust dealer at a huge price difference
Anyway after wheeling and dealing and a sail on an with inspections on land of an we finally arrived at the dock to pick up our with absolutely no sailing experience so instead of having it fully equipped we had a basic boat and built it up so I would know exactly why everything was on it? with a lot of help from this forum THANK YOU.
We didn't get to travel north that year but did do an 800km trip down the Murray which till this day I still rate as our best trip above Gippsland Lakes (much better), the east coast, Whitsundays, gulf and Kimberlies mind you the Kimberlies is right up there.
It has been a great experience for both of us even though the wife hates sailing and does get sea sick on other boats never on the (says she's too scared to get seasick).
Now it's time to finish some of the inland areas we have missed and just use the dinghy again but prices are down over here so it may take time to sell and may just have time to finishe the other 1400k's+ of the Murray before it goes .
The Macs are amazing boats and there is absolutely no other boat anywhere except the Mach28 that goes close to the versatility.

In 2000, I had to cover two markets due to someone leaving my previous company..I learned an important lesson that making more money doesnt help if you kill your family life - luckily without major relationship damage..

Took my ill-earned gains and ended up with a speedy white from Art Reiders in MASS...RIP sir.

About 5 years before this, a keel boater had put me on to the Macgregor for boating on the Hudson - warned me that sailors would laugh at me, but I would be out sailing while the typed about how much better there boat was...

My old boss was sold after realising I was in Toronto one weekend and Nantucket the next - working a fulll week in between.....

Great great story Gary!
My feelings were those of freedom, adventure, nervousness, pride, and uncertainty. I had spent so much time reading about sailing looking at parts and dreaming, that when it came down to actually picking up my boat and making the dream a reality, I was unsure of what to do next! All I had sailed on was a sunfish all of about 5 times, and wasnt real sure if I could handle a boat of this size by myself.
The freedom to go wherever I wish, explore whatever islands I fancy, and anchor where I may is the ultimate feeling of freedom and adventure for me.
the pride comes from having a beautiful boat *2000 26x* and working hard to have something nice like this at 27 years old. I was definitely nervous when I first got the boat afloat, and I have so much to learn about sailing next year, but I can tell that this is a passion and a lifestyle for me! I believe "Knot Tied Down" is my true love!

Knot Tied Down wrote:Great great story Gary!
My feelings were those of freedom, adventure, nervousness, pride, and uncertainty. I had spent so much time reading about sailing looking at parts and dreaming, that when it came down to actually picking up my boat and making the dream a reality, I was unsure of what to do next! All I had sailed on was a sunfish all of about 5 times, and wasnt real sure if I could handle a boat of this size by myself.
The freedom to go wherever I wish, explore whatever islands I fancy, and anchor where I may is the ultimate feeling of freedom and adventure for me.
the pride comes from having a beautiful boat *2000 26x* and working hard to have something nice like this at 27 years old. I was definitely nervous when I first got the boat afloat, and I have so much to learn about sailing next year, but I can tell that this is a passion and a lifestyle for me! I believe "Knot Tied Down" is my true love!

Dido, except I had neer been on a sail boat...i just knew. I really knew this fall when I had a flat lander friend (from Manitoba) out on the lake in stacked four footers at fourty degrees, and got half the boat outta the water off the top of a wave and proceeded to bury the bow into the next wave and my only thought was 'f'ing awesome' while my buddy was white knuckled onto the stren rail seats lol

Dido, except I had neer been on a sail boat...i just knew. I really knew this fall when I had a flat lander friend (from Manitoba) out on the lake in stacked four footers at fourty degrees, and got half the boat outta the water off the top of a wave and proceeded to bury the bow into the next wave and my only thought was 'f'ing awesome' while my buddy was white knuckled onto the stren rail seats lol [/quote]

I had a pretty good laugh when I read that! Definitely "f' ing awesome" thats some serious business at 40 degrees over!