Used Mac's

[TerryB89]

I have noticed that there are hundreds of used higher dollar sail boats for sale from$5000 on up, why are there so few used MacGregors? The ones I can find they want just a few thousand less than a new one. Why cant I find a used 26 for $6000 or $7000?

[jaguar496]

Hi Terry: don't know where you are, but Triton Yachts in Oriental, NC, has two . one is $12K, and the other is $9K. each about 10years old, and both with basic outfitting Alice and Stew,"THE RESTLESS TWO"

[Québec 1]

I have noticed that there are hundreds of used higher dollar sail boats for sale from$5000 on up, why are there so few used MacGregors? The ones I can find they want just a few thousand less than a new one. Why cant I find a used 26 for $6000 or $7000?

I think it's For the same reason I bought one COST
Once it is payed for and in my yard it costs me 3K a year less to keep than a traditional sailboat. So why sell? I can afford this boat

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I occasionally see some real good deals on Mac boats. The amazing thing is that pricing of Macs have such a big price spread. $10K to $21K for an "X", $4K to $12K for a Classic.
When I was searching for my Classic, I found an older Mac (weighted keel type), in excellent shape for $500 bucks. It only needed sails. But, I didnt want a lead keel.
We found our first Mac (a Classic) locally, and our second Mac (an "X") at bargain prices. But, it takes patience and watching for that "deal"

When we sold our Classic, it was such a good deal that a family from the Country of Chili flew in to buy it. They explained the same problem exists in Chili--pricing spread is a mess. Theyve sent me pics, and e-mails of the Mac, and their fun with the boat. (real nice folk).

Spending time in various marinas looking at "for sale" boats can be rewarding. The deals are out there.

[Russ]

I also had a hard time finding used Macs at any real discount. Strange considering how many are manufactured each year.
These boats seem to hold their value well and owners hold onto them. Many young ones are priced close to new prices. Of course owners pump tons of extras into a new boat which add up and are often found in used boats.

I'm a bit nervous about buying a boat sight unseen and there are some mechanical aspects of the Mac that need physical inspection (dagger board, rudders, engine). Because of that, I went for a new Mac. However, if I had one close by that I could inspect and have a mechanic check out the motor, a used one would probably make sense. The "extras" on our '08 Mac ended up costing a lot more when you add them up.

[Terry]

I also had a hard time finding used Macs at any real discount. Strange considering how many are manufactured each year.
These boats seem to hold their value well and owners hold onto them. Many young ones are priced close to new prices. Of course owners pump tons of extras into a new boat which add up and are often found in used boats.
I'm a bit nervous about buying a boat sight unseen and there are some mechanical aspects of the Mac that need physical inspection (dagger board, rudders, engine). Because of that, I went for a new Mac. However, if I had one close by that I could inspect and have a mechanic check out the motor, a used one would probably make sense. The "extras" on our '08 Mac ended up costing a lot more when you add them up.

The bold type speaks volumes and fluctuations in options are reflected in prices. You get what you pay for!
Try to find a boat with as many options/add-ons as possible, it is an expensive pain to DIY. I bought brand new and still am buying brand new add-ons.

[parrothead]

There's quite a variety of MacGregors listed on eBay right now: an '04 26M, two 26Xs ['99 & '96], an '87 26D, an '85 Mac25, and even a [highly modified] '81 Mac36 catamaran.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I bought a "bare bones" Mac X, and its only upgrades were roller furling, dual batteries with switch, and alum. alloy trailer wheels. I was sorta glad, because I wanted to do various Mods on my own, which is much of the fun owning a Mac. (Jack Sparrow and his Mods prove its fun messing around improving the comforts of a Mac). There is so much that can be done with this boat.

[Lease]

Don't forget that there are a lot of agents trolling for used boats that are for sale anywhere near the West Coast on behalf of part-time Oz importers.

Just took a look at Boatpoint.com.au and there are currently 22 Mac 26 for sale; 13 X & 9 M (also 1 19 & 2 65).

Almost all of those have been imported used from the USA for the purposes of taking advantage of cheap purchase price, good exchange rate, and relatively high local market value.

Most US dealers are now aware of this trend and prices for used boats are starting to rise.

Before anyone gets any ideas, I already checked it out. It is the sort of thing you can do if you have some ready cash and are prepared to take a couple of risks. When I did the numbers on making a small business out of it, I found that the holding costs (interest, storage, distribution, etc) made it very dicey indeed.

[Boblee]

You beat me to it Lease, with the dollars getting very close the US price for a used Mac looks pretty good and there have been a lot of private entrepeneurs taking advantage lately.
I think the one Aust agent is limited in the number of new boats and has a huge demand especially from our west coast but the used price is still holding up to almost equal new.
The factory options on the Aust boats make them a bit more attractive than the privately imported US boats but we bought ours as basic from Phillip and built it up to suit our specs which would have been difficult to do with even a new US boat for a similar price when worked out in total.
Would love to be doing the same excercise today with 20% difference in price of dollars.
Crikey the Macs are good value in the states though as I don't think I have seen any under $35000 here with some asking $60K

[Catigale]

Its all about Rogers business plan

The operating costs of owning a fixed keel boat annually are substantial and require either independent wealth or total commitment to sailing as your one hobby.

Go to any marina, look around, and you will find a dozen keelboats on the hard, all with a story of divorce, a job change, sickness, death that mean this boat will not be used again until it has a new owner. Meanwhile, storage fees rack up.

A Mac can stay in your driveway in most places, and you can take the four year hiatus while Muffin goes to one of the Seven Sisters and come back to it on your terms. Just pump out that bilge and spin that motor a couple times a year.

[DaveB]

I bought my 1997 X 3 Mo. ago for $7500. It had no trailer (I wanted a tandem aluminum trailer) and sails were in good shape, rest of boat had basics. Needed rewireing, small gelcoat scratches Port side and a hard bump that caused minor gelcoat cracking above hull deck joint.
I bought a tandum aluminum trailer that fits the boat like a glove, duel house batteries with 10 amp. charger etc etc. and now up to $11,500 and about $2000 more to go includeing auto pilot, sterio,mic. other items. I may replace the 50 hp Honda in a couple of years for a 75 hp.
Bottom line I will have $13-14,000 invested with new stuff and still below market.
Keep all the for sale sites and ck. the daily and you will find a deal.
Dave

I have noticed that there are hundreds of used higher dollar sail boats for sale from$5000 on up, why are there so few used MacGregors? The ones I can find they want just a few thousand less than a new one. Why cant I find a used 26 for $6000 or $7000?

[kadet]

..

[DaveB]

Do I read this right? $14,000 off the price because you disregarded the warrenty? I will buy one tomorrow for that discount!!!
Dave

Admittedly I bought a new from the US, but losing the warranty on the hull saved me about $14000 on purchasing from the local dealer here. I also have a lot of BWY mods sitting in the hull waiting to be fitted when the boat is delivered here so it is a lot better speced than the local boat was and half the fun is fitting stuff yourself, is it not.
Big ticket items like E-TEC 60 and GPS/PLOTTER have been purchased locally so have warranty here. After reading some of the horror stories on this board and how factory/dealers dealt with the hull damage claims I figured I could get a lot of professional fibreglass repair done for 14k so would wear any hull warranty claims myself.
Fingers crossed it’s a good hull so hopefully I keep all 14K for extra mods.

[Lease]

What he means is that he has purchased a new boat directly from a US dealer, and is shipping it to Oz.

In doing so, his costs end up $14k less than if he had purchased from the Oz distributor. He also loses the Macgregor warranty which only recognises boats purchased from the recognised distributor.