Going to look at an X next week

[ualpow]

I am Going out to look at the 2000 in the classifieds with 1.2 hrs on it??? From the pictures it looks brand new but I know how they can be deceiving. Are there any Mac sailors out near Fall River, MA? I know I will have to replace the 30 hp with something bigger eventually but do you think I will have problems with this motor until I do? I'm not sure what to offer and I don't want this thread canceled for discussing boats for sale so please stick with recommendations for a newbie soon to be mac owner. For any other "advice" please PM or email me.

[AlaskaMan]

Why replace the 30hp? I have the 30hp on my 2002 X and it works fine. The motor is only used for a short time before putting up the sails and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Mental Floss

[ualpow]

Thanks Alaskaman. I just want to make sure I can empty the ballast under way and also plow through any rough stuff if we get stuck out. I hope that with only 1.2 hrs on the motor it is reliable. The kids are 8,8 and 7 now so I can keep them interested for a few more years before needing to re-power for boarding or tubing. Who knows, maybe they will enjoy the quite of sailing.

[DaveB]

The 30 hp probably will get you to 8-9 mph, enough to empty ballest for haulout. Kids at 8-9 yrs old would love to go on a inflatable tube at 7-8 mph.
Try it out first, know your boat and reconsider.
Dave

Thanks Alaskaman. I just want to make sure I can empty the ballast under way and also plow through any rough stuff if we get stuck out. I hope that with only 1.2 hrs on the motor it is reliable. The kids are 8,8 and 7 now so I can keep them interested for a few more years before needing to re-power for boarding or tubing. Who knows, maybe they will enjoy the quite of sailing.

[mastreb]

Also consider that even with 60 hp, pulling a tube with two kids on it is only going to happen at about 12mph anyway...

[socalmacer]

Just some other advise on your purchase.

Make sure the trailer is in good shape. Having to purchase a new one right away can set you back a few thousand (I know that first hand replacing the one on my '96 X). You may want to ask what happened to the old motor as this maybe telling in how this owner took care of the rest of the boat. Also check out the hull and make sure there are no issues (structural, failing thru-hulls (original are above the water line but no telling what was added, blisters, transom). Check out the electronics, making sure they are in working order and included with the sale - this in my mind is a primary reason to buy used as new electronics are not cheap and always take longer to install than you might think!

One last thing on the motor, I have a 50 HP Honda on my '96 and have spent a lot of time with my 4 kids on the boat. I mostly did motoring when they were younger and having the extra HP added to the fun> It was also nice getting back a little faster when the kids were tired and cranky.

Good luck!

[1st Sail]

If you are spending the $ to travel from Plainfield to MA I would seriously look for a marine surveyor to inspect the hull and systems. A surveyor could inspect the boat for the cost of travel. If by chance the OB is newer than the boat you should be able to take it to an OB dealer and have them hook up to their diagnostic computer. When I bought mine used I had the Etec surveyed by my loca dealer. What a pleasant surprise. The diag. report graphed the total hours used (49hrs). and graphed rpm / running hours. The motor was excactly as the PO stated. He cruised the motor only, never opened it up for any length of time. My PO was a totally honest sailor.

After 3yrs of looking and reading this board my conclusion is there are a lot of honest sailors here. That being said you still need to equate your standards for condition vs. the PO.

[Russ]

Why does the motor only have 1.2 hrs on it. That is suspicious.

Good luck. As you might know, the most complicated part is the motor, so having some expert look at that might be in order. The Mac doesn't have many systems like water etc. so that's where I'd focus.

The 30 will get you by, but honestly, I don't understand why someone would by a powersailor and not power it decently. The Mac doesn't sail really well, so now you have a compromise sailboat with a weak engine. But like I said, it will work adequately, but you will always wonder what the boat could do with more power.

Good luck and keep us posted.


--Russ

[Ixneigh]

As a new M owner who contemplated using a lower hp motor I would have to second the weak engine comment.
I thought about putting a 20 hp on the boat new but glad I got the 60. Even though I might rarely run the boat on a plane the extra power is great to punch through windy weather. It's nice to have a boat that will do that.

Ixneigh

[esc]

I bought my 1996 last year and it had a 20HP OB on it. It is a 2004 Honda 4 stroke and has been a reasonably reliable motor, hard to start if it sits more than 2 months, but otherwise no problems.

The motor is fine for getting in and out of boat ramps and marinas. It is fine for an afternoon cruise with my Wife and son (functionally single handed operation). It can make 5 to 8 MPH (rough estimate) depending on the conditions.

It will not get up on a plane and it will not allow for the ballast to be emptied. I just drain it at the ramp.

I would LOVE to have a 50+ HP OB, but not enough to go out and buy one. At least not yet...

[dlandersson]

OTOH, the 30HP may give you a break on insurance. My insurance co (Shelter) told me that if my Mac had an outboard of 25HP or less, that it was covered in my policy with no extra cost.

It seems to me that no matter what size engine, you will always "wonder what the boat could do with more power."

Why does the motor only have 1.2 hrs on it. That is suspicious.

Good luck. As you might know, the most complicated part is the motor, so having some expert look at that might be in order. The Mac doesn't have many systems like water etc. so that's where I'd focus.

The 30 will get you by, but honestly, I don't understand why someone would by a powersailor and not power it decently. The Mac doesn't sail really well, so now you have a compromise sailboat with a weak engine. But like I said, it will work adequately, but you will always wonder what the boat could do with more power.

Good luck and keep us posted.


--Russ

[Divecoz]

Well John I believe the consensus is, you'll be slow, but just fine.. Join the group. Having a 30 wishing it was a 50 all the way to Having a 90 wishing it was a 135....
You must admit there are not too many sailboat boards where the guys talk seriously about... Getting up on plane breaking 30 mph skiing behind the sailboat..

[Catigale]

Buying a used boat, the depreciation on the motor is a huge factor- one that can swing the deal from bad to good easily. It's also the one thing on the boat that you can usually only fix with money rather than time.

Mounting a 9.9 Hp on these boat gives you electric start and decent battery charge, while you incur no installation cash outlay. Reselling, you open your market of buyers since they can buy your boat sans motor and repower with the motor of the buyers choice.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

Mounting a 9.9 Hp on these boat gives you electric start and decent battery charge, while you incur no installation cash outlay. Reselling, you open your market of buyers since they can buy your boat sans motor and repower with the motor of the buyers choice.

that's an excellent perspective if one's goal is buying something for the purpose of re-selling.
remembering, however, that the Mac X/M is called a "Powersailor" for a reason.
even the manufacturer suggests a 60hp outboard so that one can enjoy all the applications the boat offers.


Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[dlandersson]

Sounds like my teachers in school talking to my parents.

Well John I believe the consensus is, you'll be slow, but just fine.