Lets try again - buying a 26x, part 2.

[kevinnem]

As some of you might remember aboiut a month ago I was tryign to buy a mac 26x from a fellow, and the whole deal went a bit sideways. I felt kinda bad for a few days; but life went on. I can wait.

Well I found another potential one to buy - it has some issues - such as the trailer is in really bad shape (not even sure if I can use it to drag it home), and it needs a new mainsail (the one included is purportadly worthless). However, it is effectively priced at under 10,000. it have very few if any extras, no spiniker, no BBQ no fancy batery system ect.. IT does come with a yamaha 50 HP, not sure if that is a 2/4 stoke, or what though.

But well for the price it might work for me. I can sink a little cash in to it every year for the next 3-4 any end up pretty well equiped.

The only issue is that I live in calgary, and the baot is in victoria (1200 KM away).

I am debateing flying out, or driveing out.

If I drive, I can tow it back.
If I fly I thought about renting a uhual to drag it back, but it seem awefull expensive to 1 way trip it.

Any thoughts or comments?

[Crikey]

As some of you might remember aboiut a month ago I was tryign to buy a mac 26x from a fellow, and the whole deal went a bit sideways. I felt kinda bad for a few days; but life went on. I can wait.

Well I found another potential one to buy - it has some issues - such as the trailer is in really bad shape (not even sure if I can use it to drag it home), and it needs a new mainsail (the one included is purportadly worthless). However, it is effectively priced at under 10,000. it have very few if any extras, no spiniker, no BBQ no fancy batery system ect.. IT does come with a yamaha 50 HP, not sure if that is a 2/4 stoke, or what though.

But well for the price it might work for me. I can sink a little cash in to it every year for the next 3-4 any end up pretty well equiped.

The only issue is that I live in calgary, and the baot is in victoria (1200 KM away).

I am debateing flying out, or driveing out.

If I drive, I can tow it back.
If I fly I thought about renting a uhual to drag it back, but it seem awefull expensive to 1 way trip it.

Any thoughts or comments?

Kevin, some thoughts I have that you might need more clarification on....

Obviously you've only talked on the phone to the owner so far.
Have you received any external and internal photographs? Ask for more if you feel a need.
You need more details on the engine. Hours, repair/maintenance history, type etc.
Mechanics opinion on roadability of trailer.
Other sails or accessories.

It might be to your advantage to pay for survey report by a broker, if reasonable. It would indeed be very expensive to have a boat this size (on it's trailer?) shipped over the Rockies to your home. Price seems ok as long as there are no serious deficiencies with the hull or engine. Sails don't last forever and fittings can always be rejuvenated at your leisure, but, like a car it can help to get a second on-site opinion before you buy.

Ross

[dlandersson]

Well I found another potential one to buy - it has some issues - such as the trailer is in really bad shape (not even sure if I can use it to drag it home. IT does come with a yamaha 50 HP, not sure if that is a 2/4 stoke, or what though.

Find out if the trailer is serviceable - or repairable to serviceable condition - you can't tow it anywhere otherwise. If it needs repairs, then that should adjust the cost of the package.

Find out if the engine is serviceable - or repairable to serviceable condition. Each engine runs it's cables differently - you can't just "throw" a Mercury outboard up to replace a Yamaha outboard. If the engine does need repairs, then that should be factored in.

Other things can be improved over the years. The outboard and the trailer are purchase essentials.

[kevinnem]

Thank all for the replyies so far.

I shouldn't have put the engine under "issues", he claims that the engine works well. (yet to be seen)

I have some photos, none of the engine, only inside (looks clean), and from the front.

I have only talked with him over email thus far.

I was thinking about flying out, renting a uhual truck and hauling it back, but the cost is like 1000$, just for the rental.


I have a 4 runner, that can do it, it is more a matter of the drive time then the cost.(some 15 hours each way???)

for my own benifit, it is reasonable to expect to head on for a quick sail on a boat your thinking about buying right (undtanding the mail sail is messed up). That is not asking for anything extraodinary?

[captronr]

I read a lot of "IFs" in your post.

How willing are you to fly there, look it over, take it out on a local lake, etc, then talk price, and if you agree, figure out how to get it home?

I think I'm a pretty reasonable person, but if you showed up at my house 1500 miles away, planning on dragging my boat home, I don't think I'd be very flexible on price. You've got a lot invested already just looking at it.

I think I'd want a dealer or surveyor to give me the official word on the condition--that would likely be less than the cost of a plane ticket or gas to get there.

Hope this helps.
Ron

[RobertB]

How do you plan on mounting the boat on a u-haul trailer or in a u-haul truck? I do not believe U-Haul has any trailers of the size or type to haul a 26 foot sailboat. All the trucks are covered (max is 26 feet long with an interior load area of only 23.5 feet long and just over 7 feet wide) and how would you get a boat inside?

How about looking for a Mac owner in your area who can rent/loan a trailer to you?

[kevinnem]

Fair comment about the negotation on price. Though, the reason I am heading out there is because the boat is effectively priced. (under 10,000), in my area people seem to have a much highter perception of what they are worth (often twice that).

I wouldn't mind the surveyours opinion, not sure what the cost would be; but it seems like another, complicated, thing to try and organise.

if the engine starts well, and there is no visable damage, how much MORE can the surveyour tell me?

[kevinnem]

How do you plan on mounting the boat on a u-haul trailer or in a u-haul truck? I do not believe U-Haul has any trailers of the size or type to haul a 26 foot sailboat. All the trucks are covered (max is 26 feet long with an interior load area of only 23.5 feet long and just over 7 feet wide) and how would you get a boat inside?

How about looking for a Mac owner in your area who can rent/loan a trailer to you?

I was planning on getting the u-hual "truck" like a f250, ... I am pretty sure they have hitches.

I also considered tryign to borrow a trailer or soemthing, but , well I don't know how I would do that either. I would have to borrow one here, because how would I get it back out there when I am done with it?

[Crikey]

Kevin,

Survey the boat - for a Macgregor (I'm guessing $200 tops? - c'mon guy's, help me out!). Get the Trailer speced out by the same outfit, or a mechanic - which this guy should be willing to do for you. It's your tires and bearings that are the main issue for you at this point, seeing you already know the rest is rusty.
Forget the sailing, it won't tell you anything except whether the motor sounds ok, and if you don't have experience with engines of this type, you should still get someone's second opinion on it (mechanic or surveyor). Still don't kid yourself - all that stuff goes without liability and a big pinch of salt (just like a car)!
If the trailer will work for this trip (lot's of tie downs), it sounds to me that your vehicle will have the cojones to do the job. Get some CD's for the drive!
And after all this, and you don't end up liking what you see when you arrive, turn around, and go home.....

Respectfully Ross

[trdprotruck]

Just my opinion, but I would really weigh the costs. A new tandem trailer would probably cost 3-4k plus your 1K just for transportation. Even if the motor is in good condition, will it get you the right amount of performance you are looking for? If not, a new motor will cost 6-10k. Once you get the Mac bug it get's really expensive and you might want to just wait until you find a Mac with all the items / mods you want.

In my situation, I bought a 2001X with a 50hp johnson and a fair condition trailer for under 10k. I now want a new tandem trailer that wont be overloaded all the time and a suzuki df90atl that will get me the speed I want. The 2 stroke johnson 50 just doesn't have the prop options or power to push the MacX to the factory claimed speed eventhough it's in good condition.

[dlandersson]

The minute you "show up" your bargaining position is not very good.

Get the boat/engine/trailer inspected.

if you showed up at my house 1500 miles away, planning on dragging my boat home, I don't think I'd be very flexible on price. You've got a lot invested already just looking at it.
Ron

[vitger]

A surveyor should cost between 200-300$, way below the cost of flying /driving down there. From then on, you probably have a good deal of negotiating power, as the surveyor might find things that you couldn't. I think the price is a bit suspiciously low for being in Canada (where Macs are consistently priced higher than in the States), I think the trailer must be in awful shape, i.e. useless, plus suspect there are other issues too... I would go with the surveyor idea.
Good luck!

[dlandersson]

I bought a 1997X with LOTS of extras and a 50hp Mercury and a fair condition trailer for 10k - but I did not fall in love with anything I looked at for six months of shopping.

In my situation, I bought a 2001X with a 50hp johnson and a fair condition trailer for under 10k. I now want a new tandem trailer that wont be overloaded all the time and a suzuki df90atl that will get me the speed I want. The 2 stroke johnson 50 just doesn't have the prop options or power to push the MacX to the factory claimed speed eventhough it's in good condition.

[coolchange]

Pretty new at Mac X but not buying boats so my 2 cents...
I needed a u haul to tow home from a local ramp due to truck breakdown and they (at least here) don't rent pick ups for towing...just the box trucks

with a big truck (f 250 etc) I would not worry about trailer brakes too much but with my Ranger and your 4 runner I would consider good trailer brakes a must ( and paid $300-$400 to get mine replaced including the hitch/surge end of the trailer)

If you do tow the old trailer go to some auto parts store and get an infra red temperature checker and every time you stop get it out and check the bearing temps...catch the problem before you melt down...I would for sure have them inspected and repacked prior to heading home...add some more money.

bad sail means bad sails and that probably means bad halyards and sheets...so add a few more hundred...and most likely bad other maintenance issues

I lucked out with the engine...it had not been run for years but only needed a tune-up and new impeller and fuel pump...thank you ethanol for the need to change fuel pumps more often...(unless the right conditioners are always used)

Seems to me that you might be chasing a good price but at significant cost and risk.

Keep in mind that a lot of boats go on the market at the end of boating season and prices go down heading toward christmas.and dark winter (then start to rise again in the spring)

(FYI: I looked for almost a year and finally got a 1999 x new main, new genoa, new mast and rigging, good trailer with brake issues, spotless interior and Nissan 50 that just needed tuneup and fuel pump...$11,ooo USD They are out there.

PS: I used CraigsList ads to find mine in the Seattle area where there are lots of Macs.

[Phantom]

I also bought my in the Seattle area last year. I paid $10,500 US for my 1996 model. It also had a 50 hp Nissan that was in pretty good condition. It hadn't been run for 8 years and the boat had been sitting for 8 years on its trailer. I had to put about $500 into the motor and needed new trailer tires so all in all about $700 additional invested. Trailer is in fairly decent shape. I towed the boat home the weekend I bought it to Spokane, WA about 300 miles away. Previous owner included everything. Bumpers, Bimini, Dodger,Roller Furling Genoa, Mainsail, Anchor and chain, Alcohol Stove, All lines needed for sailing. He even threw in a tarp to cover it in the winter. We have kept the boat moored in Bayview, ID on Lake Pend Oreille and have been enjoying it very much. We have only missed 4 weekends out on the boat since we put it in the water in the middle of April.
Good luck in your hunt for the right boat.