Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

A forum for discussing boat or trailer repairs or modifications that you have made or are considering.
mjgill1
Deckhand
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 3:14 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Eastern Iowa
Contact:

Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by mjgill1 »

I sent him a check for those cool EZ cleats he makes back on the 7th of March and have called, emailed and reached out any way I can. Has anyone heard from this guy or does anyone know about him. The website is http://www.boats4sail.info/home.html

Hope he's ok. Plus I want my cleats! :(
User avatar
Bilgemaster
First Officer
Posts: 467
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:03 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Woodbridge, Virginia--"Breakin' Wind" 2001 26X, Honda BF50A 50hp engine

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by Bilgemaster »

Image

Seriously though, paying by or accepting a check or money order or similar instrument of payment nowadays from any party with whom one has little or no prior track record is not the way to go. Visa, Mastercard or PayPal offer at least some protection for this sort of thing. That said, my hunch is you'll get your EZ cleats. After all, it's only been a few weeks. Failing that, having had a checkered past, I happen know a semi-"mobbed up" PI who knows some guys in Milwaukee.
Last edited by Bilgemaster on Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Don T
Admiral
Posts: 1084
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 7:13 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: 95 2600 "SS OTTER" - Portland OR - Tohatsu 50 - Hull#64 (May 95)

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by Don T »

Hello,
Bill has been on this board for many years and was always a fair and honest guy. I don't know what's going on however.
marcopolo173
Deckhand
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 7:40 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Melbourne, Vic, Australia

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by marcopolo173 »

I agree with Don. He's sent me a set of EZ cleats to Oz, from memory I had to use Western Union to get him the money. Was a bit painful in that regard (couldn't use card/paypal at the time).

Other than that, he was excellent to deal with.
User avatar
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4939
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by dlandersson »

Ditto.

Bear in mind he's not AT&T. He's a one-person operation. He might be sick or something, give him some slack. You will be happy with the EZ cleats when they arrive. 8)
Don T wrote:Hello,
Bill has been on this board for many years and was always a fair and honest guy. I don't know what's going on however.
paul I
First Officer
Posts: 421
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:43 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Niagara Falls, NY 2000 26X w/Honda BF50 "NoneShallPass"

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by paul I »

For what its worth, I got an email from Bill on 2/27. Ironically it was to send me the order form for a pair of EZ cleats after I had asked if he was still selling them.

I would tend to think this is the start of his busy season. I read somewhere where he warns customers not to wait until spring to place orders, because when he gets swamped, the accessory parts orders become a low priority for him.

It is a relatively archaic way to accept payment these days, but that's his policy, and he is very up front with it. I fully expect to be waiting a month or two for my EZ cleats when I finally get around to getting a money order and sending it out. I wouldn't doubt he only preps and ships orders every 2-3 weeks or so.
Last edited by paul I on Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by BOAT »

Bill is a good guy, I have bought stuff from him in the past. I think he is retired or trying to - I can't remember - last time I wrote him the MAC was still in production but he comments he knew it was ending. Kelly Hansen and many others are already gone now. I think the websites are kept for 7 years because of tax purposes.

This is how it all ends guys - the MAC era is coming to a close.

When we lose BWY then we will really be screwed - then your see how hard it really is to keep an old boat above water. (We will be just like all the other guys out there).
User avatar
Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5995
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
Contact:

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by Highlander »

Mark
That,s why u shoulda down loaded all the plans & info on PDF files that were avial on the mac site for free not sure if u still can ! :wink:
I did all the most important one,s I hope lol

J :)
PS if u need any of them let me know ok
User avatar
dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4939
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by dlandersson »

Give you $100 for your boat. :P
BOAT wrote:Bill is a good guy, I have bought stuff from him in the past. I think he is retired or trying to - I can't remember - last time I wrote him the MAC was still in production but he comments he knew it was ending. Kelly Hansen and many others are already gone now. I think the websites are kept for 7 years because of tax purposes.

This is how it all ends guys - the MAC era is coming to a close.

When we lose BWY then we will really be screwed - then your see how hard it really is to keep an old boat above water. (We will be just like all the other guys out there).
User avatar
kmclemore
Site Admin
Posts: 6256
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:24 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Ambler, PA -- MACX2018A898 w/ Suzuki DF60AV -- 78 BW Harpoon 4.6 -- 2018 Tahoe 550TF w/ 150 Merc

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by kmclemore »

Well, I will say he doesn't get to the forum anymore - last time he visited here was November 29, 2015. And he was also selling his Mac 19 around that same time. I do hope he's well.
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by BOAT »

Wow, I did not know he had a 19 - that's a rare boat. One of the best boats Roger ever built. Bill never mentioned he was selling his boat - I assumed he was retiring from work, not from LIFE! He's not that old is he?
User avatar
kmclemore
Site Admin
Posts: 6256
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:24 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Ambler, PA -- MACX2018A898 w/ Suzuki DF60AV -- 78 BW Harpoon 4.6 -- 2018 Tahoe 550TF w/ 150 Merc

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by kmclemore »

BOAT wrote:Wow, I did not know he had a 19 - that's a rare boat. One of the best boats Roger ever built. Bill never mentioned he was selling his boat - I assumed he was retiring from work, not from LIFE! He's not that old is he?
Bill mentioned it here on the forum in one of his last posts.
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by BOAT »

Well, I hope Bill is still sailing - maybe he will go sailing with one of us someday.
bwygirl
Engineer
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:45 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by bwygirl »

Blue Water Yachts is not going anywhere! All good here and we are happy to take care of all you MacGregor and Tattoo owners! We have been busy this year with a lot of new orders from new owners! Our web site is now better then ever and you can order online, so you now don't have to wait to talk with us. I don't know about Bill, I too hope he is Ok. If something has happened and he is no longer in business we can try to get the EZ cleats. I don't want to take business from him but if he is no longer going to sell them we will try to do so. I will try to reach out to him. Cheryl
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Where's Bill from Boats for Sale

Post by BOAT »

bwygirl wrote:Blue Water Yachts is not going anywhere! All good here and we are happy to take care of all you MacGregor and Tattoo owners! We have been busy this year with a lot of new orders from new owners! Our web site is now better then ever and you can order online, so you now don't have to wait to talk with us. I don't know about Bill, I too hope he is Ok. If something has happened and he is no longer in business we can try to get the EZ cleats. I don't want to take business from him but if he is no longer going to sell them we will try to do so. I will try to reach out to him. Cheryl
This is good to know - I will be buying lots of stuff over the next ten years for sure. If I am lucky maybe 20 years!
Post Reply