Mac-Dealer Questions

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

My dealier in Fl . . .
If you buy out of state and need something done, where do you take the boat? I suggest that you find some people in your area and talk to them.

The first 26M I sold was to a customer from Florida. I've sold several to customers there since. I've sold Macs to customers from 30 states, and 4 Canadian provinces (so far). The first 26M I sold in 2007 was to a customer from Alaska that picked it up with his motor-home. The last boat to leave my shop is now in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I presently have deposits from customers in Texas and Nevada. I try to do things right so there is not a problem. If there is, I take care of it.

The people I rerferred to in my earlier post went to their nearest dealer, I believe.

All MacGregor dealers are not the same. As I said in a post awhile back, some Mac dealers (as in any profession), seem to be factually challenged. I suggest you do your home-work, contact several dealers, see what they can do to make the 26M easier and safer to rig and sail, than the way it comes from the factory, ask for references, and then make your decision.

[beene]

I will say this...

... Bill sells a package that makes the Mac a dream to sail, single handed or otherwise. He is able to do this because of his years of experience with the Mac. Selling them, and sailing them. He knows what works and what doesn't. He also will not try to sell you something you don't need. He tried very hard to talk me out of getting furling Genoa because it can be quite a PITA to rig, but being in the water for most of the summer, I insisted on getting it from my personal experience sailing for years with one already.... I knew I loved them.

He may not be the closest dealer, but the way I looked at it was how many times will I have to drive all that way? Once. I made a trip out of it, brought my wife along, and Bill even put us up in a very nice Hotel minutes from his place free of charge!! How many dealers would do that??

There's my 2 cents worth.... take it or leave it.

G

[Catigale]

You have too much enthusiam at 6am on Saturday Geoff...go back to bed...

[RRice]

Good Morning we have an '04 mac that we purchased from Boating Atlanta. The experience was not very good. My wife and i live in Jacksonville Fl and decided to go there instead of Miami to save the shipping cost. I should mention that neither of us had any sailing experience. We mentioned this in our phone calls to Mark but he did not offer much help. We were notified when the boat arrived that it would take 2 weeks to set up, this was not a problem as work schedules put us at 16 days from gettting there. We showed up on the scheduled day to take delivery and the boat was not ready. we were asked to come back later. we did and still had to wait. His store is almost all fishing boats and the Mac's are not a priority. There is more to the story but suffice it to say we did not have a good time on day one. We love R ISLAND and sail as often as we can.

[beene]

You have too much enthusiam at 6am on Saturday Geoff...go back to bed...

I know.... but what would my overseas flights do if I wasn't watching out for them I have planes in the air at all times of the day... it's a big world after all. I had a neighbour once ask me why I had to work overnight sometimes... he said "planes don't land and take off all night.... people would be complianing about all the noise..." I just smiled and said "it's night here, and it's daytime everywhere else".



G

[MARK PASSMORE]

V8 BUGGY, I sent you an e-mail.

[V8Buggy]

Well, in several magazines and on the net they advertised about an in water boat show at Starboard Cove Marina on Lake Lanier today. So we drive up to see what they had, only to be turned around by a very nice security officer telling us we were one of several people that came to the boat show that wasn't happening! Hmmm....... Anyway, this put us about 10 minutes from our local Mac dealer, so what the heck we stopped by. He had a used X and a new M for us to climb around on and look at. We like the M, so this at least made the trip worthwhile. They were nice and openly admitted they were not sailors and basically just sold the boats equipped with Mac options. Suffice to say, if we buy a new Mac it will not be there.


Mark,
I did not receive your E-Mail, not sure why.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

Also, too, just because a Mac dealer has a bullet hole in his office ceiling, there may be a very logical explanation.
Or, maybe not.

[albion]

I have to agree with Beene. BOATS4SAIL Bill is a super nice guy who will work with you. He put my wife & I in a real nice hotel for two nights free of chargewhile we were waiting for boat to get rigged and motor.

[beene]

He put my wife & I in a real nice hotel for two nights free of charge

2 nights!! I only got one night

Although he did offer me his rubber chicken.

Don't remember the bullet hole.... must be a recent thing.

Be careful little fella, guns tend to leave a mark.



G

[albion]

... 2 nights!! I only got one night

Beene, I probably got two nights as I had driven up to see Bill earlier in the year March with lots of snow around.Thats over two thousand miles.When we went up to pick the boat up in July we had to stay longer so as to get the motor fitted. He must have liked me better,as when he was in the US navy he drank a lot of booze with Brit sailors.

[MARK PASSMORE]

V8, this was the e-mail that I sent you Ill just cut and paste it here.

V8 BUGGY, I was just in the position that you are in now. My advise would be to call Mark Lusink at Boating Atlanta. 770-945-0316. He has been selling sailboats for years and has probably sold 25% of the boats on lake Lanier. I was happy with his service and found him very knowledgeable. They do have only one blue hull in stock right now. I think they also have a preowned X in stock.

To be completely honest with you I was disappointed in the time that it took them to rig the boat. Almost three weeks because they had one just ahead of mine and the clean up job was not very good. However, Mark was very nice to deliver the boat to me after hours at my work place and has been very helpful with questions I’ve had the last couple of days.

If you do buy a Mac, make sure to get them to fill up both tanks with gas. I only had about 10 min worth and ran out on my maiden voyage and had to be towed in because I don’t know how to use the sails yet. I was so excited to get the boat that I never even check the fuel. lol

Tell Mark Lusink that Mark Passmore says hello.

ON EDIT. I had Marks Lusinks last name confused with someone else. sorry.

[V8Buggy]

Well, we are stilling thinking about the MAC, but one thing is for sure, if we decide to buy one, we know who we will be buying from. Thanks Very Much, Bill.


[mod]Hey Bugs. Wonder if that story might be considered 'trade secrets' ???
Welcome aboard, and best of luck on the Mac search ~fc[/mod]

[AWKIII]

Greetings from Colorado!

First of all please accept my apologies for anyone trying to reach Kelly-Hanson Marine by phone over the past few weeks.

Most of the staff was out of town for the past three weeks working on a non-MacGregor sailing project. We had installed a new phone system just prior to our departure which was supposed to forward calls to our service and sales cell phones. Unfortunately Murphy's law kicked in. Believe me, its much worse when you are Irish.

Because out phone and computer systems are linked, we did lose some e-mails and have been searching for the phone messages since Monday.

We sell a lot of sails and hardware via the website. These orders were received and processed as they originate from a separate server.

Once again, our apologies for any inconvenience.

Best regards,

Arthur W. Kelly
Kelly-Hanson Marine

[Nickyd]

I read so many posts by Bill before I bought my boat that I traveled from Louisiana to buy one from him. I don't know if he's the best but I sure like him.