MacGregorSailors.com

now you kids take your ball and get off my lawn!

The 2002 (or at least mine) came with the same shortcomings although I was probably too green to realise it. I think it has always had 'entry level' quality, frankly. Ive seen the same quality on boats that cost 3x as much, to be fair.

so happened I have the winch manual handy. It says: manufactured by DUTTON-LAINSON COMPANY, model DLB800A I suppose.

So far works fine, although I have nothing to compare with.
I got it in february of 2009.

now you kids take your ball and get off my lawn!

Im sorry about my kids playing with a ball on your lawn, I will beat them when they get home. After all I told them to write cuss words with roundup.

As for the quality issues I havent really paid much attention to the QC posts. Its a shame if the quality has been sliding. I agree (reluctantly) with steven. I have seen the same on much more expensive boats. Thats not a pass by any means. Tell people up front what they are getting for the money and then produce it!

since scott agrees with me, I now can unequivocably state Macgregor is the Rolls Royce of boats..

I agree with RFRYE94760 on many points & his assessment isn't harsh, more like the truth. I'm still paying the Rogertax, replacing stuff I've already paid for once when buying the boat only to find I have to pay again to upgrade to decent quality or re-engineer to work properly. This simply shouldn't be necessary with a new anything let alone a boat. Increasing the price of the boat at time of manufacture and fitting quality parts e.g winches etc would be welcomed by many I would suspect. Quality control (or lack of) is another area Roger could make massive improvements in with little actual cost to him or the consumer. A good boat that could be so much better with a small amount of extra effort & cost.

Increasing the price of the boat at time of manufacture and fitting quality parts e.g winches etc would be welcomed by many I would suspect

...and rejected by others. I think we have to concede Rogers business plan is sound, since he is the only one who has made it work. He sells every boat he makes, which does imply he could raise his prices (and support better stuff) but being on the right part of that curve is the tricky bit.

i bought an 06m used, spent many many hours replacing junk. having owned many boats over the years i shoulda looked at things more carefully before i bought, most boats arent built with thislack of quality. the factory video sold me., now on a lighter note, i like the boat now.10k extra invested. i still worry about the trailer , and the gel coat , hull quality . but it is certainly a great looking vessel. and ive learned alot about rigging and quality, because i was forced to!. now, would i do it again?, no way. but my mac is very solid now with good quality components, time to enjoy it!

8 years later I have to say the same - now I have the experience and knowledge to know what I want and what to look for in a boat.

In 2002, without Macgregor, I dont think I would have gotten into boating though. I didnt have the time to acquire the knowledge to be comfortable to buy used.

I researched the boat for two years. I understood that it would not have the finesse of more expensive boat, and I bought it brand new Whatever problems I had with the boat were due to the dealer's person who prepped the boat. The dealer took care of it, and I am a most happy sailor I mean it. I love my boat. With all of its issues of not being a blue water boat, I love it. It most definitely satisfy s my needs, and anyone who does not like their boat can go cry puddles I love mine. So there

Just don't make the mistake I did. I once told the Admiral that if the boat was any good in bed, she would be in trouble

I can say most definitely, I love my Nice Aft.

Ray

Like you guys said, she's an entry level boat, but she suits me and where I sail perfectly.
The winches are so lame I haven't used them for years. KH cleats on the genny track do the trick.
Don't complain, adjust!

There are many things under-built on my MacGregor, it's hard to know where to start. But like the
man said, we ain't buying a J-Boat or a PC Flicka here. I view each shortcoming that crops up as
a challenge to my ingenuity and construction skills. It's fun. You have to do the research and buy
what suits your needs. I get a little miffed at the nay-sayers. It' like bitching your Volkswagen Beetle
is not good at pulling out tree stumps.

I look at this boat as a work in progress even though she's thirteen years old. The
P.O.'s did a fabulous job of upgrading the trailer and boat systems. The fun I've had
since, fitting out this boat, has been a significant part of the joy of ownership. I've
learned a great deal, and become half a sailor in the process. I've also found out I really enjoy
it (sailing), and thanks to my MacGregor sailing has become a way bigger part of life than I
ever imagined it would.

So thanks for the crappy affordable boat that my friends called a Clorox bottle when they first saw it.
Got me out on the water, gave me summers that will never be forgotten with my kids, gave me invaluable
experience. Too bad about the winches.

Bravo Indulgence,

bravo & ditto...nuff said

So thanks for the crappy affordable boat that my friends called a Clorox bottle when they first saw it.
Got me out on the water, gave me summers that will never be forgotten with my kids, gave me invaluable

+1000

My daughter circumnavigated our lake at age 16 in our Macgregor. Is this a record? Do you think someone will pay to see the video? Man I hope so. Maybe Roger will sponsor it. Definitely speaks to the soundness of the boat.

"It's like bitching your Volkswagen Beetle
is not good at pulling out tree stumps."

Well no it's like bitching your new Volkswagen Beetle's wiring harness falls out from under the dash, the weatherstripping wasn't put on properly, the jack wasn't in the trunk when you got it and it'll only do 35mph on the highway. When you researched that VW, didn't you expect it to be delivered with those items done correctly and it would be able to reach the speed limit as advertised? But hey, at least you have a car, right?
I'm not complaining about the design or capabilities of the boat. That's researched and accepted. I'm well aware I wasn't buying a J Boat but that always seems to be the fall back position of anyone trying to contradict some owners legitimate gripes about quality control. Nobody is complaining about performance here. As for a test of ingenuity, if it were advertised as a kit or a work in progress for the owner to finish, that would give prospective buyers one more piece of info with which to complete their research. Do you think if I called the factory before purchase they would have told me "well Bob, MacGregor uses the cheapest hardware available, in order for you as the owner to have something to apply your ingenuity to in regards to upgrades or repairs in a couple of seasons. Also, it may not come with all of the amenities we advertise and if the assembly crew is a little shaky from the weekend, there might be some chips in the finish and smeared sealants"
Simplicity of design or as my engineer friends like to say "design elegance" is laudable and can be accomplished relatively inexpensively without being cheap. I think the design of our Macs can be termed elegant in how they serve the power/sail function. I invite anyone to check out my new 2010M and look at the assembly and quality control issues I have with the factory and tell me it should be expected or that eliminating them would price any of us out of the market for a new MacGregor.

If the next step up were 10% higher in price, the QC (which does suck, agreed) point is debatable.

The next step is 2x up in price, and the QC certainly isnt 2x better up there (certainly in some instances Ive seen)

At least in this forum people can get a better sense of what they are getting into.