MacGregorSailors.com

Hi,

Just some general opinions please from the guys and gals on the forum that know more than me, i might be able to get hold of a 2002 on a private sale for $14400

Some plus points are its a clean boat, with the usual mac extras (that should really be standard ) and a few luxuries as well like microwave and upgraded electrical including electric galley water,always stored inside and no salt water according to the owner. Disadvantages are that theres no motor. Just a preliminary seach for outboards brought up some candidates for around the $3500 to $5000 mark. No motor because the owner wanted to sail it rather than power it so he just used a kicker which he will keep for his inflatable to potter around on the lake

Is this the one? ....

Any thoughts?

Qx

As long as you dont want to motor hard, we have used my 45# thrust trolling motor to get in and out of the dock and to and from the end of the cove with our 26X when the throttle cables were screwed up on the 40 horse.

For the price you are paying for the hull the cost of a 30-50hp motor wouldnt be too bad.

I think it is high! Our 02X, in pristine condition, with 50HP Honda on its first tank of gas was $16,500 three years ago. With the economy being "sluggish" I would continue to haggle and look.

I would not pay that much unless it had a 50hp motor. There are some good deals around in the winter and spring, less so now. I have seen a 26x with a 25hp motor for under 7k

this one is in the classifieds:
Asking $17,900
This has been an outstanding boat for my family over the last 8 years.
Primarily sailed in LakeErie

SPECS
Min Draft: 18"
MainSail: FX Tri-Radial-Laminate 'loose-foot' 2005
Genoa: 150% FX Tri-Radial-Laminate, foam-luff furling 2005
JibSail: 100% Factory-furling

NEW IN '08:
Forestay
Centerboard
Furler-Halyard

UPGRADES
VHF Ship-to-Shore, Cabin & Helm Station.
ORIGO 2 burner stove with gimbal mounts. This is ocean-going quality . Easy to use.
BIMINI TOP, a must in the summer, or rain.
BOOM VANG
TRI-COLOR Masthead Light w/ Anchor light. You'll been seen at night from a greater distance.
LIFE-LINE GATES; Easy on & off with-out tripping.
(3) SEALED GEL-CELL BATTERIES. No acidic fumes, More power, Last Longer, No Spills. Expensive - worth it.
MAIN HALYARD runs to cockpit; raise the main without climbing on deck.
CDI FURLER. Along with the new sail, this makes easy work of sailing in high winds.
ENGINE: Mercury 50HP 4-cycle BigFoot w/ spare prop

FACTORY TRAILER w/ brakes, new tires and bunks. Tows easily w/ car rated for 3500#

IMPORTANT

MacGregor made 2 very different 26X models. Both look nearly identical; however, the later models (post 2000) have very important improvements for safety and sail-ability. A few of these are; Upgraded steering system, stainless-steel rudder brackets, redesigned rudder blades, relocating ballast, wider cabin-steps, etc. Be careful not to confuse them.

I sailed single handed and with my 4 boys since they were 1,3,4,and 8. That's tougher than single handed...that's no handed!

It has delivered us safely home in 10' seas and 40 knot winds.

Asking $17,900

Tony
tonyzehe@gmail.com
phone 440-725-1000

Not a good deal at all. figure the motor will run 5 to 10 thousand with controls and minimum size motor is $3,000.00 with an altinator big enough to charge the batteries. $22,000.00 for a brand new Mac 26M and aluminium trailor without a motor it does not figure

Haggle this guy on ebay down 1k and spend 1 k to pick it up and spend a week sailing in South Carolina

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-OWNER- ... ZSailboats

It all depends on the accessories. That's what really matters. The boats themselves are just simple plastic and an older X hull is just as good as a newer M hull. They just don't wear out like cars. The original MacGregor V21 hull we owned is still in service today sailing just as good as it did in 1970.

Sounds like you've got several thousands of dollars worth of accessories not to mention upgrade time. $22k for a M is a not a true comparison. A basic M with a motor is well over $30k and most are closer to $40k. The loaded one BWY had on discount at the recent boat show was $44k with the discount down from a $48k original price.

Used 50hp motors can be had for well under $3k. Our 6hp dinghy motor will move our X at 6 knots. If you can't afford to add a big motor, you can just get a small one that will later get dinghy service for under $1k.

Of course getting the X hull instead of the M hull is priceless.

While I know you're tempted to pull the trigger Q, I too think that's a tall price for a motorless boat - regardless of shape. Mods will come and go. And there are times that mods that come with the boat will or must go
ie when done wrong or if they've become dated.

Keep looking it's worth the wait for a better deal. Because you will not be done pouring out money after your initial purchase

Good Hunting...

I just paid 17,500 for a 1998 26x with the 50 hp Tohatsu, boat in great shape, with three sails, depth sounder, and the trailer completly redone , brakes etc. Not much in the way of options, but not a bad boat for the price. This in BC so thats CDN. While looking I found a 1998 x that was used two weeks and stored unside since then, It is still shinny and the paint is still on the honda 50 hp prop, this looks just like it came out of the factory and asking price is $29,000 open to offers. I would have bought it if the extra money was not an issue.

I had a guy up here in AK that I was going to buy a 2002 X with a 30hp from for $8000 a few months ago. Needed some really small touch ups but a great deal over all. I have been looking for about a year now and I have already seen a handful of great deals go by. The only hold up for me being available money and being stuck in AK when the deals show up down south. Keep looking. Waiting and drooling for a few more months means finding that gem for cheap all the more satisfying.

I deal in buying used Macs in the USA and exporting to Australia.
That is too expensive.
Cheers
Phillip

Thanks for the responses and for all the help!!

I think the general assumption is that the boat and package is an ok but not a great deal, especially for the current sluggish times were having right now, i mean if it had an 02 50hp 4 stroke on the back it would be a different story and i'd already be posting pictures of my happy mugshot on photobucket!

The motor is a big part of the equation, not so much for me but to convince the admiral it wont become "boring" and prevent the rest of the family (sisters, brothers and everyone elses kids) from coming along, and i dont want to open the "you don't spend time with me/us" can 'o worms!


Mods wise this boat might be worth more in comaprison to the less modified boats of the same year but mods do date and need upkeep and replacement, as Gazmn said and a lot of these mods seem to be "nice to haves" more than "need to haves" especially for my type of sailing. So basically to my ends the motor was more important than the mods

Thanks Quebec 1, i did check out the ebay boat in South Carolina but it has an older motor which might be banned on some of the lakes by us. I looked for a quote for a used replacement motor for it (2005 50h merc standard foot for $3500) The shop offered a $600 trade on the old motor that comes with the ebay boat without shipping for both.

I think i'll have a look around for a bit longer, QX

Boat sounds alright but knock off what motor will cost. That would be a great deal and you would
have confidence in a new motor. If you deciede to do it get a 50 2 Stroke even though I'll get alot of flack from eco or 4 stroke people, they are still the best and everyone can including you can fix then.

For $5k more, why not buy Roger's own personal boat, including a 50HP motor. Click Here