97 26X for $3000 - To good to pass up???

[Catigale]

Well, you can at least edit out the text on the mulitples I think??

[Ron]

Reading this post made me think of what I told my wife a month or two ago; essentially our 96 26X Mac is worth very little because there is no market. With this economy, luxuries such as boats take a back seat. Where I keep my boat in Miami our mooring field has experienced about a 20% decrease in boats moored. If I had to sell, I think I would be lucky to get about $3000 for a boat in sailable condition with a running 50hp Honda.

[March]

i'll give you $3100, Ron. Where are you located?

[Russ]

i'll give you $3100, Ron. Where are you located?

I'll give him $3150.


--Russ

[Ron]

I'm not selling, still enjoy it -- but I'm glad that people here still think it has value. One thing I'm sure nobody wants is the original trailer, which I still have. I'm going to have to invest in a new one either this year or next before it completely rusts away.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I've never seen a Mac X priced this low...bargains like this are RARE, and a great find for a Mac Sailor.

Hope it turns out great ! And, of course, I hope the boat and engine have no serious issues.

[Catigale]

Ron - your Mac is good for at least 12000 USD in my humble opinion. Remember that since it is trailerable at about 1 USD per mile, you can sell this boat realistically to a market anywhere within 1-2 days drive without incurring professional towing expenses, not just FL!!!

I base this on the a quick scan of listings on sailboatlistings.com - about 100 hits..

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I agree, any X that is not damaged in some way, has been reasonably cared for and has a working engine will sell for $12k to $15k with no problem. Add extra equipment and you will even get more. That's the bottom of the functional boat market for these boats, you just don't get any further depreciation from there. To get one for $3k is a steal and is representative of how desperate the seller is, not how much the boat is worth.

Likewise you'll find small sailboats from the 1970's that still sell for $3k as long as they float. Working plastic just doesn't go any lower.

[bjmeunier]

Awesome news Free2sail...I was in the same circumstance as you last year, just pace yourself, take some courses and enjoy the journey. I'm sure there will be another Mac owner out there that will come by and show you the ropes. try to get out on light air days first and practice all of the essentials...MOB, Reefing, all that good stuff...I got caught out in heavy air yesterday and all that practice paid off big time as we went from big time heeling to a fast comfortable sail in about a minute and a half(not bad with no lines aft)... What a great day it was...went from two bored teenage girls early in the ride to uncontrollable giggling after reefing and giving them spray "showers" while knifing across the bay... still bringing a smile to my face

[Free2sail]

Thanks guys for all the encouragment -

I think the USCG classes could really be helpful especially for navigation. I vaguely remeber taking one with my father when is was 12 or 13. A good memory.

I have sailed several times a year on SF Bay over the last 20 years or so, just chartering out of Modern Sailing Academy where I took my sailing lessons Basic Coastal Crusing and Bare Boat Chartering. So I feel I understand sailing pretty good, i.e. competant, not a master. I just haven't had much outboard time, and almost no time thinking about all the things you must do and know when you actually own, trailer, prep, fix, adjust, your own boat. That was the thought behind being overwhelmed at that moment.

I think light air days are just what are needed until I get to know the boat better.

I have spoken to Inland Marine (The Tohatsu Dealer - Antioch, CA), and it looks like it will cost about $375 for an all up maintenance on the engine, plus parts, with a ballpark of 200 for those parts. So $575, to have someone who knows outboards, go over it with a fine tooth comb. Does that sound reasonable? Since the engine has been sitting in the water for the last 6 months, I was figuring I probably should not try and do this first check up and maintenance. I would like to learn to do it later though.

If there any of you out there that know about Inland, I would love to hear what you have to say.

bjmeunier - great to hear about your sailing with your girls.

Cheers,
Free2sail

[Russ]

I have spoken to Inland Marine (The Tohatsu Dealer - Antioch, CA), and it looks like it will cost about $375 for an all up maintenance on the engine, plus parts, with a ballpark of 200 for those parts. So $575, to have someone who knows outboards, go over it with a fine tooth comb. Does that sound reasonable?

Considering the deal you got, another $600 bucks is well spent.



--Russ

[Catigale]

It sounds a bit high, honestly, since it isnt rocket surgery. If you do it yourself, when you are on the Bay and you have a problem, that knowledge may be priceless.

Plugs, oil level, and lower drive unit - maybe 2 hours of labour?

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

It sounds a bit high, honestly, since it isnt rocket surgery. If you do it yourself, when you are on the Bay and you have a problem, that knowledge may be priceless.

Plugs, oil level, and lower drive unit - maybe 2 hours of labour?

Im wondering if the job-price includes a new water pump impeller, and possibly a thorough carbs cleaning ?
I had my 3 carbs disassembled and cleaned, and a new water pump, and it was much less than this price.
Basic other stuff, is easily done.

[Laika 26X]

I think the USCG classes could really be helpful especially for navigation. I vaguely remeber taking one with my father when is was 12 or 13. A good memory.

Right you are Free2sail.

I am big advocate for Boating Classes. Back when I was indoctrinating new boat owners with their boats, I could not tell you how many times I cringed when the dealer would hand over the key's of a 33' powerboat to a new owner who ha absolutely NO sea time at all! It was my job at that point to take the guy out on his new $150k+ power boat and show him the basics in two hours!!

I'm sure MANY of us can offer up horror stories of what we experience on the water. That's why I advocate boat licensing. I’m sure many opponents of that claim it’s another avenue for a state to claim funds, but statistics have proven that boating educations works. But I digress here.

Beyond the entry level 8 hr “About Boating Safely” (ABS) course, you have options to focus on increasing your navigation skills, your local USCGAUX Flotilla may offer the “GPS” course, as well as “Weekend Navigator”. Both are good classes I teach. The extensive 6-8 week “Boating Skills and Seamanship” (BS&S), which spent quite a bit on Navigation, is rarely offered these days because most Americans want quick and dirty ABS course.

In all fairness here, check pricing among the USCGAUX, local Power Squadrons, and local law enforcement who offer these classes. For example, as an Auxiliarist, when I teach the ABS course, my flotilla charges upwards of $35 pp, I’ve seen the Auxiliary charge as high as $50. That’s how they make their money to get equipment for operations and to conduct Patrols; despite what the public thinks, we are not authorized to use those funds for fellowship functions (like coffee and donuts). But when I (as a civilian) teach the NY State course (almost the same exact thing, but with empahisis on NY state rules/regulations), I cannot charge you, though if you’re 18 and older, you need to pay the state $10 to get the Certificate, under 18 is free.

The bottom line (and my point) is that there are MANY education and training opportunities at little to no cost for the boater. Everyone here who can take them, should take them. I believe in education so much that I had a smile on my face the day I wrote a $500 check to the American Sailing Association for the 2 day “Basic Keel Boat Course” years ago. Money well spent even after I had been sailing for a number of years when I took it.

"Sub" Ed Tordahl
S/V LAIKA
USCG Auxiliary
Qualified Crew
Qualified Aids (Nav) Verifier
Qualified Public Education Instructor
NYS Qualified Safe Boating Instructor

[Catigale]

I got quoted 80 USD for the course upstate, per person, for my school sailing class. I thought that was a bit high, frankly.