Finally took delivery last night of our 04 M

[Chip Hindes]

I have learned this level of quality is common across the macgregor board from what I have heard here.

I hope this is not so and that we can put it down to the fact that those with problems complain, whose without keep their mouths shut, but I fear you are correct. At least it seems as if nobody is willing to stand up for any particular dealer. In the "old days" at least before the original Havencraft went defunct, this wasn't the case.

The Havencraft case was interesting. Just before the last of the X's, they seemed to be going great guns, selling evey boat they could get their hands on, one day service on parts shipments, just generally a pleasant experience. Personally, I was wondering what they would do to keep the showroom and new boat division alive, since there was the distinct threat of a several month shutdown during changeover to the M.

One day it appeared they were a going concern, the next day they were gone. I've heard nothing at all about the reconstituted Havencraft new boat sales unit, and nothing but bad about macgregorparts.com, the new parts unit.

I wonder if there's more here than meets the eye.

It would be a shame if the current situation continued. In truth, it doesn't matter much to me personally; I already have my X and if I'm ever in the market for another new boat, it will probably not be a Mac (unless maybe I can find a nice, low mileage 65).

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The Seattle dealer, Bluewater Yachts, has never suffered from this bad reputation. They deliver their boats clean, everything installed ready to function unless you tell them not to so you can get a lower price. They give a complete setup and operation lesson, and are always there for questions, advice, and further instruction both on and off the water.

They even went through all the stuff with me in my USED boat I bought from them spending over 3 hours helping sort out parts, identifying where and how to use things, doing a full setup instruction and even replacing the broken parts we came across as part of the delivery. And this was just a boat they were selling on consignment, the title never passed through them.

Not all Mac dealers give the sad level of service you are receiving.

I just can't fathom the stories I've heard of dealers delivering boats with factory parts, let alone third party parts, still in boxes. I wouldn't even hitch it up and take it home unless I had agreed to that condition prior to the sale. It's like getting a car with it's protective paper still on and the new factory alloy wheels in a box in the trunk. I find it amazing that a dealer doing this can even remain in business.

[dclark]

Reading through this thread, most of the complaints are with the dealer and not MacGregor. MacGregor has a factory that makes exactly one thing. They all come out basically the same. Most of the things complained about are dealer add ons. MacGregor has nothing to do with your RF or it's hardware for example. That's all the dealer. When it comes down to it all MacGregor makes is the hull. Then they add a bunch of stuff that other people make. The rest is the dealer.

I would say it is 50/50 maybe. The gelcoat swirls, sh!tty repair, wax residue was factory done.

Then again..the dealer should have taken some time to buff out the scratches and swirl marks (if possible at all).

I used to think the boat was built by drunk monkeys..but I think they overdosed on caffine ..at least the ones using the buffers.

I used to think that our old Sunbird boat bottom of the barrel quality. But Macgregor proves that if you lift up the barrel.....

It is going to work out. I think it is generally a good solid boat.

I think offering the blue was a mistake that they might regret later on.

I don't think the factory waxes or buffs anything.

[Frank C]

... believe you might be surpirsed at the condition in which many new vehicles arrive at the dealer, ... That is my point..if they come in damaged..at least they (generally) take a lot of time to fix the problem before the final consumer sees it.

>>Just curious, is there a reason you haven't mentioned the dealer's name? << I figured it wasn't important. I have learned this level of quality is common across the macgregor board from what I have heard here. Paul

The problems you've had are purely dealership problems. The dealers are basically responsible for finishing the boats and trailers, to a degree that may surprise you. The trailers, for example, are delivered sans wheels, lights, wiring and brake fluid. Some dealers do a better finishing job than others. The finish on the boat is the same story, and even much of the boat's fittings. Every dealer receives the same raw material, and your's didn't do his job - he deserves the notariety he has earned.

I don't think the problem is predominant. Virtually all of the West Coast dealers have been Macgregor dealers for many years, over 30 in some cases, and have glowing reports from most quarters. To the extent the factory does not police their dealers adequately, the factory's reputation is suffering.

[Tom Root]

Paul,

You mentioned that this must be Macgregors 1st blue boat. This is not so, I also own a 1976 Venture 25, that is blue, much lighter, but blue nontheless. He also made a Canary Yellow hull for a few years as an option too. This was on the 80's Mac 25. Personal preference by far is my very white X, I could even do without the black, it's way too much work IMHO. Hunter seems to be the upgrade to ours, but having been aboard several all the way up to 38', the Mac X fits me.....until I spring for a 65' Mac!!!

[Paul S]

Paul,

You mentioned that this must be Macgregors 1st blue boat. This is not so, I also own a 1976 Venture 25, that is blue, much lighter, but blue nontheless. He also made a Canary Yellow hull for a few years as an option too. This was on the 80's Mac 25. Personal preference by far is my very white X, I could even do without the black, it's way too much work IMHO. Hunter seems to be the upgrade to ours, but having been aboard several all the way up to 38', the Mac X fits me.....until I spring for a 65' Mac!!!

What I say and what I mean are 2 things I guess. I meant in the 26X/26M series, not their entire history. Do not know a lot about their history other than the X and M. I have never seen a 26X blue hull.

I think the blue will be haunting me for a while.

Paul

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

All the X's were white with black stripes. My 1972 Venture (the early name for Rogers boats had powder blue non-skid area's.

So I'm curious about the blue M's, the only color I have ever seen on all the M's, is it blue gel coat or as I heard once just blue paint over a white gel coat? I would think with gel coat you could buff out about any swirl problem, paint might be tougher.

[mike]

I saw a very interesting looking boat the other day... I only caught a brief glance at it as we passed on the road, it had a bright, glossy yellow finish on the bottom, and (IIRC) a blue stripe on the upper part of the hull (I think the stripe on the deck was still black). I'm 99% sure it was a 26x.

Obviously not a standard factory finish!

--Mike

[Paul S]

All the X's were white with black stripes. My 1972 Venture (the early name for Rogers boats had powder blue non-skid area's.

So I'm curious about the blue M's, the only color I have ever seen on all the M's, is it blue gel coat or as I heard once just blue paint over a white gel coat? I would think with gel coat you could buff out about any swirl problem, paint might be tougher.

Our dealer had a white 03 M in the water that we looked at.

also..here are some pics of the boat. Some of the pics do not look so good. So you have to look close. In person they are a lot easier to see: 26M boat pics click here Click on an image to enlarge it.

Paul

[mike]

Yeah, the gelcoat repair is pretty bad... looks like someone forgot to sand it!

--Mike

[Paul S]

Yeah, the gelcoat repair is pretty bad... looks like someone forgot to sand it!

--Mike

I can actually live with that..it is the swirl marks that are the biggest offender. It covers most of the hull causing a hazy effect, it is not shiny. I just hope that a good wax will take care of it. I don't want to use a compound this early in the hulls life.

Of course the channel-less mast is a huge deal to me.

Paul

[Tom Root]

Paul,
Have you contacted the factory, as to how they suggest you can repair this? I think they'd be interested in seeing what you had delivered, and even though you were discounted, I am sure they could be of help to give you the proper guidance.

THE board guru in Gel repair is Steve Kennerly, and has procedures that were quite effective in my case. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but time consuming for sure! http://macgregorsailors.com/articles/re ... elcoat.php

It would probably be a good idea to get a small can of both white, and especially blue Gel from the factory. One problem I have seen, and just not MacGregor, BTW, is voids which show up as chips, which when impacted can be as small as a pencil eraser head, or even slightly larger! This is caused in the lay-up and the gel is there, but a small pocket of air exists in the finished fiberglass underneath. I never saw this occur on the bottom mold,( Until hydrolasis happens!) but you will have them over most of the boat eventually. Don't panic, they are a snap to repair permanently, following Steve's simple and thorough instructions.

I have even made my own mold out of simple modeling clay, and repaired dings that occured on my non-slip area from smashing the spinnaker pole on the deck. $1.00 worth of clay, (from a craft store) approx 2" X 3" and I squeezed a small handle in it, made the impression, baked it for a few minutes, and have my own waffle pattern made. It works great. My point is, you'll learn to get quite handy with Gel. My older boats were'nt too much concern, but I too, am a fix it now freak, when it come's to ding's dents, etc. I hope the chore doesn't get too old for me to neglect it either!

[Frank C]

Our dealer had a white 03 M in the water that we looked at. also..here are some pics of the boat. Some of the pics do not look so good. So you have to look close. In person they are a lot easier to see: 26M boat pics click here Click on an image to enlarge it. Paul

Well, pix are worth a thousand words .... Your dealer never finished his delivery detailing, in fact, barely started it. Boxes of parts should have been installed and/or described during your new boat orientation. The trailer light should have been installed before you towed home.

I paid the full $15,900 retail price for my Hull (Arena Yacht Sales, Aug '99) plus another $12,000 for outboard, installation, options, taxes, etc. That Saturday morning, the boat looked just like the one I saw at the boat show ... shiny clean and sparkling. Even the trailer tires were wet-glossed, and the inevitable boxes of parts included sails, spare Genny blocks, spare sheets, mast raiser, etc. We removed most of this stuff (like sails and sheets) during owner training. We raised and dropped the mast twice. It was two hours before they showed my how to launch it, including how far to back the trailer and how to manage the dock lines. Then I was oriented in how to handle the Suzuki, how to shift it, how to flush it, how to hold high idle speed, why the throttle might be locked ...... and on, and on.

Faced with your boat, I think I might have said, "Call me when it's ready!" and gone back home. Retail pricing includes that extra $3,000 of margin for a reason. Perhaps you received exactly what you bought, Paul.

[Paul S]

Well, pix are worth a thousand words .... Your dealer never finished his delivery detailing, in fact, barely started it. Boxes of parts should have been installed and/or described during your new boat orientation. The trailer light should have been installed before you towed home.

I paid the full $15,900 retail price for my Hull (Arena Yacht Sales, Aug '99) plus another $12,000 for outboard, installation, options, taxes, etc. That Saturday morning, the boat looked just like the one I saw at the boat show ... shiny clean and sparkling. Even the trailer tires were wet-glossed, and the inevitable boxes of parts included sails, spare Genny blocks, spare sheets, mast raiser, etc. We removed most of this stuff (like sails and sheets) during owner training. We raised and dropped the mast twice. It was two hours before they showed my how to launch it, including how far to back the trailer and how to manage the dock lines. Then I was oriented in how to handle the Suzuki, how to shift it, how to flush it, how to hold high idle speed, why the throttle might be locked ...... and on, and on.

Faced with your boat, I think I might have said, "Call me when it's ready!" and gone back home. Retail pricing includes that extra $3,000 of margin for a reason. Perhaps you received exactly what you bought, Paul.

LOL what orientation? It was just a drop-boat-in-driveway delivery. I had to request an orientation (supposed to be in April/May)

Wish the boat was prepared locally. It is a 5 hour drive to where the boats are prepared in PA. We are in MA. Like I said, I never asked for a discount. I was ready to pay retail. The dealer offered discounts and free stuff, not going to turn it down. A discount is no excuse for delivering a partly completed boat. I seriously doubt that if I paid retail the boat would have been delivered in better condition.

Paul

[Mark Prouty]

Steve,
Have you contacted the factory, as to how they suggest you can repair this? I think they'd be interested in seeing what you had delivered, and even though you were discounted, I am sure they could be of help to give you the proper guidance.

Tom has a point here. I sure the factory must be interested in customer satisfaction and maintaining a reputable dealer base. I wonder where the gelcoat repair was done. The factory? The spreader bar on the rail, cracks in the hull and chips seem to indicate delivery problems. The spare parts are poor dealer setup. Seeing those pictures I can sure understand your frustration!