MacGregorSailors.com

In doing research and still looking for my MacGregor, I have just about concluded that we will have to go for the older 26X (monetary reasons only). My question is when was the wheel steering first introduced on the Mac? The Admiral says that is a must in her opinion, as she hates tillers So what is the oldest model I should be looking at?


Allan

You would have to go back to a 26C, or 26D to get a tiller. All Mac Powersailers Mac 19, 26X and 26M, have wheel steering.

~Rich

Rich, I have looked at a couple 19's, thought they might even be more economical, and both have had tillers??????? Even the Promo video for the 19 shows a tiller and Roger is in that one, found it on YouTube. So I take it that all X's have wheel steering regardless of age, hummmmmm.



Allan

Just as a point of clarification, no Mac19 was produced with wheel steering. Several ingeneous owners have made conversions but they all appear to be somewhat complicated, costly and labor intensive.

All 19 have tillers unless modded. All x and m are wheel unless owner modded. Fair warning make sure you have spare money in the piggy bank when you do get your boat. You will repair, fix, or mod your boat for yourself no one likes everthing in the same place so you will need to set it up for yourself. I have the law of thirds.1/3 is the cost of the boat 1/3 for coustomizing, setup, and suppling, 1/3 saved up for rainy days because they do come and when you need the cash you need the cash. Not saying you need 60000 bucks for a 20000 boat but if you get a 10000 and you have 30000 you will be much better off. anything less then 15000 you need to take a very close look at unless age is the reason it's so low. Eveybody is hurting for cash everyone is worried about there jobs if they are selling for cheap more then likely there is a reason never hurts to ask.

Remember to give the steering a thorough check,a couple of guys have had theirs fail on them including me.

Yes, my bad. The 19 did come from the factory with tiller. I have only seen 2-3 19's and they had wheel steering. Sorry for the misinformation. One great thing about this board is, bad info does not go far before being corrected.

~Rich

LOL But I never expected "bad" info from you Rich jk And yes dollars are the issue here, looking to buy as cheap as possible and still find a sailable MAC. Lord knows I have been on this quest long enough and should have pulled the trigger a couple of yrs ago, right when I retired...but couldaa, shouldaa, wouldaa Let alone my retirement tanking but lost a lawsuit which got deep into what was left. So gathering my meager funds and trying to find something, it has to be a MAC, that I can afford to buy. Mods...I have a million in mind (all from this board-wish u guys would stop having such good ideas ) but they can wait, two more yrs and I draw Soc. Sec. So that would be my rainy day fund.

Allan

Hello Allan,

Did you look in our classifieds section ??? I just took a peek and there's a couple of older X's "For Sale", one guy is even stating "name your price !". Check'em out.

Good luck !

Frank L.

Here we go

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 010116.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 010007.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j95/m ... 0_4291.jpg

Now whats wrong with this mod dual rack & pinion 26m pedestal

J

Thanks Frank, I have looked in the Classifieds and about everywhere else you can imagine. I think I have been to about every boat sale sight that exists. And I visit them all weekly. The closest match in our Classf. was the one in Fla for 14k and that is still too high for me at present. People have told me that I am looking for something that doesn't exist ( a 10K 26X read to sail, with just the bare necessities including any motor over 40hp) but I keep looking

And Highlander, is there anything you can't modify



Allan

10K 26X read to sail,

I would say that is a distressed price, to say the least. Since these boats can be trailer stored on land, you dont get the usual dumping of these boats in poor economies like keelboats. The good news is you can get out of your boat for cash if you have to.

Thanks for the advice Cat, coming from u and as a dealer it is well received. However I know what I feel like I can spend at this time, so my search will continue and I will be careful about a purchase.



Allan

I dont claim to have good info on pricing, so dont take my advice as gospel. I would say at 10k if you find a decent boat for sale, move quickly!!

Confirmation of my idiocy, from another thread

've found a Mac in Rhode Island for $9K. What kind of taxes and fees do I need to concern myself with if I buy a boat in the US and bring it to Canada?

That's what I am talking about I know they (MACs) for my price are out there it is just a matter of finding one...and the search continues Lots of ears and eyes on this board and maybe someone will bring it to the members attention when they find one, I know it has happened in the past. I have tried dickering with a couple of guys who's price is close to what I want/need to pay but no luck so far. Thanks again.


Allan