MacGregorSailors.com

I was wondering how much it would cost to get an old, cheap MacGregor seaworthy enough so it can safely go 2 miles into the ocean. Below are some random samples of cheap MacGregors on carigslist. There is one 26x for $3,500. What would most likely need to be replaced? How much to rapair/update to be properly seaworthy? Not concerned with appearance or engine in this post.

1992 MacGregor 26 foot sailboat LOWER PRICE - $2750
https://monterey.craigslist.org/boa/d/c ... 44056.html


macgregor 26x - $3500
https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/d/ ... 34740.html


Macgregor 26 sail boat - $5500 (helendale)
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa ... 33947.html

Here's one for you: $1,850.00

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... ater&ifg=1

First of all, I think that you are making a good decision in buying a MacGregor. These are 2 very different boats. Take a look at one of each before you buy. My wife likes the interior of the 26X so that is what we have. My first Mac, a 1991 26C is always stored at my TEMPORARY WORLD HEADQUARTERS. I sold it to a buddy that is well over 6' tall and that is the Mac that he prefers. Both Macs are good coastal cruisers. Don't buy one just because it is the least expensive to buy. If it needs a lot of repair it might cost more in the long run.

You can go 2 miles offshore in a canoe on the right day. Neither of these boats should be 2 miles offshore on a bad day. Sailing, and boating in general, has a lot to do with the weather. The nice thing about an X or M is, you have a power boat you can use on dead calm days. The classics can motor also, but not much over 5-6 knots.

As to what might need to be fixed on any given boat; difficult to predict. Older boats may need rigging, motor and sails. But, a neglected newer boat might have the same issues. You will just have to try to make he best choice of the options you have. There are deals to be had. Some owners age out, die, etc. and the boats just get disposed of at a really good price. Mostly fixer-uppers in this category though. Good boats typically demand a fair price. As Bill indicates, first-cost might not be the best way to buy a boat without carefully considering and pricing what needs to be replaced/repaired to make it right. Use http://shop.bwyachts.com/ to estimate costs.

You may not be concerned about the engine, but it is one of the most expensive items to replace on the boat. Unless you are a fairly skilled mechanic, it can be expensive to repair also.

Stay out of the ocean until you are very familiar with your boat. 2 miles isn't far out, but if you are in a classic with a small kicker; and trying to get in against a 20 knot offshore breeze, it can seem like a long way... Ditto if you're in an X or M and the motor won't start. Tacking in, or beating into 20 knots makes for a long trip.

Either of these boats will do fine 2 miles out - on a good day - with everything in working order.

I would say that the 26X in Tampa would be a very good deal, without even examining the condition of the boat. The aluminum tandem axle trailer is probably worth the asking price. If you find a 26X which is sitting on its original steel trailer, I expect the first thing you'd need to do is buy a new trailer, and they easily run $3,500 or more.

Chinook wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 7:25 am I would say that the 26X in Tampa would be a very good deal, without even examining the condition of the boat. The aluminum tandem axle trailer is probably worth the asking price. If you find a 26X which is sitting on its original steel trailer, I expect the first thing you'd need to do is buy a new trailer, and they easily run $3,500 or more.

Thanks, but not including trailer and engine, do you think it is within the realm of possibility that $4,000 would be enough to get the cheap 26x seaworthy enough to go into the ocean? I am not intending to buy any or the boats I posted, I just want to learn what to expect of a very cheap boat.

Delete "cheap"
Insert "inexpensive"

Here's my quick, off the top, take on a shopping list for getting a used boat ready to take out onto open waters. Bear in mind that the items listed below do not include anything related to creature comforts such as mattress upgrades, food storage, cooking gear including barbque, water system improvements, dodger/Bimini/enclosure, mosquito netting, etc, etc. The listed things relate just to the boat, and I'm sure others can think of numerous additional important things that I've missed. Here goes, in no particular order of importance:

GPS chartplotter/sounder - $600
VHF radio with AIS - $200
Hand held VHF radio - $150
New ignition & house batteries - $400
Anchor/rode/chain - $500
Backup anchor/rode/chain - $250
Spare prop - $150
Repair tool kit - $200
Inflatable life jackets (2) - $300
Guest life jackets, mae west style (4) - $60
Fenders (4) - $300
Dock lines (4 @ 25 feet) - $100
Long lines (2 @ 50 feet) - $100
Anchor light - $200
Rewiring boat (new breaker panel, marine wiring) - $500
Smart charger - $200
New sails - $1,500
Inflatable dinghy - $1,500
Kicker motor for dinghy - $800
Kicker motor mount - $200
Auto pilot - $1500
Flare kit/first aid kit - $200
Paper charts/chartbook - $200
Radar reflector - $100
Replacement halyards/sheets/misc. lines/fittings= $300

This tallies up to just a shade over $8,000 if all were to be included in fitting out. Condition and accompanying equipment can allow some of these items to be deleted or postponed. Some are nice but not essential. Dollar figures are just rough estimates off the top of my head. Hope this is helpful.

The 26S in Canada go for very little Canadian Pesos .. A MINT one was up for $5000 cnd, and dropped to $3500 cnd .. no takers. My wife accidently emailed thinking it was a X or M, and boy did we get a pile of desperate call backs as the boat was not selling.

AD

Chinook wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2020 5:16 pm Here's my quick, off the top, take on a shopping list for getting a used boat ready to take out onto open waters. Bear in mind that the items listed below do not include anything related to creature comforts such as mattress upgrades, food storage, cooking gear including barbque, water system improvements, dodger/Bimini/enclosure, mosquito netting, etc, etc. The listed things relate just to the boat, and I'm sure others can think of numerous additional important things that I've missed. Here goes, in no particular order of importance:

GPS chartplotter/sounder - $600
VHF radio with AIS - $200
Hand held VHF radio - $150
New ignition & house batteries - $400
Anchor/rode/chain - $500
Backup anchor/rode/chain - $250
Spare prop - $150
Repair tool kit - $200
Inflatable life jackets (2) - $300
Guest life jackets, mae west style (4) - $60
Fenders (4) - $300
Dock lines (4 @ 25 feet) - $100
Long lines (2 @ 50 feet) - $100
Anchor light - $200
Rewiring boat (new breaker panel, marine wiring) - $500
Smart charger - $200
New sails - $1,500
Inflatable dinghy - $1,500
Kicker motor for dinghy - $800
Kicker motor mount - $200
Auto pilot - $1500
Flare kit/first aid kit - $200
Paper charts/chartbook - $200
Radar reflector - $100
Replacement halyards/sheets/misc. lines/fittings= $300

This tallies up to just a shade over $8,000 if all were to be included in fitting out. Condition and accompanying equipment can allow some of these items to be deleted or postponed. Some are nice but not essential. Dollar figures are just rough estimates off the top of my head. Hope this is helpful.

Suggest you don't leave out the "porta potty" of some description. An electric head with holding tank is an even better feature.

Chinook wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2020 5:16 pm Here's my quick, off the top, take on a shopping list for getting a used boat ready to take out onto open waters. Bear in mind that the items listed below do not include anything related to creature comforts such as mattress upgrades, food storage, cooking gear including barbque, water system improvements, dodger/Bimini/enclosure, mosquito netting, etc, etc. The listed things relate just to the boat, and I'm sure others can think of numerous additional important things that I've missed. Here goes, in no particular order of importance:

GPS chartplotter/sounder - $600
VHF radio with AIS - $200
Hand held VHF radio - $150
New ignition & house batteries - $400
Anchor/rode/chain - $500
Backup anchor/rode/chain - $250
Spare prop - $150
Repair tool kit - $200
Inflatable life jackets (2) - $300
Guest life jackets, mae west style (4) - $60
Fenders (4) - $300
Dock lines (4 @ 25 feet) - $100
Long lines (2 @ 50 feet) - $100
Anchor light - $200
Rewiring boat (new breaker panel, marine wiring) - $500
Smart charger - $200
New sails - $1,500
Inflatable dinghy - $1,500
Kicker motor for dinghy - $800
Kicker motor mount - $200
Auto pilot - $1500
Flare kit/first aid kit - $200
Paper charts/chartbook - $200
Radar reflector - $100
Replacement halyards/sheets/misc. lines/fittings= $300

This tallies up to just a shade over $8,000 if all were to be included in fitting out. Condition and accompanying equipment can allow some of these items to be deleted or postponed. Some are nice but not essential. Dollar figures are just rough estimates off the top of my head. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the list, it is an eye opener, but I am interested in the actual structural integrity of the boat. I am interested in how much work would a $3,500 boat need to the hull, deck, rudder, centerboard, rig, hull fittings, chainplates, leaks, mast, transon, etc. so it can safely venture 2 miles out into the ocean.

zamber wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2020 4:14 pm Thanks for the list, it is an eye opener, but I am interested in the actual structural integrity of the boat. I am interested in how much work would a $3,500 boat need to the hull, deck, rudder, centerboard, rig, hull fittings, chainplates, leaks, mast, transon, etc. so it can safely venture 2 miles out into the ocean.

For a boat that you are not identifying specific damages, how can we tell you what the cost would be to fix it?? Without further information of condition, it’s likely that any of the examples shown would get out and back two miles as is, regardless of purchase price and without $8000 in upgrades. Listing price doesn’t necessarily equate boat condition.

Jimmyt said it best above.

zamber wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2020 4:14 pm Thanks for the list, it is an eye opener, but I am interested in the actual structural integrity of the boat. I am interested in how much work would a $3,500 boat need to the hull, deck, rudder, centerboard, rig, hull fittings, chainplates, leaks, mast, transon, etc. so it can safely venture 2 miles out into the ocean.

As K9kampers points out, there is NO list of structural repairs that is common to all boats listed for sale at $3,500. You may find one that has just been totally upgraded, or one that is trashed. A trashed boat could easily cost you $4,000 to $5,000 to bring back, and could go higher if the trailer and outboard is bad. Mast, boom, standing and running rigging, and sails will likely exceed the purchase price you are considering. You are looking at boats from California to Florida, when you don't know what kind of boat you want. You need to be looking at boats close to you so you can easily drive to inspect them. If you are in Florida, shopping boats in California, it would not be worth your time to drive across country to look at a $3,500 boat. Simply transporting the boat across country would increase the purchase price significantly.

What is magic about 2 miles out in the ocean? You are shopping for a trailer sailer. There is a lot of good sailing without going two miles offshore. But, if your mind is set on it, find a boat, get it ready, study the weather carefully, get a tow policy, and go.

Good luck in your search. Find a boat you like. Go look it over and take lots of pictures. Give the folks here something to work with so you can get specific advice. Without a specific boat to work with, including written info and pictures, your question is very difficult to substantively address.

Mike's list (Chinook) comes from a ton of cruising experience; including offshore. Don't be too quick to dismiss what he considers to be his list of likely boat needs for offshore cruising. His list includes what you need to safely cruise offshore single-handed. A lot of the items are required safety equipment to be legal. It also includes upgrading items and systems that are typically bad in used boats. In short, this could easily be the cost to safely, and legally, cruise offshore in a boat you purchase for $3,500. 2 miles offshore can turn into a lot more if things go wrong.

Include your location in your info. There may be someone near your area that could show you their boat to give you a reference point for your search.