MacGregorSailors.com

Hi there,
I've currently got an M22, but found a good deal on a 26X. The only problem is that a tree fell and damaged one side of the cockpit (pictured below). It seems like manageable fiberglass work, especially since I'm not overly concerned about aesthetics. Am I being naive? The boat is currently for sale at $7,500. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum!

I would give that boat a hard pass unless it was free or close to it and I were experienced in boat repair. What you are seeing is only the surface damage. Because of the lightweight construction of the MacGregor 26 line, when the hull and gunwales have been as severely compromised as these have been, restoring them to proper rigidity will take more than filling and sanding. One would have to bridge those areas across to the surrounding undamaged area, and I have no idea how one would create a solid bond between the new glass and the old.

I tend to agree, but it depends on what else the boat comes with. The upright in the photos looks just like the one on my factory trailer. So I'm guessing that's original. What does it have for an outboard?

A nice might go for $20,000. You can find neglected ones for a little over $10,000. This looks like a lot more than $2500 in work to me.

Jeff

I'm no fiberglass expert and the other opinions are worth considering.

I will refer you to this thread. The owner had a heavily damaged Mac, really bad. He did some amazing glass work.

There are people who can do amazing repairs with fiberglass. Way over my pay grade. I'm in awe of those skills.

viewtopic.php?t=28409

viewtopic.php?t=28237

viewtopic.php?t=28153

My Mac was in a car accident and was rolled off the trailer during the original owner’s time. It was written off, sold by the insurance company, a then properly repaired by the next owner. I’ve used the boat successfully for over 20 years now, with zero issues.

So… yes, it can be repaired. Is it worth it at the offering price? Not IMHO.

Sounds like a pretty clear concensus. Thanks everyone!

Do you have more pictures? There appears to be damage to rails/stanchions in addition to that rather extensive fiberglass damage. Was the mast/boom caught up in this as well? They are typically stored atop the boat - right in the line of damage.

That fiberglass repair isn't a problem, but it's going to take a good deal of time and effort. If you haven't done a lot of glass work, there will be research time involved also.

There aren't that many X's and M's for sale at any given time, but they do come up. I'd keep looking for a better example.

If it has a brand new 90 hp four stroke on it, and the damage in that photo is all I had to repair (sails in good condition, too), that price might get my attention. But without more info, I'd agree with the rest of the gang, the asking price is high.