Would you buy a used Macgregor without a test sail first?

[heysteveh]

In relation to an earlier post, I am planning on buying a '93 Macgregor 26s next weekend and may not be able to test sail the boat. I am a first time buyer, but have studied different info. on the web as far as what to look for when inspecting the boat. Is a test sail absolutely necessary? Although I do not know the owner, all contact so far indicates that he is trustworthy.

Steve

[Helaku]

If you cannot test the boat spend a couple hundred dollars and have a local marina check over the boat including test sail and power boating. Spending a few hundred to make a decision on over $10K should be a must, at least for me.

[Tom Root]

Uhh, it's a Classic Mac, it better be much less than 10K!

I'd say just check the integrity of the boat yourself, a test sail isn't neccasary in my opinion, but it is just that, my opinion. Spend a couple hundred more for a survey....not me, but you should ask alot of questions, and go through rigging proceedures.

Visit many online resouces for your boat, there is even a forum for that flavor of Mac also, right on here!

I'd get a survey ONLY if I suspected damage, or integrity problems due to age, a '93 Mac, isn't really in that catagory!

[Night Sailor]

I've happily bought several boats including Macs without test drives because I carefully examined the boat inside and out not only for function but to see how well the previous ownder had cared for her in obvious and not so obvious places. I bought good, well cared for boats at average prices. Shoddy care I rejected unless the boat was available for about 25% of the then current low market price. I would do so again for all those boats that are not water ballast, or have molded permanently fastend liners and floors.

The later Macs with the permanent liners and floors and water ballast present too many opportunities for hidden damage to go unnoticed on land or at sea on a short sail. I'd definitely have a surveyor do a run on a water ballasted boat both on land and in motion on the water if I could hot be there myself. The Macs are tough but vulnerable in hard to repair places, so expense from anything overlooked could be very large.

[zuma hans 1]

I did. No regrets. This was a "stock" boat, tho. A 99X. I might not feel so smug about a classic '93 boat, tho.

[Ric K]

Heysteveh:
You are in the right place for Mac adivise! I have found the contributors to this forum very knowledgeble and helpful. I don't do a mod on my boat or purchase any equipment without reaserching the contents of this site. Just by reading the posts I seem to get most of my answers without asking the questions.
I have 2 Mac boats an '88 26D and an '02 X. I cruise the southern California coast from my slip at Oceanside harbor. And since '97 I have logged many miles on my Macs.
IMHO, I would'nt purchase a boat without a test sail. I would want to test the boat at least an hour at about 20 degrees of heel. This will demonstrate the integrity of the rigging, mast, dagerboard, and ballast tank. I would check for water in the bilges. Simple waterleaks could be caused by leaky chainplates, or a bad plug in the ballast tank. Complica-
ted problems culd exist with the ballast tank( I think that is rare, but somebody may have a different opinion), or the pivot bolt for the dagger-
board.
Seeing the sails in action will also give you an idea as to their con-
dition.
The outboard can only be tested under full throtle in the water, it should start on the second pull and idle smoothly.
The rudder should operate smoothly without any clunks or bangs
( I've broken a rudder before and the only way to get home if you have a
little outboard is to be towed!).
I don't doubt the honesty and integrity of the seller... but you may discover problems he / she may not know about.
The boat you are looking at is a '93 and I'm sure it has'nt had as much use as my '88 which is a SOUND boat.
Mac Gregors are exellent " starter boats". and if you are not a "starter"
they are very good boats, they are a lot of fun for the money, best bang for the buck!!
Ric K
BUENA SUERTE! ( it means good luck in spanish, it is also the name of my

[DLT]

I don't know how much you're paying for it, or what general condition it is in. I also realize that a test sail may be difficult to accomplish...

Here are things that can be done in the driveway:
1. Hoist the sails. Yes, I mean raise the mast and hoise the sails. This is a sure fire way to make sure you have all the pieces, and you know how to do it... Of course, you also need to make sure you have the hardware, etc. for the sheets to...

2. Bring a set of those suction cup do-dads and run that motor for a little bit. Surely, the guy has a water hose... Be VERY careful, but I'd even briefly put it in gear...

3. It will take a while, but you should think about trying to fill the ballast tank with that water hose. This will add a little weight to the trailer, but if it can't take it, while sitting still, then it ain't gonna last long anyway. I'm not sure of the configuration of the 26S, but surely it has an air vent somewhere you can get the hose in, to fill the tank and make sure it hold water...

Ok, so if you have all the rigging (and its looks servicable), the motor runs, and the ballast tank holds water, well then you probably have a decent boat...

One last thing, probably after you bought it, pick a day when the ramp is empty and just let it float above the trailer for as long as you can stand. Spend this time on the boat. Raise the mast, etc., just mess around, whatever. You're checking to see that the hull keeps the water out... If it doesn't, the worst that should happen is it settles back on the trailer, at which point you pull it out of the water, let it drain (noting where the water is coming from, and patch that hole(s)...

Once you're satisfied, then take her out and have fun... Keep in mind that it is possible to have a leak that only shows up under some conditions, such as heeling... This isn't likely, but it is possible, so for the first few sails, I'd go below every so often and check as thoroughly as could...

[bob lee]

steve;

we've all been guilty of being too busy to check something out whether its a car, rv whatever. but in my opinion, when you are talking about a boat, that you are going to take yourself, family, friends, etc out onto the water, find the time or pay someone to test it for you. it has to be money well spent if you ask me. too many things can and do happen out there, and that's the last place you need a suprise.

best of luck with the purchase!

[Helaku]

Uhh, it's a Classic Mac, it better be much less than 10K!

dooooooooop, I must have skimmed over the date being 1993.

I also like having someone else look it over that is not involved. I get emotionally invested into purchases like these. Last night I went to buy a nice gas grill and showed my wife the one I had found that had all the features I wanted. I had done some research and found the grills that I would not outgrow but were still reasonable priced. My wife and I had discussed getting a new grill and she knew I was going to look at some last night.
She asked me if we really needed a new grill? Well darn it the answer is no but I spent so much time looking into it that now I am invested emotionally into making this purchase. So I went against reason and sided with my emotions and bought it.

I think having someone else look over a major purchase removes my wanting this "one" to be the one, regardless if it is really worthy or not.

[DLT]

Soo true... I have the same affliction...

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Heysteve...I purchased a 92 Mac 26S without sailing it. But I looked it over closely first. My first sail discovered that the swing keel cable was broke, and I had to repair part of the fiberglass on the keel also. But it was no serious or costly problem. Ive since bought a 99 MacX without sailing it....and had to have the carbs cleaned because the boat was in storage a long time. But no problems otherwise.
My opinion is that a boat can be looked over well, even though its not sailed. Look for fiberglass soft spots, cracked or bent mast, elect. system works, spin trailer wheels on jacks for any evidence of bearing "grinding", etc. The Mac 26S is a fine, strong, sailing boat. Engine max is about 9.9 HP.

[wtelliott]

We drove 350 miles each way to pick up our new/used 2001 X. Didn't have time to take her out. I guess that I was confident in her condition after looking her over, finding the furling system still in the sealed factory boxes, finding the jib still in the bag with the factory sealing tape around the sail. The water jugs that came with her never had water in them, the head had never been used. (had to remove a shipping seal between the halves before we could fill the water tank). The PO claimed he only had her out a few times with main only. The Honda 50 was spotless. I feel that we got quite a deal. The only things I found that didn't come from the factory were a couple of spiders. BTW, why do spiders like boat so very much???
My point being, if you do your homework, then take a good hard critical look at the boat (in the nooks and crannies keeping an eye out for signs of water or other stains/damage, you should be able to get a feel for how the boat was handled and treated.

[James V]

heysteveh - no insult intented, but would you know what you are looking at?

Per what you have said, this is your first boat. Without much boating experience, you might be a little limited on what is right and wrong or just fair. If you take a used car down to a mechanic before you buy and have it checked out, the chances of finding more problems is greater.

Take a test sail, SURE, Any time on the water is better than none. Put a down payment on it? IF you feel it is right, go ahead, BUT make sure that you can get a survey done before close and be able to back out of the deal WITH your deposit if there are too many problems.

[Catigale]

Well said, James.

ANyone who wouldnt take a deposit on a boat contingent on a survey within a reasonable time (of the buyers choice) is NOT reputable. Its part of the business.

Nada shows the base value of this boat to be $770-9300 btw

[baldbaby2000]

Most of the boat you can inspect carefully to determine its condition. I'd mainly worry about the motor. That's hard to evaluate without actually using it.