macgregor 25 sailboat review

Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time.

• Forums New posts Unanswered threads Register Top Posts Email
• What's new New posts New Posts (legacy) Latest activity New media
• Media New media New comments
• Boat Info Downloads Weekly Quiz Topic FAQ 10000boatnames.com
• Classifieds Sell Your Boat Used Gear for Sale
• Parts General Marine Parts Hunter Beneteau Catalina MacGregor Oday
• Help Terms of Use Monday Mail Subscribe Monday Mail Unsubscribe

Mcgregor 25 at sea vs lake

• Thread starter Penntrails1
• Start date Apr 30, 2023
• Tags macgreagor 25
• Macgregor Owner Forums
• Ask A Macgregor Owner

Penntrails1

I am considering the purchase of a 1983 Mac 25. I have sailed similar boats in lakes, but not sailed this boat at sea. So, any feedback Mac25 owners have about sailing this boat in northeastern conditions, up to 5 miles off coast of Maine in various weather and wind conditions. Thank you.  

I owned a '78 Macgregor Venture 25 that I sailed on the west coast of Fl. in fairly protected waters for a couple of years many years ago. Found that I really needed something more robust if I was going to go out in open water. With a 2100 lb. displacement and a 625 lb. swing keel she was a bit tender for any type of rough sea. Having grown up on the new England coast, IMHO, I would look at something heavier and more seaworthy. Ask the local sailors for their input.  

stickinthemud57

Caveat - not a Mac 25 owner. Roland5048's observations make sense. Roger MacGregor's focus was on boats that could be easily trailered. The compromises involved make MacGregors not very well suited to blue water sailing. That said, I know of Mac 26M and X owners who sail from Florida to The Bahamas (a good deal more than 5 miles offshore). These boats are probably as or more tender than the 25. Naturally, they don't venture out unless they are confident that the weather won't get too nasty. I would say it doesn't matter so much how far from land you are going as how confident the weather and subsequent sea state will be amenable to the boat you are sailing. A heavier boat with plenty of weight below the waterline will be safer and more forgiving than a lighter boat like the Mac 25. People have sailed around the world in smaller boats, so in my opinion it has a lot to do with how well you know how to handle your boat in adverse conditions. Think in terms of worst-case scenario, and know your boat inside and out before you venture out of sight of land.  

Review of MacGregor 25 - www.yachtdatabase.com

I have sailed my 1977 V25 all over the coast of New England. The Cape and the Islands. Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay. I have sailed in about every condition possible. From a 50 plus knot squall in the middle of Buzzards Bay to 8 foot standing waves leaving the canal. Many trips from the canal to Ptown. That boat will sail and handle well in all conditions. The test is what you can handle. I had a 9.9 Johnson Sailmaster 2 stroke with electric start. I would power it with nothing less. People also trash the iron keel. My keel was in good condition. I replaced the winch, cable and hardware. Inspected all every season. Never locked it down. That seemed to piss off a lot of people on these blogs. The reason was that you could trim the center of effort by raising or lowering the keel. With the keel down the boat was super stable. Much more than my 26M. People were always surprised at how fas that boat could go and how well it handled. Like a classic Corvette. I loved that boat. My kids went to sleep in the bow with life jackets on on many late night crossings. Usually dome with My wife, the dog and my three girls. White caps are still white at night. I checked! The biggest issue was the junk trailer they came on. I refinished mine three times. New springs twice and finally replaced the axel with torsion axel. That was great but it was still rotting away. If you get a good deal I would go for it. Make sure you have a good VHF, convert the lights to LED and keep all the foam in. I found out ten years in that the previous owner sank her off the coat of Westport. Hit a rock with the keel locked down (another reason why I never locked it down) The boat sank in ten minutes. Stayed up because of the foam and the Coast Guard towed it in. I have a lot of stories on my club site the NE Trailer Sailors. I am the Commodore. The club is basically disbanded but the site was still up the last I checked. Still on FB too. Happy sailing!!  

OH, one more thing. She hit 11.5 knots when we came out of the squall. The jib was blown out and the main was rolled so that the sail was at the point of the spreaders for strength. Surfing down 8 foot seas. Yahoo!! When we realized that we mad it through alive the fog parted and a giant oil barge being pushed by a tug appeared out of no where no more than 200 yard off the starboard bow. We could see the crew looking amazed at the little boat with the jib flapping as much as we were amazed to see them come out of the fog!! I have a story about it on our site called the Buzzards Bay Crawl.  

Tsatzsue said: I found out ten years in that the previous owner sank her off the coat of Westport. Hit a rock with the keel locked down (another reason why I never locked it down) Click to expand

Roland5048 said: I never locked mined down, either. My sailing grounds are from just afloat to less than 10 feet until several miles off shore. That keel was my depth sounder. Click to expand

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…

MacGregorSailors.com

Discussions relating to the MacGregor line of trailerable sailboats

Skip to content

• Main Site Board index MacGregorSailors Forums MacGregor/Venture Discussion

California Coastal Cruising on a Macgregor 25?

Post by jollyroger47 » Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:16 pm

Re: California Coastal Cruising on a Macgregor 25?

Post by kadet » Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:10 pm

Post by sailboatmike » Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:17 pm

Post by BOAT » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:14 pm

Post by K9Kampers » Mon Aug 07, 2017 3:37 pm

Post by Sumner » Mon Aug 07, 2017 4:17 pm

BOAT wrote: ... there is a person on this site that has indeed sailed the 25 on very long ocean passages and has covered the kind of mileage your referring to albeit on the East coast, not the West. His name is sumner.....

Post by BOAT » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:00 pm

Post by BOAT » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:08 pm

Post by paul I » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:09 pm

jollyroger47 wrote: My question is this: Do you think if I were to hire a delivery captain and sail it with him or her, on my Macgregor 25, that it could be sailed from the San Francisco bay to the Santa Barbara area safely? I would really like to sail it down to Southern California versus trailering it down there, and I am thinking it would make for a really good learning experience for someone like myself who is looking to really learn how to sail. I would appreciate any seasoned advice.

Post by Tomfoolery » Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:08 pm

BOAT wrote:

Post by BOAT » Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:19 pm

Tomfoolery wrote: BOAT wrote: Looks like an Aquarius convention, BOAT. If I had been there with my A7.0, it would have been the odd duck in the bunch, for sure.

Post by Tomfoolery » Tue Aug 08, 2017 5:37 pm

BOAT wrote: But we all would be drooling over your retractable rear transom mounted rudder to be sure as many of us were struggling to get that in hull rudder up and out of the well in time to ram the beach!! In those shallows you need to get that rudder out of the way fast!

Post by BOAT » Tue Aug 08, 2017 5:51 pm

Post by Catigale » Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:18 pm

Return to “MacGregor/Venture Discussion”

• MacGregorSailors Forums
• ↳   Website News & Announcements
• ↳   MacGregor Powersailor Discussion
• ↳   MacGregor/Venture Discussion
• ↳   Performance & Tuning
• ↳   Trailers & Towing
• ↳   Repairs and Modifications
• ↳   Destinations, Clubs, Events and Venues
• ↳   Trip Logs
• TattooSailors Forums
• ↳   Tattoo Yachts Discussion
• Special Interest Forums
• ↳   Australia Group
• ↳   Canada Group
• ↳   European Group
• ↳   Rest of the World
• ↳   Admiral's Galley
• ↳   The Front Room
• Main Site Board index
• All times are UTC+01:00

Powered by phpBB ® Forum Software © phpBB Limited

Privacy | Terms

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Macgregor 25 MH

Macgregor 25 MH is a 25 ′ 0 ″ / 7.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Roger MacGregor and built by Macgregor Yacht Corp. (USA) starting in 1980.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Dimensions for masthead rig. See MACGREGOR 25 for more details.

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Most Common Problems With Macgregor 25 Sailboat

The MacGregor 25 is a small pleasure keelboat that is designed by Roger MacGregor. MacGregor Yacht Corporation in the United States initiated building the Macgregor 25 sailboats. The production of this sailboat was a boom in the years from 1973 to 1987. At the early production stage, the Macgregor 25 was sold under the name of Venture 25 . 

During the 14 years of production, more than 7,000 units have been sold. Sadly, the company is out of production now. This is why the tendency to buy the boat has increased among the people as the boat will not only offer extraordinary performance but also act as a symbol of a wonderful historical monument. 

However, there are some problems that are worth noticing before buying this sailboat. These topics will be presented in detail in today’s article.  

7 Most Common Problems with Macgregor 25 Sailboat:

There is no doubt that the Macgregor 25 is a remarkable sailboat. But there is no such thing on earth without problems. That goes the same for the Macgregor 25.

1. Not Good with Any Outboard Engine

Out of curiosity, people end up buying Macgregor 25 sailboats. Until they eventually realize that these boats are not compatible with any type of outboard engines. Even if they work, you may not get the full potential. There will always be issues.

While reading a forum, we have found that a man had bought a 6.6 hp Mercury outboard engine for his Macgregor 25. He had trouble operating it with the boat. First of all, the engine works when we put it in reverse mode, which is pretty awkward. Second, he could actually make it work after several tries. The engine kicked hard and jumped out of the water instead of locking in place. Now, this is also dangerous. 

Now please, don’t be a guy like him as you don’t want to spend tons of money buying a new engine after such occurrences. Also, he had faced irregular throttles. He had little control over speeding up and slowing down the boat. Even if he shifted into neutral, the boat seemed to speed up.     

Reading this post on a forum and after hearing some frustrating stories, we are determined that only limited outboard engines work with the Macgregor 25 sailboat.

2. Issue With Locking The Keel

Yes, locking the keel of the Macgregor 25 can be a challenge sometimes. Reading the same post on a forum we have found out the man had trouble locking the keel. He said he could locate the locking hole when he was at the dock. Other than that, he could only expect to find the locking hole while powering up as the unlocked keel swung backward then. 

The man also mentioned that he had a narrow berth. That increased the chances of hitting the bottom. As a result, this has increased the risk of docking the boat; especially when locking the keel is an issue. 

People say this issue can be solved by purchasing a jam cleat (i.e. Nautos CL257 ). However, that will cost you extra bucks and many wouldn’t like that. So keep this problem in mind before buying a Macgregor 25, especially when you have a narrow berth.         

3. Dynamic Build Quality

We have already said that the Macgregor 25 is out of production. You may buy one from a third-party source, but you can never be sure of the build quality. Why? Because you are not getting the boat directly from the manufacturer. A few boats were built with a masthead sloop rig back in 1980 and they were named after “Macgregor 25”.So, it’s been a long time. 

When you are not buying a product directly from the manufacturer, it is common to see some differences or changes in the build quality. And it will depend on the previous owner when you are buying a reconditioned Macgregor 25. You may never know if the original part is being replaced or changed with a poor-quality one.  

As a result, people looking to buy a used Macgregor 25 should do some research before buying a Macgregor 25. They should also find a reliable source for buying such a boat. A source on which the buyer can fully entrust. Here is the specification of the Macgregor 25. 

4 . These Boats Might be Overpriced

Although the Macgregor 25 aren’t the most expensive boats when you are looking for a boat of the same class, they are certainly not the cheapest either. C’mon, we are not talking about a million-dollar yacht here, right?

Depending on the condition of the boat and retailer, the price of a Macgregor 25 (aka Venture 25) can start from $7,900 and can go up to $169,500 (source – Boat Trader). In comparison with an inshore boat , the minimum price is somewhere around $27,000.

For instance, when you can purchase an inshore boat of moderate size for less than $20,000; the same size Crestliner (an offshore boat) will not cost less than $30,000. The most interesting fact is, both boats have similar layouts and they both feature Mercury engines.

In our opinion, the Macgregor 25 boats can be found at affordable prices despite their reputation and history. We have to admit, these boats can cost less than an aluminum or fiberglass boat. Aluminum and fiberglass boats come with Yamaha motors and they are well furnished. 

5. There Are Reviews of Being Rough

Another problem with the Macgregor 25 boat is being rough. At least, that is not what we say, we have discovered it from people’s reviews. After reading the boat owners’ detailed and informative reviews, we are convinced that the Macgregor 25 can be rough sometimes while going offshore.

Owners stated that the boat is hard to speed up and slow down. They would have experienced a smoother offshore with other boats of similar sizes. But that doesn’t completely indicate the Macgregor 25 is always rough. People have different opinions. While some people say they have rough offshore experience with the Macgregor 25, others say it is quite smooth. We guess, it actually depends on the perspectives of people. 

To get rid of this confusion, it is better to ask or request the dealer or owner of the boat for a test drive before finally making a commitment for buying the boat.        

6. No Longer in Production

Perhaps, this can be a major disadvantage and advantage at the same time. But how is that possible? In case you don’t know, the Macgregor 25 was announced a hall of fame in the early 2000 and the American Sailboat declared – 

“Fostering new enjoyment and growth in the sport of sailing through excellent design”

Well, if you are a collector, looking for adding some great and historical boats to your collection; the Macgregor 25 can be a worthy option. The production of Macgregor 25 has stopped. This means, only a few owners can enjoy riding this boat. So, they are like a hall of fame for the collectors. 

On the contrary, finding original parts or services from the manufacturer is no longer possible due to being out of production. This can be a serious issue when you are a general boat owner. Because you can neither expect servicing directly from the manufacturer nor can you find original parts easily. The only option can be importing parts after hardly getting a source.           

7. Customer Service is Not Available

Like we have discussed earlier, a boat that is out of production means – no support to the customers. You will either have to help yourself or get help from an expert. Therefore, this is a very important issue people should take into account before buying a boat that is no longer made. 

We have come up with a way to get around with this issue. That would be buying a Macgregor 25 from a private dealer. When you buy a boat from an authorized dealer, you are likely to expect personal customer service from them. It’s the same as buying a car from a dealer. On top of that, they offer their own warranty and guarantee policies that should make you relax for a bit. 

But don’t buy a Macgregor 25 boat from a transient company or dealer that may go under after serving for a year or two. Then, you will have to rely on the manufacturer’s support, which is no longer acceptable. So, be very careful of this drawback.   

General Pros and Cons of the Macgregor 25 Sailboat :

Despite the above problems, the Macgregor 25 boats have some general pros and cons. Taking a look at them will help you to decide whether you are really going to buy one or not.

• The Macgregor 25 has a long and flat underbody to deliver enough sailing speed.
• The boat was declared a Hall of Fame in 2000 by the American Sailboat. 
• Even after so many years, they are still competing with modern boats.
• The Macgregor 25 is also a great looking boat that is worth collecting.
• You can easily find one at a medium price range.
• Although these are out of production, support and maintenance can be found from private dealers. Not to mention a large fan community.
• Even if you can’t get the exact part, there are compatible parts available for this boat. These parts are great to make the boat up and running. 
• A major problem is limited engine options.
• Dynamicity in the build quality from time to time.
• The manufacturer’s customer support is discrete.
• Hard to find particular parts as the company is no longer in production.
• Some complained of having rough offshore experiences.
• Sometimes, the dealer or owner can ask for prices that are illogical.

Don’t underestimate the MacGregor 25 sailboat just because it isn’t in the production line anymore. During its prestigious 14 years of production, only 7,000 units have been made. Therefore, these boats are no joke and can be considered as limited editions. Moreover, the American Sailboat has put this boat under the hall of fame section, suggesting these boats have excellent designs for sport sailing. All these make the MacGregor 25 a jewel to collect.

Related Posts:

• Most Common Problems with Yamaha AR230 Boats
• 5 Most Common Problems With Lowe Stinger 175
• 4 Most Common Problems With Phoenix Bass Boat
• 5 Most Common Problems With Robalo 226 Cayman Boat
• 3 Most Common Problems With Robalo R160

Similar Posts

Are avalon pontoon boat good & reliable enough to own.

Do you want a fantastic all-around boat that offers elegance and comfort? Since 1974, Avalon has been producing high-quality pontoon boats and has successfully seized a share of the luxury market. In this article, we will get to know about the reliability of these pontoons. How Good Avalon Pontoons Are? Avalon produces pontoons that are…

Most Common Problems with Craigcat Boat

I have seen that some people are emphasizing the unsinkable feature of the Craigcat boats. Well, they sure are unsinkable but can trip easily with too much weight on one side. Also, these boats have lots of problems which I am going to discuss below. so, let’s get started. Problems Reasons Not-so-smooth steering causing a…

Are C Hawk Boats Good & Reliable Enough To Own?

C Hawk Boats was founded in 1977 in North Carolina as a manufacturer of robust fiberglass watercraft. C Hawk Boats used hull lengths ranging from 16 to 29 feet to create the center console, cuddy, and cabin designs. The company’s aim of constructing safe, durable, and flexible vessels helped it appeal to both retail and…

Aluminum vs. Galvanized Boat Trailer: What is Better?

For boat-owners, trailers are an important addition to their boats. It serves the purpose of carrying goods or fish from one place to another, and opens the door to business opportunities. Historically, steel trailers are the oldest manufactured trailers for boats, used extensively all across the globe. In the 1970s, aluminum trailers brought strong competition…

Are Blue Wave Boats Good & Reliable Enough To Own?

Boating is a soothing and pleasurable pastime. If you prefer being on the water, fishing, or simply sailing and have the means to own a boat, this is the place to be. In this article, I will be talking about Blue Wave Boats today. This boat is popular for its quality of construction and design,…

Most Common Problems with Humminbird Helix 7

Helix 7 G3N allows anglers experience ultra-sharp MEGA imaging in a 7” display without spending a lot. Besides lots of amazing and useful features, it has some issues like any electronic boat accessory. Knowing the most common problems with Humminbird Helix 7, their symptoms, and the cause will help you troubleshoot them easily. So, let’s…

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• About The Boat
• Boat Review Forum
• SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Good deal on a Macgregor 25?

• Add to quote

I live in Michigan, and we're looking for a boat to travel along the shores of Lake Huron, probably some overnight excursions with the kids (6, 11, 16), and hopefully, we'll trailer it close to Mackinac and sail it to the island to stay the night. I've not sailed before, our family has always had power boats. But I've been looking to start with a sailboat for quite some time, and just this weekend someone in town put out a 1977 Macgregor 25 for 4500. I was hoping some people could chime in on a couple things I noticed when I went through it to see if I should be leery. It doesn't have a very large galley stock. It's really just a sink and a water tank. The owner indicated that before he bought the boat, the whole top area holding the sink had been cut out and it never came with the water tank. They indicated they pack their own water and a small trough that fits in that area to serve for food prep. Is there a reason they would cut this out that I should be concerned about? Does the removal of the interior fiberglass in this area affect the structure at all? The other thing I noticed is the hinged panel that acts as both access to under-bench storage, and as a step stool is starting to become a little "squishy" I suspect the fiberglass has had a lot of people step in it in 30+ years, and that it shouldn't be an indication of stress areas elsewhere (I didn't see any when we went through it. Am I wrong to think this? If we move forward we'll have someone inspect the boat properly before buying it. Otherwise, the sails are relatively new, new lines, the rigging has been replaced where it's been needed, it all looks clean, the outboard (9.9 Mercury) has been gone over as well. Is this as good a deal as it sounds? Or are they a dime a dozen?  

That price is really high, especially for an older Mac that has had some hackwork done. Compare here: Macgregor 25 Sailboat Photo Gallery  

25 sailboats I would not consider a Mcgreggor if I were you, I hope I do not offend any one. I have onwned a Catalina 25 and sailed it many miles in all kinds of weather with my wife and two young daughters. You should check out the oday, Catalina and Seaward 25's with the swing keel. I think the only thing that you will find to be a little bit of a problem is steping the mast by youself it is nearly impossible and you might need a tongue extension for your trailer.  

Thank you both for the input. I think we're going to pass on the Macgregor and keep our eyes out for something a hair bigger that would fit us and 3 kids a little better.  

A little more information: We're a family of 5 looking for a cruiser to sail the Great Lakes, primarily Lake Huron. We've done boating, but not sailing, and this would be our first sail boat. So, we want something manageable, but something we're not going to grow out of anytime soon. I was also trying to keep the list to boats that might be off-shore capable, in case we wanted to take it on a tour along the Atlantic coast, etc. So, rather than get an intro boat (Macgregor) and then move up, I started looking at boats that might fit this bill using the list here Atom Voyages | Voyages Aboard the Sailboat Atom - Good Old Boats List - choosing a small voyaging sailboat . I have found 3 prospective boats in the Great Lakes area that look promising. 30' Morgan Out Island Sailboat 1978 Morgan 30 - 13k. I spoke with the owner. He is the original owner, and has babied the boat. He says there are no structural issues, the gel coat is in good shape, the interior is excellent. It has a 20hp Yanmar, and good sails. There aren't any pictures of the interior, but we'll get an idea of that when we visit the boat, and then we'll get a survey done. I'm leaning heavily toward this boat. 1967 Bristol Herrshoff 29 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com 1967 Bristol 29 9.5k. This one is on the list as a capable off-shore boat. It's older than the Morgan, and a little less expensive. I don't know what condition the hull is in, I'd have to check it out. The layout and space inside looks very much like the other Morgans I've seen. 1980 Pearson 323 sailboat for sale in Michigan 1980 Pearson 323 25k. It's more than I'm looking to spend, and I don't think it's in that much better shape than the Morgan. I'm sure it's faster (I don't see that as being a big issue for us). I'm a little worried about the glass on the inside. I would think that would make it a nightmare to work on if we had issues. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.  

First-time boat purchases You say you have no sail experience? Go read Sailingdog's excellent checklist for prospective buyers - you'll find it at the top of the Boat Review and Purchase Forum. Then maybe read a little stuff from marine surveyor David Pascoe (google him) - some of his ideas are controversial but he'll show you the real-life stuff that hides in otherwise good-looking boats. Point is, if you don't know what you're looking for, you could get burned with a lemon of a boat hiding all sorts of headache - rotten deck cores, failing hardware, unreliable auxiliary power - which could cost you more than your purchase price to fix and endanger your life if you ignore. A boat whose owners appear to have cared for her properly is a good sign but not a guarantee. First, don't buy anything you haven't had professionally surveyed while on the hard. Second, maybe you should spend a couple weekends hanging out at the local marina. Boat owners are friendly types and usually happy to talk your ears off about their ownership and maintenance experiences, as well as their likes/dislikes in a boat design - from rigging setup to galley layout - which may give you a lot to consider as you think about purchase. You're likely to even get invited to get your keel wet...probably also a good idea for a new sailor.  

I'll go browse those sites and create a checklist. The owner of the Morgan is going to take us out for a sail. And we definitely aren't buying anything without a professional survey. It's too much money to get burned by a bad boat.  

If it was me I would offer 20,k for the Pearson, they might take it. But will the marina let you keep it in a 30 foot slip or make you pay for the larger slip. The Morgan looks pretty good and the price is o.k maybe a little on the high side, it all depends on the condition that the boat is in. Do yourself a favor and find the slip first or have a plan on where to keep it. Happy Sailing.  

Quietriot, would you go for the Pearson over the Morgan?  

I think the Morgan is a good choice for a Lake Huron/Georgian Bay/Lake St. Clair boat, simply due to it's shallower draft. Accomodations are better as well- the cabin is huge. The looks are, to some, an acquired taste. If she could be had for $12K and pass survey, she's a good bet. A boat you can enjoy for years and not lose a ton of money. I wouldn't worry about whether the boat is off-shore capable at this point. Find a boat to SAIL for now, annd make sure that the whole family digs it. If you find yoruself on a boat with four seasick people complaining it is slow and boring and they really really want a SeaRay, you will be happy you didn't buy more than you need. If, on the other hand, everyone loves the adventure and you do decide to sail the thorny path, then look at beefier cruisers, although i will argue that barring an ocean crossing the Morgan will do all that you need in the future.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting the heck out of the office! But I've never heard of anyone taking a (sail)boat from the Great Lakes to the Big Lake. I'm sure it's been done, and I get the impression you could sail at least a little on the St. Lawrence if the wind and the stars align right. But that's a long way 'round (1000 miles or so?) and ends up way way up in the maritimes. Which is of course why the Erie Canal was built, but you can't sail that - the website says bridge clearance is like 20'. Similarly, I see people vacationing all the time along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa where my in-laws live, but only in motorcruisers. I don't believe I've ever seen a sailboat try that, and it makes sense why.  

zedboy said: But I've never heard of anyone taking a (sail)boat from the Great Lakes to the Big Lake. I'm sure it's been done, and I get the impression you could sail at least a little on the St. Lawrence if the wind and the stars align right. But that's a long way 'round (1000 miles or so?) and ends up way way up in the maritimes. Which is of course why the Erie Canal was built, but you can't sail that - the website says bridge clearance is like 20'. ... Click to expand...

Yuck, I didn't know the Erie canal was limited like that. That IS a long way around...  

It's like any canal- a necessary stretch of motoring to be able to continue sailing. and it can be a very pretty cruise- lots of interesting small towns along the way.  

• ?            
• 176K members

Top Contributors this Month