HERE'S THE WHOLE STORY:

It has dawned on the MacGregors that we are suddenly way beyond retirement age, and it’s time to start a new career.

we recently ended production of the MacGregor trailerable sailboats at our Costa Mesa, California plant, and are developing an all new 70 foot MacGregor. 

Blue Water Yachts , in Seattle, (over the years one of our largest and best MacGregor dealers) will provide support for all of the MacGregor boats.  They can provide the spare parts that you require, plus lots of friendly and competent advice and assistance.  If you need parts or help, call them at  800-688-8626, or click on their web site  http://www.bwyachts.com    Their email address is boatsales@bwyachts.com 

We have lots of good reasons for retirement, aside from getting a lot older.

I have always admired athletes, businessman and politicians who hang it up when they’re at the top of their game and start doing something new. That’s where we are, and that’s what we are doing now. 

Our changing neighborhood has also been a big factor for hanging it up.

The photo below, taken from my office window, shows a big monster of a wealthy old folk’s home that is being built directly across the street from our factory.

 It will hold 275 old timers.   It is a high-end retirement home with swimming pools, gyms, and all kinds of exotic stuff.  It is definitely a high class operation -- not at all what you might expect in an industrial area.

At the other end of my plant was another boat builder. Their company has been sold and the owners are planning a large condo development.

We had virtually no complaints from our neighbors over the years, and have operated without regulatory interference.  However, we were surrounded by other boat builders, other fiberglass operations, and a lot of industry.  Not homes.

It would be rather tough to a run boisterous industrial factory surrounded by residential zoning.

There will be complaints.  They'll be outside with their burning sticks, torches and signs screaming for more regulation.   Many of them, being retired, they have lots of time to get worked up.  Protesting surrounding industry likely will be their new hobby. 

On the other hand, the new high value residential activity is a major upgrade to our neighborhood, and should help increase property values.

We will continue to be active with the big boats.  We are nearing completion on the third MacGregor 70.  These boats will present no problems for our new neighbors, as these are built in relatively low volume, entirely indoors, with epoxy resin, corecell foam cores, and exotic fiberglass fabrics.  Epoxy has no significant odor or emissions, and their polyurethane finish odors are easy to deal with.

We have accumulated a vast amount of experience with these materials.

On the bright side, we have converted most of our property to industrial rental units.

We are keeping one very large unit for ourselves to build the MacGregor 70’s.

We’ve had a long and wonderful ride, and hope to be around for a long time.