Powerboat industry wrong direction?
08-31-2006, 11:00 PM
#31
Mod Squad Enforcer
Charter Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: On the way to a PR near you
Posts: 12,958
Received 795 Likes
on
258 Posts
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
100, I understand the economics, I was just answering his question where I saw a problem. I think Conrad and others are doing what they can, but as long as things are built with "conditions"(only w/a package,etc.) it is bad for the industry.
It also took all my strength, to not say the BIGGEST problem is disreputable dealers, salesmen and mechanics exascerbating an already fragile and expensive hobby. Remember, to my knowledge, I am the only two time loser here on the board when it comes to dealer fraud.
And I still want to buy a damn boat......
It also took all my strength, to not say the BIGGEST problem is disreputable dealers, salesmen and mechanics exascerbating an already fragile and expensive hobby. Remember, to my knowledge, I am the only two time loser here on the board when it comes to dealer fraud.
And I still want to buy a damn boat......
Last edited by Cash Bar; 08-31-2006 at 11:02 PM.
08-31-2006, 11:02 PM
#32
Mod Squad Enforcer
Charter Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: On the way to a PR near you
Posts: 12,958
Received 795 Likes
on
258 Posts
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Oh, and on the incentive for Merc to warranty their drives, Goodyear(Toyo,etc.) don't give a fvck whose wheel you attach your tires to. If it's defective, it gets replaced.
08-31-2006, 11:06 PM
#33
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Paducah, KY
Posts: 4,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
far to much focus on sales, and very little focus on repair, maintenance, and maintaining resale value.
Merc needs to offer small discounts to shops with merc certifed techs, to promote education.
as it is there is a massive shortage of trained techs, this will lead to poorer and poorer service, resulting in a more and mroe distant buying public.
Harley Davidson is a great model to watch how a company can make its employees, dealers, buyers, and stake holders happy over the long term, and no where in their plan is a shortage of tech's part of the equasion...
Merc needs to offer small discounts to shops with merc certifed techs, to promote education.
as it is there is a massive shortage of trained techs, this will lead to poorer and poorer service, resulting in a more and mroe distant buying public.
Harley Davidson is a great model to watch how a company can make its employees, dealers, buyers, and stake holders happy over the long term, and no where in their plan is a shortage of tech's part of the equasion...
09-01-2006, 05:20 AM
#35
Registered
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Mid Cabins are cool
i havfe a 32 and a 28 in stock and they get more atention at a boat show than any thing else
I too like the look of the closed bow but you cant egnore the popularity of the new mid cabins
SUNSATION keeping up with what the market desires and still filling the go fast need
i havfe a 32 and a 28 in stock and they get more atention at a boat show than any thing else
I too like the look of the closed bow but you cant egnore the popularity of the new mid cabins
SUNSATION keeping up with what the market desires and still filling the go fast need
09-01-2006, 05:24 AM
#36
Registered
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
This is one of the cooles looking Mid cabins i have seen
It is a 32' Looks good and runs great and mom and the kids seem to like it much bettter
It is a 32' Looks good and runs great and mom and the kids seem to like it much bettter
09-01-2006, 09:07 AM
#37
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Pros:
*Quality of boats are way up.
*Quality of engine packages with I/O and outboards is way way up
*People can afford bigger boats than ever before
*Poker Runs are very popular and give people a great way to use performance boats.
* Outerlimits including the Tres Martin school with the purchase of boats
Cons:
*Driving skills of owners of performance boats
*Insurance
*Marine industry as a whole need to improve on people skills in the service area.
*Too many ripp off service centers and misinformed Mercury approved mechanics.
*Racing needs to be fixed.
*Poker Runs can not alone carry the interest of performance boaters
* manufactures need to step up and qualify people buying certain boats.
*Quality of boats are way up.
*Quality of engine packages with I/O and outboards is way way up
*People can afford bigger boats than ever before
*Poker Runs are very popular and give people a great way to use performance boats.
* Outerlimits including the Tres Martin school with the purchase of boats
Cons:
*Driving skills of owners of performance boats
*Insurance
*Marine industry as a whole need to improve on people skills in the service area.
*Too many ripp off service centers and misinformed Mercury approved mechanics.
*Racing needs to be fixed.
*Poker Runs can not alone carry the interest of performance boaters
* manufactures need to step up and qualify people buying certain boats.
09-01-2006, 09:10 AM
#38
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Originally Posted by tblrklakemo
Do you feel that the powerboat industry is moving in the wrong direction in any way? If so what?
I don't like the mid cabin open bow boats...look silly.
I don't like the mid cabin open bow boats...look silly.
If people want more mid cabins then the people are whacked... the industry has to cater to the demand...
So essentially the majority of people are moving in the wrong direction... nothing new there it helps achievers prevail...
09-01-2006, 09:43 AM
#39
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Cash,
No offense intended ... I wasn't trying to give you an economics lesson. However, the tire/outdrive comparison doesn't hold. Tire failures tend to come either inherent defects or road damage. You don't often hear someone say, "Yeah, the tire blew because it was on a Corvette."
Too much power, on the other hand, can blow drives. We all know that. If Mercury were to provide warranties on its drives for any engine, you can imagine the potential for claims. How could a buyer prove his engine falls into the range the drive is rated for? Supply a dyno sheet? Please. The potential for fraud is endless.
Plus, as you know because you understand economics, there is zero incentive for Mercury, an engine builder, to warranties its drives (which next to its engines are a low-cost item) for other builders' engines. Why on earth would they want to do that? It might help you, the customer, but it would also help their competitors. And Mercury is less than fond of its competitors.
Does that policy, that Merc won't warranty its drives for engines other than its own, hurt the industry? Certainly, there are no hard numbers to support that. It does suck somewhat if you bought another builder's 500-hp engine, which is probably why Ilmor teamed up with Teague for a drive package ... with a warranty.
The good news is the competition is growing. Konrad's Ace drive is strong, from what I've heard. Ilmor will introduce a drive (Paul Ray of Ilmor said that in a PB interview a few months ago) and I'll bet it will be excellent, like Ilmor's engines.
As for the dealer stuff, I couldn't agree with you more. You're not a two-time loser. You're a smart guy with a passion for an expensive hobby who had two crappy experiences with scumbags. Unfortunately, those experiences are all too common. The problem with those kinds of dealers is that they don't just suck at sale time ... they suck in service, support and the entire time you own the boat.
No offense intended ... I wasn't trying to give you an economics lesson. However, the tire/outdrive comparison doesn't hold. Tire failures tend to come either inherent defects or road damage. You don't often hear someone say, "Yeah, the tire blew because it was on a Corvette."
Too much power, on the other hand, can blow drives. We all know that. If Mercury were to provide warranties on its drives for any engine, you can imagine the potential for claims. How could a buyer prove his engine falls into the range the drive is rated for? Supply a dyno sheet? Please. The potential for fraud is endless.
Plus, as you know because you understand economics, there is zero incentive for Mercury, an engine builder, to warranties its drives (which next to its engines are a low-cost item) for other builders' engines. Why on earth would they want to do that? It might help you, the customer, but it would also help their competitors. And Mercury is less than fond of its competitors.
Does that policy, that Merc won't warranty its drives for engines other than its own, hurt the industry? Certainly, there are no hard numbers to support that. It does suck somewhat if you bought another builder's 500-hp engine, which is probably why Ilmor teamed up with Teague for a drive package ... with a warranty.
The good news is the competition is growing. Konrad's Ace drive is strong, from what I've heard. Ilmor will introduce a drive (Paul Ray of Ilmor said that in a PB interview a few months ago) and I'll bet it will be excellent, like Ilmor's engines.
As for the dealer stuff, I couldn't agree with you more. You're not a two-time loser. You're a smart guy with a passion for an expensive hobby who had two crappy experiences with scumbags. Unfortunately, those experiences are all too common. The problem with those kinds of dealers is that they don't just suck at sale time ... they suck in service, support and the entire time you own the boat.
09-01-2006, 11:35 AM
#40
Registered
Re: Powerboat industry wrong direction?
Three years ago I would have kicked my own ass for just thinking about a bowrider. After a couple of seasons of leaving half my family and friends at the dock while tooling around in my Talon, enough was enough. Sold the Talon, next boat will definately be a bowrider/midcabin or performance CC like a Concept.
