Entry Level 28+ft performance cat
 

Hey guys I've always had a V bottom (Currently have a 32' fountain CC). I was wondering if there are some smaller sized companies besides the big guys (skater, mti, spectre, all the west coast builders, etc) or any companies starting off when a 28+ foot speed cat. I want to get into one but all so expensive for such a simple build. Is there a market for this? Maybe ill make or buy a 28ft mold and sell a complete boat at around $100k with 250Rs. Still close to a 100mph boat and it keeps the price low where someone can get into an entry level 28+ft cat without having to give up an arm and a leg. Was thinking maybe the base model could be with gauges and maybe a small 9" GPS and a basic stereo system to keep the prices low. Not everyone is a big baller but still loves performance boating.. let me know your thoughts.

When I say near $100k I mean no more than $120k.

what are you going to make it out of ? Talk to any boat builder out there . It's not easy to make a " cheap " boat .

.

I've studied your proposal many times, and each year its harder to chase the dream

here is my thinking of the numbers....very tough , but I like your ideas!


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...11e497fe5a.png









.

Call Rey at Hellcats!

.


breakdown for a 24 footer cat


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c94c1c31c0.png








.

.


I have a 24 footer cat plug if you need one

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7d2dffae8b.jpg




.

Who was the company out of Texas building a 28’ designed by Doug Wright? Fat cat? Fat boy? I can’t find them.

I don't know much about it, but I would probably check on product liability insurance.

Fat Cat Powerboats
Fat Cat Boats | Boats for Sale Corpus Christi TX

They make a 28 that is a DW designed hull.

I think I can get the hull price cheaper than that maybe closer to $35k and I can also get the interior for about $5k (2 bucket seats and a rear bench) in Miami. Trailer I can get it for about $4.5k with no breaks. And the rigging wouldn't cost me $15k. Also I would be putting Bobs Jack plates. So even at that cost I think my all in would be right under $100k including labor. and lets say I add 20% profit. The boat would be a build price of $120k. I would have to be able to knockout one boat every 30 days for this to be small business.

I just want to be bridge the gap for performance boats. I think people are hesitant to get in the sport/hobby because it cost SO much for such a simple build. And there has to be a company willing to sacrifice some profits in order to have a viable entry level performance boat that isn't a 21 foot cat lol..

Liberator (popped from old skaters I believe)
wildman finished Liberators
Fat Cat
Hellkat (popped specter which was a popped skater?)

heres some free advice. STOP now. you lack business skills. if you honestly believe that you can make money with this idea as you are neglecting rent, utilities, insurance, payroll, taxes and all the office needs to run a company. oh, warranty which will kill you in itself. this is exactly why no on stays in the small boat market for long as it does not make dollars and sense.

.


Boatless, I understand your point of view...it's true, its a tough market


GMO, if there is any way I can help, please let me know





.

That in itself though true is sad,,,,,,,,,, everything is geared to the top.

Predator Powerboats is another company trying to make it with a 30' hull built from the old AMT molds. I haven't seen or heard anything about their boats in a while and a quick search on their website shows nothing current.

Ok, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I guess that's the end of this thread. P.S not every business has to profit a ton of money. Some businesses make $50k profit a year some make 50 Million in profit a year.

Thank you Noli, as boatless said previously it's impossible so i guess it is not a viable idea. I wish there was a way. Lord knows I have the will.. Just need to find a way.. Maybe using that entry level boat as a bridge to get more people into performance boat. And then have other models that produce higher profitability. Kind of like the way costco doesn't make much profit on chicken (sometimes they even lose money on there total chicken sales) because they price it so cheap. But they raise there profit margins with other items. They strategically place the chicken ALL THE WAY in the back, so everyone has to walk passed all there other high profit items. A classic marketing tactic they like to use.

.


what I like about the 24 foot cat is that it can powered with a single engine, and with today's V8 motors having lots of torque, it might work





.

this is the business acumen that is needed. costco has thousands of profit centers to pay for a single loss whereas you have one and if it does not profit you do not eat. this is why the service department at most boat dealers and manufacturers makes more money for the owner than the boat sales do. there merely isn't enough due to the fact that this is a numbers game. %20 of 100 is 20 but %20 of 600K is 120K so making the same margin can make it easier to pay the rent, insurace, warranty and salaries than the 100k level will provide.

Do a business plan before giving up, then you know that you did your due diligence. The primary reason the bigger higher end market is a target, because your fixed overheads are basically the same, if you build a 28' or a 50' but the actual profit potential is significantly higher.
On the other end of the spectrum, Bayliner targets entry level market with huge volume and lean manufacturing.
You don't need to make a ton of money, but you do need to make "enough". And "enough" is different for everyone!

Put the entry level boats in the back and the million dollar boats out front. All joking aside boatbuilding is somewhat a labor of love , that being said the successful performance boat guys out there now didn't get to where they are today my building an " entry " boat . They built a great boat and slowly developed a following and then capitalized on current customers wants and needs. Build a great product and and Develop a following. Someone that is going to spend 120 on a brand new boat I bet would be willing to spend more on more horsepower or a more luxurious interior.

why would anyone try to do this with a cat...be better off with a small v-bottom. not enough buyers in the cat market due to insurance.

as already mentioned...tough to make it a viable business unless the company had other offerings and was willing to blow this model out at a deep discount.

wish someone would make it a reality. I’d be a buyer in a brand new boat that was close to 100k. Sick of buying others used sh!t and then having to fix it to make it my own.

change the name from cat to v and you still will not make any money as you want a brand new boat for nothing and it is admirable but unrealistic that anyone is going to stick their neck out of your segment of the market.

wait, where the bayliners? maybe thats more your budget of beer looking for champaign.

At the end of the day $100k is not "nothing" as you claim. Well maybe for you it is. As you seem to have a net worth of over $100M. But for the majority of people that make under $250k a year. $100k will go a long way.

A buddy of mine wanted to open a bar/restaurant. I told him to give me $100,000, let me kick him in the nuts, and never mention opening one again. 2 years later he told me that it would have cost less and hurt less if he would have taken me up on it. I would offer you the same deal.

“Liberator” have been mentioned on here, which brings up an interesting example.
As I understand it, the Liberator dealer in Florida (Randy “Wildman” Corson) buys bare hills from the factory in Texas and does everything else himself. Rigging, set up, additional fiberglass work, interior, trailer, loads of custom paintwork, anything the buyer wants. He works pretty much on his own and has a great reputation for quality of work and he’s always busy. Small boat business doing well.

Recently he took a 25’ Liberator in as a trade. 2019 or 2020 model with a single 400R and 30 hours use I think. Boat ran well into the 90’s and he was selling it for $97,500. That would put a new boat within the price range the OP is thinking but obviously, it’s not a 28’ with twins. Food for thought. 🙂

RR

I'll take your deal haha, I like that!

if rumors are true, randy is kinda independently wealthy enough that he does not need to make allot money as that is merely a hobby for him. totally different set of criterias and he is selling a used boat at the price point not making a new one.

I have no clue about his $$ situation, you’re probably correct. I’m just going by what’s seen online. He’s pretty active on S&F, his work looks great and always good reviews. I’ve seen a few of his YouTube vids and it looks like he enjoys what he’s doing too. That single 400R boat is the only recent one to be built with a single, it was set up at the factory (Texas) and he took it as a trade on one of his new 25’s with twins. Maybe the owner was disappointed or maybe he loved it sooo much...?

RR

If you have a roof to work under, keep your day job and build one on the side. When your done, you’ll have your answer and another boat.

How about go f*ck yourself

Go f*ck yourself

did I mention to go f*ck yourself?

this is how hustler boats was started.... different times.

Strange for me as I grew up when the rivers and lakes were ruled by 16-20 foot V drives, jets, and OB screamers.

Hope no one tells Tuff this.

Well this thread escalated awful quick.

Champagne.