So you are saying he bought them to lock up the initial production run and presumably make a profit on anyone wanting to have a cig cat in the next year or so?
Please correct me if I'm wrong and I really hope I am.

It really seems like he has bought the first 12 Cig. cats. A couple for himself and I assume to sell the reset at a profit. Unless the OPA 450R factory stock class is gonna grow significantly!
John

Takes money to make money.

because 13 is unlucky!!

Many people enjoy working with someone that knows the boats and can expedite the build process as he has done with Skater, many of the ones he commissioned and designed were bought from him before they were finished and he was there to make sure the build went smoothly. The Same as Phil has done at Lipship for decades and when Bill Pyburn did a limited number of Platinum 388s.. basically he is a General Contractor for building them.

I would do the same thing if I had the means.

OK, that makes more sense because otherwise it just seemed like a dick move to make a quick profit.
Thanks for clearing that up.

That isn't his MO. He's been doing this forever even when the economy was sh it. Sort of subsidizing boat builders by placing orders, keeping them busy.
Then think about it. If the boats are done and someone doesn't want to wait for one or a slot to be produced, it's available. Also I'd imagine if some needed to finance then the collateral is "in hand".
Would make the finance situation way easier.

Still comes back to the question: What happens to Performance? Am I the only one seeing a FU somewhere along the way?

When big boys play, it is fun for us minions to just sit back and watch...

it depends on their contract for selling the boats, every contract has exclusions " for instances" this was under way before skip sold the company. so im sure that has been worked out. in my opinion they can still be a factory rep for cig. but they cant stop the factory from selling, especially to a single person.. whether it be Ron or another wealthy person, if he wants 12 boats he can buy them. nortech has dealers, they also sell factory direct.