Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Denny and I worked together at PQ and he has a great sense of what customers will buy.

A new helm for the 34/38 is not expensive and could have refreshed that boat for under $10k. A new 26 footer would cost about $100k to develop and tool. A 36 sport cruiser would cost about $400k to develop and tool and a 44 performance would cost about $500k to develop and tool.

Certainly that is a lot of money, but so were the 320 and 280 suncruiser molds and the 380 and 340 performance molds. However, those four boats have brought significant revenue and profitability to that company over the years and have easily paid for themselves many times over.

Both of those larger models would have been a natural step for many of the PQ owners who wanted to go bigger yet stay in a PQ.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

So what is your point? Unless the factory re-opens who cares?

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

so is Powerquest in trouble because they did not listen to Denny?
didnt Kevin Herdis from Powerquest get the 320 molds from the company that had been trying to make the original 30 foot step molds as a trade because the original 30 step had a unsafe ride?

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Lack of product planning can equal long term failure

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Powerquest is in trouble because they did not sell enough boats in the last 4 years.

Denny has the connections and can sell boats and Powerquest would not be in the same situation today if they had kept Denny on board in charge of sales - whether the specific ideas mentioned above were implemented or not.

PQ had Marine Concepts out of Florida tool the 30 a few different times. They also tooled the 28/32 cruisers.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I agree, Denny had a knack for dealing with people and made many friends. I always looked forward to speaking to him at the boat shows and even when we toured PQ. PQ like Sunsation probably figured he did his job by bringing in more dealers and then let him go :mad:

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Anyone know where Denny landed after Sunsation? Good guy!

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I am sure Denny is good at what he does,hopefully Powerquest could move on with out him like Baja and Sunsation did.
I think one of the reasons PQ did not sell a lot of boats is beacause a lot of the dealers dropped them.
the dealers I spoke with that dropped PQ all had the same thing to say,PQ was pussing them in ordering 34s and mostly the 38s in a market were their needs were more for 26 and 28s.
Then PQ tried going factory direct sales,did they really think that was going to work?
If they kept the dealers they would at least been building boats for dealer stock.
then at they end they were going back with dealer sales.
I think they were a lot of mistakes made from everyone at PQ they brought them to were they are today.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

what do you think PQ sold the most of?

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I would say the 26 than the 29. The 26 has been around the longest.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Who has an update on parking lot activity at the factory??

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Still plenty of room to park :eek: :eek:

Sorry I couldn't resist.

I don't think there's been any change.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I heard Bankrupt as of today, deal must have feel through, what a sad day they make great boats :( , I hope this isn't true.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Even if they don't reopen - I bet those molds show up somewhere.

It will really be too sad if they can't sell the brand and have someone else start making the boats.

Rich, you may have to find another brand of boat to buy :eek: :eek:

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I guess a lot has changed since this article in the local newspaper dated 2004.

Turnaround buoys local boat builders

By ROBERT GOLD

The rebound in the boat industry has left its mark in Holland.
"We have no complaints," said Tiara Yachts spokesman Rob Everse.

The Holland-based yacht builder hired 100 workers in November and is on pace for sales to improve 30 percent in its current fiscal year, which ends July 31.

With 650 workers in Holland, the company now has its largest staff since it formed in 1974, Everse said.

Everse said an improving economy, combined with adding new models, has helped Tiara improve. Sales at some boat shows last year doubled and tripled, company officials have said.

Tiara Yachts builds luxury boats that sell for $120,000 to $1.172 million.

Holland-based PowerQuest Boats Inc. has seen improved interest at boat shows this winter, said Mandi Brower, the company's marketing manager.

"Things are definitely improving," Brower said, speaking from a St. Louis trade show last week. "I can just tell there is a lot more general public interest."

PowerQuest boats, which range from 22 to 38 feet long, cost between $35,000 and $260,000.

Brower said boat buyers often get new vessels every two or three years. Many customers have held off from upgrading, but now are looking to replace their four-year- old boats, she said.

Mark Winia, director of sales for Michigan Boat House, a new PowerQuest dealer that operates out of the boat maker's facility on 112th Avenue, said the dealership will attend its first boat show Feb. 18 in Grand Rapids.

"They are ready to go right now," Winia said about customers.

Winia, who worked at PowerQuest before Michigan Boat House opened, said customers have changed in the past few years. Gone are many of the impulse buys.

"We see a really informed buyer. It's really treated with an investment. We are dealing with a different buyer," he said.


Click here to return to story:
http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/0...20804061.shtml

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

With the Holidays fast approaching, I wouldn't count them out just yet. Maybe after the first of the year a plow will show up to clear the parking lot.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Maybe, but it will not be a good sales season for them. Even if they had a boat or two - they won't have any floor space at the shows.

I still keep wondering if the buyers might reopen somewhere else in the country.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Sounds like the buyer may have infact walked. Not good but not the end of the world. Lets face it Powerquest builds one heck of a nice boat for the $$$. It's not a name thats just going to disappear. I'll bet before we know it there will be another buyer in place and things will get back to normal. Unfortunately with the delay the loss of employees is unavoidable, which is sad.

But on another note? Say they don't re-open and the company is parted out (not likely). What happens to the value of PQ boats?? It's still a great boat and other than the hull everything else is merc or other manufacture branded parts. And yes we lose the hull warranty. If you were in the market for a used boat and say you were looking at a 29 baja v.s a 29 PQ, would the fact that PQ is gone have a bearing on which boat you bought? And if so would it simply be a matter of dollars or will the quality be an issue ???

Just a thought???

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I count on the manufacturer for exactly "zero" support on a used boat; anything above that is simply gravy.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

If you look at most hull warrantees, they are not transferable. Therefore, useless.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

FF....to answer your 29 Baja/PQ question. I am considering a 33 Scarab AVS for my next ride (along with a 34 PQ and 33 Outlaw) if that gives you any indication. I will never buy new so factory support is secondary to me in the buying decision. Still a factor but boat condition and reputation of the boat model is first priority.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

You ought to consider a Sunsation 32 Dominator. The factory support is second to none and that was even acknowledged on this forum. Whether you buy new or used the factory will be there for you like you are their only customer! Ask around and no one in any price/ size boat is as good as Sunsation.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

WHAT Dude your killing me, a Baja :eek: Have you seen a 33 AVS in person, they are small cabins, the 34 PQ is the biggest of the three.


MK who are you?
You seem to know a lot about PQ, so I am curious who you are. Is it Mandi?

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Likewise, the 32 Sun is a very small boat compared to the 34 PQ. The Sun is a nice boat but size wise is much smaller.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Sunsation makes a great boat! But if you have a family they just won't work! One of the big drwas to the PQ is the size of the cockpit as well as cabin area. And lets not forget the freeboard!

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Jupiter
cbjenrl and I tie up to a 32 Sun every weekend and when Mentalpause had his he would also. The boats are great rides but they are smaller then the 29 when it comes to cuddy space. But we do know the boats very well and I would recommend ones to anyone looking for a boat of that caliper.



Rich.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

100 bucks says Wally doesn't get another boat for 5 years.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I worked at PQ for Kevin from 1994 to 2000.

I still live in Holland and have been watching the decline of PQ (the sales) since 2001 when Kevin sold to Jack and I know most everyone that was still working there when they shut down a couple of months ago.

Marc

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

And they are too quick for you and Wally, you wouldn't know what to do with that 0-60 pull. :evilb: :evilb:

And if you want a bigger cabin I will have a used one that meets your needs, HOPEFULLY before summer.

Called the factory today - they are polishing the bucks to get ready to shoot them.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Depends on when the clock starts - can we think about this for 2 years then bet :drink:

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Do you know if any employees are going to be available to go back to work there if they do reopen? Seems to me it would be really hard for a new owner to reopen with all new employees.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

There were very few employees left and the ones that were there until the end are looking for new jobs since they cannot support their families on unemployment pay.

I agree that it will be difficult for a new owner to re-open with all new employees.

I was surprised TMB was considering PQ since PQ doesn't meet very many of their acquisition criteria as listed on their website. The lack of any employees is just another one off the list so I would not hold out hope that TMB is buying it.

http://www.tmbindustries.com/criteria.htm


Marc

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

MK
are you the person on the PQ brochure driving the boats??
back in 1998 1998

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I agree - good info in the link. There does seem to be some contrasts with their acquisition criteria.

Thanks.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

I was one of them - I used a number of employees and friends to help out at the photo shoots.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Unfortunately, it sounds like the end is near. Too bad. They had their place in the industry.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Never lose faith - even if the company is not sold, I bet those molds will be, and the boat will show up somewhere.

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

All I have to do is buy the Co. and move it down here. :p
Ok fellow PQ owners lets buy the company together :eek: :D .

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

It's been done before! BOB

Re: Powerquest Factory
 

Where do I send my $10. How many shares will that give me?? :D