Matt Gurnsey
New member
This started as a response in the Seattle Boat Show/C-Brat Gathering thread, but I decided it needed to be outside that thread, but was information that many of you would find interesting- Matt
Well, now that the new year is here, we can talk with a bit more certainty of what will be at the show.
Spaces have been assigned (although some changes are still possible) and I will be working this week on the layout of the Kitsap Marina space.
The Bad news- We will have no C-dory's in our booth. With the current state of the economy, it is not financially possible to have boats in stock. We will focus on the three lines of motors and two lines of trailers we carry. We have product in stock, and know what availability will be as we go into 2011.
The Good news- The current plan is for Master Marine to have a 22 Cruiser in their space. They have a 2011 that a customer cancelled on, so it is currently available, and planned to be at the show. We will both be offering C-Dory's for special order, with lead time in the 3-4 month range at this time.
Why aren't there going to be more boats shown, I hear you asking? Simply put- money. The factory doesn't have the budget to build half a dozen different boats on spec right now, nor do they have the ability to pay for boat show space to show them.
The Seattle Boat Show is an expensive undertaking. Tens of thousands of dollars expensive for a modest display. Hundreds of thousands for displays like Sea Ray or Bayliner. Plus the time to set up, cost of transportation and set up crews, displays, carpet, fixtures: it all adds up.
We dealers don't have the spare cash lying around to be buying boats for stock, and flooring is not available through normal (and very limited) sources on C-Dory's at this time.
Additionally, we need to focus on products that offer us the most support financially for the show. Engine manufacturers offer money to be applied to advertising, and boat shows count as an advertising expense. Some larger boat manufacturers offer support as well, and dealers will take advantage of this help and display these brands prominently.
Two years ago, Fluid Marine provided about half of the cost of the boat show space, and Suzuki helped as well. The boats displayed were boats that existed in the two dealers inventory.
Last year, there was no factory participation in the cost of the display, and Kitsap and Master Marine provided the boats as before. The situation for this year is the same, but both dealers have sold out of product, so there are few options for boats to show.
I have had offers of C-Brat owner's boats for display, but this isn't possible either, as the boat show rules allow current, or immediately previous model year, un registered vessels be shown. For this year that would mean 2010 and 2011 product. Last year they allowed two year old unregistered vessels to help out the dealers, but that was an unusual event.
Plus, even if we could show a C-Brat's boat, most of you have customized your boats to be what you want, and to sell off of them would be very difficult. Buyers could be turned off by an addition that makes your boat "perfect" for you, or they might want something they see that you have done that would be very labor intensive (expensive) for us to do, raising the price of the boat unreasonably.
And C-Dory's are already getting expensive in comparison to other boats out there. A 25 Cruiser is pushing $100K by the time it's outfitted, a 22 Cruiser close to $60K. C-Dory's are expensive boats to produce, with many labor intensive construction techniques that make them the wonderful boat that they are. As price increases, the number of potential buyers decrease. Any customizing adds to the cost, which will reduce the number of potential buyers.
Which may be why so many owners are tinkerers as well, and enjoy doing their own work on the boats. Which is another reason to show "virginal" boats. Buyers need to be able to see the blank canvas that they will be able to turn into the boat of their dreams.
Sticker shock may be the norm at this year's boat show, as production levels have dropped off, and many builders aren't doing the volume to get any discount on materials used in construction. Plus fixed costs are being split between fewer boats. Prices will have to go up to accommodate this scenario. Or builders will stop building.
Fortunately, Triton remains committed to the C-Dory product line, and plans to ride out this current situation until financial times improve. This will mean fewer boats produced, and few boats sitting in dealer inventory. It will mean waiting longer to get a new C-Dory, but it will allow buyers to get the options they want, and not compromising by taking the boat that is available.
Potential buyers will need to plan ahead. If you want a boat for the summer season, ordering at the SBS will give you the best chance of that, although it will not be guaranteed.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but some of you find the "behind-the-scenes" world of the dealer interesting.
Well, now that the new year is here, we can talk with a bit more certainty of what will be at the show.
Spaces have been assigned (although some changes are still possible) and I will be working this week on the layout of the Kitsap Marina space.
The Bad news- We will have no C-dory's in our booth. With the current state of the economy, it is not financially possible to have boats in stock. We will focus on the three lines of motors and two lines of trailers we carry. We have product in stock, and know what availability will be as we go into 2011.
The Good news- The current plan is for Master Marine to have a 22 Cruiser in their space. They have a 2011 that a customer cancelled on, so it is currently available, and planned to be at the show. We will both be offering C-Dory's for special order, with lead time in the 3-4 month range at this time.
Why aren't there going to be more boats shown, I hear you asking? Simply put- money. The factory doesn't have the budget to build half a dozen different boats on spec right now, nor do they have the ability to pay for boat show space to show them.
The Seattle Boat Show is an expensive undertaking. Tens of thousands of dollars expensive for a modest display. Hundreds of thousands for displays like Sea Ray or Bayliner. Plus the time to set up, cost of transportation and set up crews, displays, carpet, fixtures: it all adds up.
We dealers don't have the spare cash lying around to be buying boats for stock, and flooring is not available through normal (and very limited) sources on C-Dory's at this time.
Additionally, we need to focus on products that offer us the most support financially for the show. Engine manufacturers offer money to be applied to advertising, and boat shows count as an advertising expense. Some larger boat manufacturers offer support as well, and dealers will take advantage of this help and display these brands prominently.
Two years ago, Fluid Marine provided about half of the cost of the boat show space, and Suzuki helped as well. The boats displayed were boats that existed in the two dealers inventory.
Last year, there was no factory participation in the cost of the display, and Kitsap and Master Marine provided the boats as before. The situation for this year is the same, but both dealers have sold out of product, so there are few options for boats to show.
I have had offers of C-Brat owner's boats for display, but this isn't possible either, as the boat show rules allow current, or immediately previous model year, un registered vessels be shown. For this year that would mean 2010 and 2011 product. Last year they allowed two year old unregistered vessels to help out the dealers, but that was an unusual event.
Plus, even if we could show a C-Brat's boat, most of you have customized your boats to be what you want, and to sell off of them would be very difficult. Buyers could be turned off by an addition that makes your boat "perfect" for you, or they might want something they see that you have done that would be very labor intensive (expensive) for us to do, raising the price of the boat unreasonably.
And C-Dory's are already getting expensive in comparison to other boats out there. A 25 Cruiser is pushing $100K by the time it's outfitted, a 22 Cruiser close to $60K. C-Dory's are expensive boats to produce, with many labor intensive construction techniques that make them the wonderful boat that they are. As price increases, the number of potential buyers decrease. Any customizing adds to the cost, which will reduce the number of potential buyers.
Which may be why so many owners are tinkerers as well, and enjoy doing their own work on the boats. Which is another reason to show "virginal" boats. Buyers need to be able to see the blank canvas that they will be able to turn into the boat of their dreams.
Sticker shock may be the norm at this year's boat show, as production levels have dropped off, and many builders aren't doing the volume to get any discount on materials used in construction. Plus fixed costs are being split between fewer boats. Prices will have to go up to accommodate this scenario. Or builders will stop building.
Fortunately, Triton remains committed to the C-Dory product line, and plans to ride out this current situation until financial times improve. This will mean fewer boats produced, and few boats sitting in dealer inventory. It will mean waiting longer to get a new C-Dory, but it will allow buyers to get the options they want, and not compromising by taking the boat that is available.
Potential buyers will need to plan ahead. If you want a boat for the summer season, ordering at the SBS will give you the best chance of that, although it will not be guaranteed.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but some of you find the "behind-the-scenes" world of the dealer interesting.
that we can do to help you guys out? The C-brats posters might be useful as the boat does come with the best support group/family of any in the business.
