- Joined
- Apr 5, 2012
- Location
- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
I was reading another boat forum today where one member was comparing a new 176XT Stratos (70hp) with a new Nitro Z-6 (115hp). Both are 17 foot bass boats so it wasn't anything surprising. What was surprising was the Stratos was more expensive then the Nitro! This isn't a Stratos VLO, Elite, or Strampion. It's their most basic boat and a leftover at that. The boat designed to compete with Tracker aluminum hulls and not Nitros. The same Stratos that sold for $14K not 2 years ago, is now almost $22K when it's all said and done.
After failing to learn their lesson, if boat manufactures go under, it's their own fault.
Bass boat manufactures got hit hard in economic downturn, but they did it to themselves. A mid 90s top-of-the-line bassboat cost about 30K. Now it's $60K. You can't tell me that a 21ft Bass boat costs TWICE as much to make now. I would grant you that with more stainless steel parts, composites instead of wood, and some additional labor it probably would cost about one-third more for the same hull. But not double. Not twice as much.
Now boat manufactures seem to be scrambling to come out with "value" boats, and yet, a year or two after their introduction the prices are right back up to ridiculous levels. I give credit to Nitro and Triton for keeping their value models prices in check. They haven't risen...much.
Part of the reason Phoenix was successful out of the gate was that they offered excellent quality at realistic prices. I wonder how long until a 721 creeps into the 60K to 70K price range.
Boat manufactures need to start paying attention. Banks are STILL not handing out loans like they used to. More fisherman are taking to Kayaks and muddy boots (shore fishing) then ever before. Sales will continue to fall because the sad truth is that most Americans who are fishing fans are going to either afford a house or a boat, but not both with today's pricing.
Dealers aren't helping the situation either. I read on that forum one member actually say that the guy who walks out with a base model boat for $35K didn't get ripped off when another customer walked out with a loaded model for $30K. He said the boat market isn't the same as cars and then went on for a while about how few sales there are because customers can't afford the big boats.
Absolute BULL.
Making claims like that imply your customers are stupid. Bottom line is that a sale is a sale whether it's a boat or a car. If one customer gets less but paid more, then he got a bad deal. His complaints about lack of sales are also totally invalid because it's overpricing that's killing his business, not a lack of willing customers.
I was out fishing in the Glades last week and I saw one Ranger, One Skeeter, and SEVEN Nitro's. Back at the ramp, I would strike up conversations with the owners and five of the Nitro owners credited the fact that buying a Nitro was much easier then buying other brands as one of the primary reasons for buying it. I know it's one of the reasons I chose to buy mine.
Lets compare:
Nitro: Prices are marked on the boats and website with shipping and freight included. There is no negotiation so you don't worry about the next guy getting a better deal. Most stuff is a-la-cart, and options are clearly marked. Boat build quality is good, but not great.
Most Other Brands: Prices are listed as "call us". Talking to different people gets you different price quotes. Getting an itemized pricing list is impossible. Negotiating is necessary, but often the same dealer that sells one boat, also sells its competitor so they know you'll have to go out of town (or state) to get a better deal. Hidden charges are everywhere. Boat build quality is usually great, though it varies greatly.
Honestly, the only thing that stops Nitro from dominating the industry is their bad rap, economy class build quality, and owner brand loyalty to other makes. Imagine what would happen if Nitro put $1000K more into their builds without charging more then a $1000 more per boat.
This isn't a personal whine session. I'm actually one of the few people who has worked hard enough in his life, and been blessed with enough good fortune, that I can afford a top of the line boat. It would make my finances tight. I choose not to do so for the same reason I've been successful; I don't overspend.
Bass boat companies need to keep their pricing check, or they will go the way of the Dodo.
Actually, here is a great video of Rick Clunn basically summing up my thoughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidE-Wkx0Gk
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidE-Wkx0Gk[/YOUTUBE]
After failing to learn their lesson, if boat manufactures go under, it's their own fault.
Bass boat manufactures got hit hard in economic downturn, but they did it to themselves. A mid 90s top-of-the-line bassboat cost about 30K. Now it's $60K. You can't tell me that a 21ft Bass boat costs TWICE as much to make now. I would grant you that with more stainless steel parts, composites instead of wood, and some additional labor it probably would cost about one-third more for the same hull. But not double. Not twice as much.
Now boat manufactures seem to be scrambling to come out with "value" boats, and yet, a year or two after their introduction the prices are right back up to ridiculous levels. I give credit to Nitro and Triton for keeping their value models prices in check. They haven't risen...much.
Part of the reason Phoenix was successful out of the gate was that they offered excellent quality at realistic prices. I wonder how long until a 721 creeps into the 60K to 70K price range.
Boat manufactures need to start paying attention. Banks are STILL not handing out loans like they used to. More fisherman are taking to Kayaks and muddy boots (shore fishing) then ever before. Sales will continue to fall because the sad truth is that most Americans who are fishing fans are going to either afford a house or a boat, but not both with today's pricing.
Dealers aren't helping the situation either. I read on that forum one member actually say that the guy who walks out with a base model boat for $35K didn't get ripped off when another customer walked out with a loaded model for $30K. He said the boat market isn't the same as cars and then went on for a while about how few sales there are because customers can't afford the big boats.
Absolute BULL.
Making claims like that imply your customers are stupid. Bottom line is that a sale is a sale whether it's a boat or a car. If one customer gets less but paid more, then he got a bad deal. His complaints about lack of sales are also totally invalid because it's overpricing that's killing his business, not a lack of willing customers.
I was out fishing in the Glades last week and I saw one Ranger, One Skeeter, and SEVEN Nitro's. Back at the ramp, I would strike up conversations with the owners and five of the Nitro owners credited the fact that buying a Nitro was much easier then buying other brands as one of the primary reasons for buying it. I know it's one of the reasons I chose to buy mine.
Lets compare:
Nitro: Prices are marked on the boats and website with shipping and freight included. There is no negotiation so you don't worry about the next guy getting a better deal. Most stuff is a-la-cart, and options are clearly marked. Boat build quality is good, but not great.
Most Other Brands: Prices are listed as "call us". Talking to different people gets you different price quotes. Getting an itemized pricing list is impossible. Negotiating is necessary, but often the same dealer that sells one boat, also sells its competitor so they know you'll have to go out of town (or state) to get a better deal. Hidden charges are everywhere. Boat build quality is usually great, though it varies greatly.
Honestly, the only thing that stops Nitro from dominating the industry is their bad rap, economy class build quality, and owner brand loyalty to other makes. Imagine what would happen if Nitro put $1000K more into their builds without charging more then a $1000 more per boat.
This isn't a personal whine session. I'm actually one of the few people who has worked hard enough in his life, and been blessed with enough good fortune, that I can afford a top of the line boat. It would make my finances tight. I choose not to do so for the same reason I've been successful; I don't overspend.
Bass boat companies need to keep their pricing check, or they will go the way of the Dodo.
Actually, here is a great video of Rick Clunn basically summing up my thoughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidE-Wkx0Gk
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hidE-Wkx0Gk[/YOUTUBE]