My 12 month contract ended in 2001 with the Elan owners, it was a very mutual departure, I was being forced to reduce cost by materials reduction, labor reduction, to offset massive new overhead expenses by elan. I did not want be associated with anything elan as everything they did was contradictory to what American Skier stood for. There is a fella in Canada with a 2005 model who I had built a boat for in the 80s, he thought he was getting similar quality. In his words "biggest mistake I have ever made, boat is literally falling apart with each hour we try to use it" Here is some very basic model year info from my perspective:
2001 models, good, built in Kentwood
2002 models, early date codes ok, later begins the problems, vendors not getting paid, alternate suppliers being used, experienced laminators replaced with non-exp. still in Kentwood
2003 models, most vendors are now gone or cod, upholstery supplier told to reduce their cost by 25% (so they starting using lower grade materials) Marine Power stops supplying "Blue Thunder" series engines & only supplies a basic, heavier, engine after being pre-paid. Employees are calling me a home wanting to know how to wire the boats, where to reinforce with laminates, nobody left in the shop with any ski boat building experience.
2004-05 models, elan moves most of the tooling & materials 50 miles east to a small building in covington La., abandons the rest (still there today) they try to put together maybe 5-10 boats over these two years, about 5 of these owners have found me for help, I could write a book on the horror stories from these final owners. From footprints in the gelcoat, to used engines, jet ski parts, and absolutely no support from elan.
I looked at the Ebay 2003 boat online, IF YOU ARE VERY MECHANICAL & BOAT SMART, IT MAY BE A GREAT DEAL FOR UNDER 15K.
