New Boat Prices

[RonT]

People ask me all the time why ski boats are priced so high compared to "the good old days" . We went to the New Orleans boat show (Susan thinks a pontoon boat would be nice to have) a 22' pontoon with 50hp is over 25K!!! ski boats over 60K. After here are a few reasons & observations from an old fart:
Raw materials: double in 15 years, resin is oil based, remember what gas cost in the 90's
Gov't regulation compliance: new MACT standards for composite builders, new catalytic converters for engines, new fuel vent systems ect....

Could I build a "new Advance" & what would it cost....yes, and it would need to sell for 35K given the above mentioned cost factors, would it sell?? Doubtful,  I see todays buyers expecting alot more in a boat than what our old Advance offered: Exotic (expensive) towers, touch screen dash panels, illuminated cup holders, 400+ HP, wake plates, ballast systems, expensive windshields, power this, power that, mega stereos. A 2000 Advance in stock form weighed 2100# the 2012 ski boat that I just finished engineering a prototype drive in,  weighed over 3500# without upholstery or engine & drivetrain!! Remember weight cost $$$

Some bad news: Technology is neat, & Some of it I really like, however I am seeing something that disturbs me. Apparently to stay competitive some builders are going backward by using "less expensive" raw materials where the consumer doesn't look. I was shocked & pxpx-off when I discovered wood stringers & floors in a new ski boat! Every pontoon boat in the N.O. Show had a plywood floor, a manufacturers rep (last day of the show) told my wife she was the only person all week who looked under the deck to look at the floor material. I just grinned when she asked about it & he replied " well on our more expensive models we sheet the underside with aluminium skin over the wood"  Susan's reply "so it can trap moisture??

Comfort Thoughts: If teaching the kids or grand-kids to ski, or any other water sport activity is the goal, a boat mortgage  isn't required. Justifying reconditioning an older ski boat is better now than ever. No matter who does the work, DIY or professional, having a restored ski boat makes sense for alot of people who just want to have fun.

[kahunadon72]

The MB rep at the Seattle show told me something similar.  Wake boats (v-drives) are what's selling right now, not ski boats.  For them to spin up the Boss 190 molds again it would bring it to market at a 65k price point and it just didn't make good business sense for them to do that.  If Malibu would spin up their entry-level Sportster line again I know several slalom skiers that would be all over it, but the price-point would need to be reasonable/affordable.

[ccspud]

 I SELL NEW AND USED NAUTIQUES (DONT SHOOT ME ....)

I AGREE...NEW BOATS ARE OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE

WE JUST SOLD 230 NAUTIQUE $105,000 TO RICH MY BLOOD.......I AM WAITING FOR THE LOTTERY
BUT IT IS A BEUTIFUL BOAT

HO HUM.............. SOME DAY

SPUD

[backfoot100]

If Malibu would spin up their entry-level Sportster line again I know several slalom skiers that would be all over it, but the price-point would need to be reasonable/affordable.

Put a 383 Hammerhead motor in that and it could seriously challenge Sanger for a very sweet barefoot boat.

[kahunadon72]

Put a 383 Hammerhead motor in that and it could seriously challenge Sanger for a very sweet barefoot boat.

Kinda like this one:

Aqua Addicts World Record 11 Barefooters Behind Inboard

[phil]

Awesome!! 11 Footers, what kind of motor is in that bad boy?

[kahunadon72]

Awesome!! 11 Footers, what kind of motor is in that bad boy?

No idea but its the video my Sportster owning ski-buddy touts for "Sporty power."  Definitely a cool video - I would like to see how they all got up and where their ropes are attached.

[Joel]

Looks like they all dropped a ski... or two...   Still, pulling up eleven people and getting fast enough to foot is pretty tough to do for most ski boats!   

[Smitty]

I went to the Indy Boat and Travel show yesterday and was absolutely disgusted.  Every Nautique was well over $100k.  Even the 200.  They had back lit cup holders.  For Pete's Sake, who the hell needs a cup holder with lights?  The towers are at least $10K to $20K of the total cost.  Trailers are out of control with custom wheels and LED lights stretching from hitch to the tail. 

I know that Ron and Dan will agree with me that the Olthof's old Yellow and White Colbalt was the best "Wake" boat we ever saw on any lake.  And that boat was no more than $20K retail. 

There are no performance reviews.  No construction criteria.  No comparisons to other competitors.  Everyone seems to be in a rush to see "how much the market can bare."  Honestly, the only boat that even caught my attention was a new Chris Craft.  Even that was $125K.  I'm not sure what has happened to this market, but I would never by new.  Absolutely never.  I got my '05 Mastercraft with 60 hours for $28.5K and its has everything anyone would ever need to ski, wakeboard, tube, or just cruize. 

So my friends, take care of what you got.  Rebuild, restore, or just relove what ya got. 

[Joel]

Smitty,   That is the plan...  and the reason this website exists!!!   $100K... Wow...  simply amazing and not in a good way