Pleasanton, CA Boat Show

[DanielC]

Having worked for a Correct Craft dealer, and setting up boat shows, you have no idea of the amount of work, time, and money involved to do it,

I do not think in this economy people go to a boat show, and make a quick decision to buy something that is only second in their house in the amount of financial outlay.

Yes, I have seen people buy boats at a boat show. I have also heard of some of those deals falling through.

The boat show I have helped set up for many times happened right after New Years Day. That means we were planning for the boat show in December, deposits were paid before that, and as Christmas approached, we spent time at the shop getting stuff ready to move, sometimes even working on Christmas eve. One day off for Christmas, and on Dec 26, start moving everything into the exhibition hall. After getting the boats there, start to clean the boats, because if we were lucky, it was only rain and road grime thrown on the boats. Other times we moved boats through snow, and the additional road grime caused by the sand and other chemicals put on the roads. And at the end of the show, expose the boats and trailers again to the crap on the road. One year, because of the snow and grime, and difficulty of driving, about the only people at the boat show was the dealers themselves. The exhibition hall was actually closed on of the scheduled days of the boat show. No refund for the reduced exposure, just closed.

Boat dealers are not really making a lot of money, no matter how much profit you think there is in the MSRP. Open your eyes, and look around. There are a lot fewer boat dealers than even a few years ago.

Boat shows are a huge expense for the boat dealers, and boat dealers are a business. Those costs have to be justified. Very rarely does a boat show sell enough to pay for the time and effort required to be there.

[BKinSoCal]

We bought our boat from CCC.

When I called CC last week they told me M20 Marine in San Diego was my closest dealer.

Is Sun Country not a done deal yet?

Sun Country is a done deal. They are located in Ontario. Based on where you live, you may be closer to San Diego.

Pete Carillo from CCC is now working for Sun Country. They needed Pete because he knows Nautiques and none of their sales people could probably spell it, let alone sell it.

Also, just as an FYI, Mack and Eddie from CCC are still in business. They changed the name of the company, obviously since they are no longer selling CC, but they are still performing service on them. I don't know if there is a better CC mechanic in SoCal than Eddie.

[Mikeski]

If Northern California was an important market to Correct Craft they would be this show or the Cal Expo show, neither are on the list so that tells you about CC's interest in selling boats around here.

[DanielC]

When I was working at a Correct Craft dealer a few years ago, we got help from West Coast Correct Craft. Exactly how much, and in what form, i do not know, but we did have people from the regional service center, and the CC factory helping during the boat show.
I am pretty sure WCCC made there presence known at boat shows in California.

The regional service centers are now gone. There is obviously no help from them, for boat shows.

[BKinSoCal]

If Northern California was an important market to Correct Craft they would be this show or the Cal Expo show, neither are on the list so that tells you about CC's interest in selling boats around here.

I think they are interested, but only if it's on someone else's dime.

[2gofaster]

I definitely have an idea of the time, effort and money involved as that's what we've been doing for 5 solid days for the Houston International Boat show starting tomorrow morning. We have 300 man hours invested this week in just set up, not to mention all the work over the prior 6 weeks. That said, the number of boats needed for us to breakeven is small. We should break even by end of day Saturday. But we are not selling $20k boats. We sell high end stuff. Even the pontoon boats cost $40-50k. Between Nautiques, Mastercraft, Harris, and Crownline, we expect to sell between 40 and 50 boats over the next 9 days. Last year, in a MUCH tougher economy 37 boats were sold during the show.

[krt]

We bought our boat from CCC.

When I called CC last week they told me M20 Marine in San Diego was my closest dealer.

Is Sun Country not a done deal yet?

Great folks at M2O marine!

[AirTool]

I definitely have an idea of the time, effort and money involved as that's what we've been doing for 5 solid days for the Houston International Boat show starting tomorrow morning. We have 300 man hours invested this week in just set up, not to mention all the work over the prior 6 weeks. That said, the number of boats needed for us to breakeven is small. We should break even by end of day Saturday. But we are not selling $20k boats. We sell high end stuff. Even the pontoon boats cost $40-50k. Between Nautiques, Mastercraft, Harris, and Crownline, we expect to sell between 40 and 50 boats over the next 9 days. Last year, in a MUCH tougher economy 37 boats were sold during the show.

I visit the HBS almost every year and have so since Jan 1992. I will have to say that last year Dockside had one of the "best" set ups I've seen. They had many boats from various sectors.....well organized and situated but not so crowded to feel congested. There were plenty of reps there...but not buzzards. They were all friendly, knowledgeable, etc. IIRC, they had prices on the boats. (some vendors don't...especially the higher priced ones)

It seemed to me like they knew what to do to close some deals on boats. One trick might be to figure out who is there killing time, who is stopping by your booth but really at the show for something else, and who has the bug and decided they were going to buy one before they left their house.

I have to admit....after the 2006 winter show, I stewed over a new Moomba. After the show, I kept inching my used boat budget up to a point I could get a new boat instead of used. The factory rep had laid out a pretty nice program. I remember some fixed (and large) "x" percent off MSRP plus like 5G of options. Before the summer show, I "built" one on the website and had a print folded up in my pocket. I stopped at the Moomba site to talk to the same factory rep (and order one). I asked what promos he had and the answer was something like "no promos, the dealer decides the price, and everything is selling for list." I complained and he told me "I couldn't touch any other new boat in the show for less than yadda yadda more than yadda yadda...and moombas was the only company that yadda yadda" I told him I could get a one or two year old nautique in his price range and have a better boat. His eyes got big and I walked away.

The point is that the dealer gets opportunities and should be able to close some deals if they play their cards right. Shane's explanation is proof.

[Shooter]

Wow, CCC was my local dealer and this is the first I have heard they went under. I knew they were hurting, but I felt they were a good dealer and thought they would make it. I'm not in the industry, but it sounds like CC is not giving much support to its valued dealers.

[2gofaster]

I'm not in the industry, but it sounds like CC is not giving much support to its valued dealers.

Absolutely NOT true! Bill Yeargin even flew in to Houston this week to make sure things were going well prior to the show.

[BKinSoCal]

Wow, CCC was my local dealer and this is the first I have heard they went under. I knew they were hurting, but I felt they were a good dealer and thought they would make it. I'm not in the industry, but it sounds like CC is not giving much support to its valued dealers.

It isn't that they went under, it's that CC took the Nautique line from them because they couldn't order 10 boats and keep them on hand. They actually had 12-15 people ready to buy new Nautiques last year (small number in comparison to prior years where it was closer to 60-80), but since they wouldn't place "stocking orders", CC did not allow them to sell them. I don't know if the customers went to M20 or bought other brands. But in signing Sun Country, the day they signed the contract, Sun Country also ordered 10-12 boats. Sun Country is a very large dealership with deep pockets. They have the financial wear-withal to endure this economy and sell some boats. I just hope they devote the resources to provide the superior service we had at CCC. They don't even have a mechanic trained on how to work on Nautiques at this point, let alone any other inboards.

CCC is now Green House Marine. Eddie and Mack are still there. They are still servicing Nautiques, along with all other inboards and I/O's. They also have picked up Centurion which is now using PCM. It's not a Nautique by any means, but they are happy to have a line using PCM.

From what I have heard from various sources, the CA boat market has dried up more than most in the country, where markets like TX are exploding. I believe the crash of our housing and job markets were more substantial than most and I think that has played a large role in it. I know the economy has hit hard around the country and has effected everyone in one way or the other.

[wake_fun]

From what I have heard from various sources, the CA boat market has dried up more than most in the country, where markets like TX are exploding. I believe the crash of our housing and job markets were more substantial than most and I think that has played a large role in it. I know the economy has hit hard around the country and has effected everyone in one way or the other.

That's the problem right there..........everyone's living in houses that are worth half of what they paid, hard to find jobs.....etc.

[Shooter]

Thanks for the info BK. That's disappointing to hear. I think that qualifies as cc not supporting a dealer I used and like. You would think cc could work with them until the boat market recovered. I looked at suncountry's web site and it looks like they deal in pontoons & yachts. So much for buying a nautique because of a trusted local dealer.

[BKinSoCal]

Thanks for the info BK. That's disappointing to hear. I think that qualifies as cc not supporting a dealer I used and like. You would think cc could work with them until the boat market recovered. I looked at suncountry's web site and it looks like they deal in pontoons & yachts. So much for buying a nautique because of a trusted local dealer.

I actually sent an email to Bill Yeargin when I started hearing rumors of Sun Country getting the Nautique line. I told him they were making a mistake based on the reputation Sun Country has in SoCal. He essentially told me they needed to do what was best for their business.

I was sorry to see it happen and it could change some things for Nautique in the SoCal landscape. I hope Sun Country disproves the reputation and does a fantastic job.

But I will still be taking my boat to Eddie and Mack to have all service done, no matter what happens with Sun Country because I know Eddie is the man when it comes to working on Nautiques!

[wetfoot]

I spoke to Mac at Greenhouse Marine & have an appointment for my annual service this coming Saturday while I wait.