2012 Rumors?

[DanielC]

I got a funny feeling the word that will be used is "replace", not "repair".

[Shooter]

Byerly has such a distint style and brand identity. What would a Murray 230 look like?

I agree and I don't think the new Byerly looks like his style..I think the original nail it.. Murray also has a distinct style, but it has changed over the years. Murray's boat would be much more simple and I like that..sometimes less is more

[81nautique]

The Linc system may rock, but everybody was raving about the digital Teleflex gauges in model year 2000. We will see how much the Linc system, rocks a few years down the road.
By the way, the analog gauges still work on my 1997 Ski Nautique, (over 2360 hours) I have had no touchpad issues, (it has a normal switch, and a key) and I can read black letters, on a white gauge, in any angle of sun, with polarized sunglasses on. If a key switch malfunctions when I am on vacation, any normal key switch will keep my boat running, anywhere there is an auto parts store. I could also probably replace the gauges with any equivalent gage, also from the local auto parts store, to save a vacation.
The Airguide speedometers tell me how fast I am going, not how fast I was going, the last time it got a satellite fix. Sure, the pitot tube occasionally gets clogged, but it is an easy and simple fix to clear it.
I guess, like Chexi, I too am a luddite

Parts left off a boat cost nothing, and do not create service problems.

I browse here a bunch to try to keep up on the newer boats but don't post much since my current Correct Crafts are 30 and 57 years old but having a 200 Sport on order for this fall I recently went through the process of deciding whether to go analog or link. I share the same concerns as you and I originally spec'd the boat out as a Nautique edition (Analog) but by the time we added all the items that we needed back into the boat it just didn't make sense not to go with the Team package. There was little cost savings by trying to go analog and add options and we would have ended up with a model that would book value lower later down the road. One side of me says COOL we got all these new gadgets and tech but the other side is a little skeptical. Time will tell I guess but I feel like I did 22 years ago waiting in the delivery room for the first time.

[swc5150]

not to threadjack, but I was between 2011 sport 200, SAN 210, Sport 226, and 2011 wakesetter VLX. I love the nautiques, but the prices were just too high. I hate to hear that they are going up for 2012. For 8k cheaper than a SAN 210 I was able to pick up this malibu:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14006[/ATTACH]

I'm actually considering taking a drive to our Malibu dealer to see what an LXI is going for. My brother just ordered a 2012 200, and the pricing is now officially out of my range. At least I'll get use of his boat anytime:-)

[aarond0083]

I got a funny feeling the word that will be used is "replace", not "repair".

Which is perfectly fine by me. The computer/electronics in the 2012 boats are very simple in regards to the parts. Take a look at the picture I posted earlier in the thread comparing the 2011 vs 2012. If these parts need replacing in 10 or 15 years then so be it. The guys that dump on the LINC right way make me laugh. Do you think this is a new idea? It is for wake boats but mini yachts, high end sport fishing boats, cruisers, etc have used these types of systems for years in salt water conditions. The company that makes the LINC for Nautique was doing it long before and I'm sure they know what they are doing, else Nautique wouldn't have chose them.

[BroncoSki]

The Linc system has had no problems from what I understand. I can see it at all angles in the sun and I love the fact that it has an OBD-II built in to show any code that the engine may be signalling. I was skeptical at first because of the look not the function. And as for the "replace" part, I agree with you 100%. The speed control volume is pretty darn cool. The keyless entry is, well, like high speed internet. Once you get it than there is no going back. Ive used it since 07 and never had one problem. The only issue I have seen with the linc system are water spots. Very similar to spots on analog gauges. You have to keep the screen nice and clean and once you get spots they are difficult to get off.

Although they did have problems with the keyless initially 05-06, they have resolved the issue 6+ years ago.

There are deals out there on used 200's you just have to canvass a little bit and know what you want. I believe we will see the prices come back a bit in the near future. Definitely if they start building more than 6-7 boats a day. 13 boats a day and we may be at $45-50 for a team edition again

[jeepn]

Which is perfectly fine by me. The computer/electronics in the 2012 boats are very simple in regards to the parts. Take a look at the picture I posted earlier in the thread comparing the 2011 vs 2012. If these parts need replacing in 10 or 15 years then so be it. The guys that dump on the LINC right way make me laugh. Do you think this is a new idea? It is for wake boats but mini yachts, high end sport fishing boats, cruisers, etc have used these types of systems for years in salt water conditions. The company that makes the LINC for Nautique was doing it long before and I'm sure they know what they are doing, else Nautique wouldn't have chose them.

these are not electronics you can go pick up at any store. i would much rather have to replace an analog gauge any day.

[Chexi]

If the quantity demanded increases such that CC must build 13 a day to meet that demand, I would expect the price to go up not down.

[BroncoSki]

Their goal is 13 a day and they would be very happy with that number. Right now they are forced to raise prices because their output is so low(6-7 a day). Not too long ago they were building only 3 boats a day. They have to maintain their margins and unfortunately the loyal CC customer(ugh, myself) is paying the price. If they have more demand for the product at a lower price they will build more and lower the price. Right now the demand is not there. Its the age old quandary of do you build less at a higher price point or build more at a lower price point. Faced with Mastercraft and Malibu doing the ladder and flooding the market CC will be forced to respond by lowering there prices if the current trend continues

[aarond0083]

Their goal is 13 a day and they would be very happy with that number. Right now they are forced to raise prices because their output is so low(6-7 a day). Not too long ago they were building only 3 boats a day. They have to maintain their margins and unfortunately the loyal CC customer(ugh, myself) is paying the price. If they have more demand for the product at a lower price they will build more and lower the price. Right now the demand is not there. Its the age old quandary of do you build less at a higher price point or build more at a lower price point. Faced with Mastercraft and Malibu doing the ladder and flooding the market CC will be forced to respond by lowering there prices if the current trend continues

+1

[NCH2oSki]

Their goal is 13 a day and they would be very happy with that number. Right now they are forced to raise prices because their output is so low(6-7 a day). Not too long ago they were building only 3 boats a day. They have to maintain their margins and unfortunately the loyal CC customer(ugh, myself) is paying the price. If they have more demand for the product at a lower price they will build more and lower the price. Right now the demand is not there. Its the age old quandary of do you build less at a higher price point or build more at a lower price point. Faced with Mastercraft and Malibu doing the ladder and flooding the market CC will be forced to respond by lowering there prices if the current trend continues

Just a word about market flooding- MC is guilty, but Malibu is only building to order, no spec boats are being made, unless things have changed very recently. I'm glad to see MBu beat MC out with a new 3 event boat, its nice to have more to choose from. I'm a loyal cc guy, and waiting for the used price of the 200's to come down so I can afford one, that is one sweet machine.

[tdc_worm]

Their goal is 13 a day and they would be very happy with that number. Right now they are forced to raise prices because their output is so low(6-7 a day). Not too long ago they were building only 3 boats a day. They have to maintain their margins and unfortunately the loyal CC customer(ugh, myself) is paying the price. If they have more demand for the product at a lower price they will build more and lower the price. Right now the demand is not there. Its the age old quandary of do you build less at a higher price point or build more at a lower price point. Faced with Mastercraft and Malibu doing the ladder and flooding the market CC will be forced to respond by lowering there prices if the current trend continues

if i read this correctly, your assertion is that demand is down, resulting in increased prices? raising prices off of that alone would further narrow the market, resulting in even less demand. i suspect that not to be the case. the price increases, which are not exclusive to this year or last year or the year before, are related to inflation in cost of components and profit margin.

now if you are saying that the profitability volume needed to maintain and grow their business is 13 per day, i am sure that is based upon the overhead associated with a healthy market (i.e. personnel, parts on hand, electricity, etc). when demand goes down, all of those overhead items are reduced, bringing the boats per day down needed to reach the aforementioned profitability volume down along with it.

at lease that is the way it works in every other business i have been associated with....you grow fat during healthy times and lean when the market turns another direction....

[BroncoSki]

These arent my assertions. This is the info I obtain from one of the executives over at CC with a chief in his title. You hit the nail on the head. They have raised their prices when demand was down. This maintains profitability. Basically, they are counting on the die-hard CC fan(all of us) to pay more for the boats they love and they have turned into a build-your-boat-to-order manufacturer. This protects their brand value. They would like to distance themselves from MC and Malibu and be known as the "Mercedes" of the inboard/v-drive market. If the market picks up and they go back to "lets build 13 boats a day" because we can get away with it, then my guess is that we will see prices come back to us. How many people here that would normally be buyers of the ski 200 are sitting on the sidelines because the 200 is priced out of there league? They are watching the market very closely and are aware of what the others are doing in terms building.

I get the 13 boats a day from a few things: the last facility could support building 12 boats a day max. Thats it. The new shop they were building 13 a day when they were booming around 06-7ish. They would LOVE to get back to those levels(13 boats a day). They are still profitable now building 6-7 boats a day but they have had to raise their prices to do so. They have had to raise their prices to maintain profitability in a down market to protect their margin. When demand increases, we may see the price come back some.

Also, look for more colors of metal flake to be out soon if not already. Its a nice revenue stream from what I am told and I was told that new colors are on the way.

I know Im new here but let me say that I love CC. I have a dozen or so friends that have probably 250 years of collective experience with the company. from boat builders all the way up to a top executive level fraternity brother. I use the information I get to try and determine one thing: WHEN WILL THE PRICES COME BACK TO A REASONABLE LEVEL. Now, I also leverage my friendships to get perks like skiing behind the 200 when there were only two built in the prototype phase. I knew then that boat was something special and I love it. I was lucky enough to find a used team with the same color patterns as the prototype that I skied behind: gun metal flake deck/gun metal flake front and white back stripe with a red bottom along with 55 hours for 43,5.

NCH20Ski, I have property in Vonore,TN on the Telico reserve and am up a few times a year. May I ask if I could come out and ski with you guys when Im up there? I certainly would enjoy hanging getting some pulls in while on leave from home. I love it up there!

[swc5150]

Great point bronco: I'm one of the sidelined 200 buyers. I just think of when I paid in the low $30's for a brand new '06 196, now it's almost double in 5 years. My salary didn't keep up with that inflation.

[jdarwin]

Just a word about market flooding- MC is guilty, but Malibu is only building to order, no spec boats are being made, unless things have changed very recently. I'm glad to see MBu beat MC out with a new 3 event boat, its nice to have more to choose from. I'm a loyal cc guy, and waiting for the used price of the 200's to come down so I can afford one, that is one sweet machine.

I wouldn't say MC is guilty of flooding the market. They build NO spec boats. They have to borrow the money to build each boat. A 10% deposit is required before production and the boat must be paid in full before it leaves the factory. Therefore, I don't see them flooding the market.

Malibu's "new" 3-event boat is in name only. I've driven the boat - floats around just like last year's LXI. The wakes at slower speeds have been improved slightly but at the expense of handling. MC's new boat will be out in 2013. Somewhat shorter and narrower and options will be modular in nature.

And, if the 10% price increase by CC holds, that will take a stripped SN200 over $50k (promo price). MC's will be $7-8k less and more economical to own.