Death of the 196... and CC?

[OldFart]

Unknown to many is that markets OUTside the good ole USA exists a strong 196 following. Yank the stern seat, drop in "gerry cans" & customers buy a ride. I once heard overseas is the top selling 196 market? over midwest!

[SGY]

Richard, you won't regret getting the 206. It brings a smile to my face everytime. By the same token, if I had a 02 196, I would be very happy with that boat as well--especially if it were paid off.

[mgaspence]

I have a 210 and sometimes wish I could have the 196. My kids wakeboard. The 210 is just so killer and turns like a formula one car. But I grew up slalom skiing, and you just can't get the 210 wake flat enough. It's good at 32 - 34, but for the slalom purest I agree the 196 can't be beat. Maybe someday I'll pick up a used one as a second boat for me and my wife and let the kids take care of the 210.

[BASC]

Here in the UK you don't see many Open Bow tournament boats. Our lakes are not that big so you don't need the space to carry all your gear, family and friends you just leave them in the club house.
A friend ran one during 2003/04, and having driven him a fair bit in the colder months I'm glad he 'came into line' for this year, when driving... it's a lot warmer.

[M3Fan]

Ok, ok, ok... achem, maybe this is actually ALL just a silly topic. Consider this. Is the market of DD hardcore slalom skiers SO SMALL that the big 3 could really give a hoot who likes what brand? If we take off the "slalom boat/skier" goggles and look at the full picture, are we so small that our little brand loyalty BS is a laugh to the manufacturers because we only make up like 10% of sales?

[AbunDiga909]

From an economic point of view, maybe... But what I think is more important is the image that is created when you see such a small number of people stay extremely loyal to one company, knowing that it doesn't matter to them. Its that if they don't count and are still loyal is when the real quality and pride of a company is shown.

[MARTHO]

From an economic point of view, maybe... But what I think is more important is the image that is created when you see such a small number of people stay extremely loyal to one company, knowing that it doesn't matter to them. Its that if they don't count and are still loyal is when the real quality and pride of a company is shown.

Economics are all the previous poster was referring to by saying 10% of sales.

If I read your sentence above correctly, you are saying money doesn't matter because image is more important than money. Also, you're saying it is cool that the customers are buying a boat the manufacturer doesnt care about because they are loyal? Finally, the customer doesnt count and the manufacturer knowing this is where the manufacturer's quality and pride is shown?

I am LOST!

[Nautiqueman]

It doesn't cost that much more to go 1st Class. So how long are we all going to live? May as well own one thing in this world that is the very best quality a man or woman at the CC factory can build. The real test is how good it is after 10 or 15 years of use. Your total cost of ownership over the years is what is to be considered. I have not lost 1 day of use in my CC's in the past 15 years due to a mechanical problem. My buddy that cannot see any difference in Malibu or CC, however had to be towed in the 1st 30 days of ownership by my new 196. I was pretty proud to help out a new Malibu owner pulling him in with my new SKI Nautique.

[AbunDiga909]

MARTHO, let me rephrase. I am not sure what extent the 10% of the 196 customers matter to the company from a financial point of view. Meaning I'm sure it would be a much larger loss to CC if they lost all of their 211 and 210 customers than all of their 196 customers, or maybe not, I don't know... its obviously not that large a margin otherwise it would be more well-known.

However, what is still important, important enough to take into consideration, is that the owners of 196's especially are so loyal to CC that it creates a great image for the company. When a company has this loyal customers, it makes the company look high in quality and highly respected. This gives CC the ability to be the only company known for this great a reputation for the 196 type of boat.

Now the image the 196 creates is not the whole source of where CC get's its great rep, but it is a source that is not found in other companies. Therefore, as a company, CC should try extremely hard to keep the 196 alive to keep the customers and their loyalty, and the image of the company that comes along with it... Make sense??

[Hollywood]

... Make sense??

No.

[M3Fan]

It doesn't cost that much more to go 1st Class. So how long are we all going to live? May as well own one thing in this world that is the very best quality a man or woman at the CC factory can build. The real test is how good it is after 10 or 15 years of use. Your total cost of ownership over the years is what is to be considered. I have not lost 1 day of use in my CC's in the past 15 years due to a mechanical problem. My buddy that cannot see any difference in Malibu or CC, however had to be towed in the 1st 30 days of ownership by my new 196. I was pretty proud to help out a new Malibu owner pulling him in with my new SKI Nautique.

This is exactly the type of post I was trying to avoid hearing when I wrote this.

[Separator]

MARTHO, let me rephrase. I am not sure what extent the 10% of the 196 customers matter to the company from a financial point of view.

What data do you have that makes you think it only involves 10% for the 196?

[SGY]

M3Fan. I see you have a 97 SN on the way. Congrats. Let's see some pics when you get it.

Nautiqueman, towing a new Bu in during the first 30 days doesn't mean diddly. I bet there have been plenty of new 04 Nautiques towed in with bogus fuel pumps. Quality wise, I believe all top manufacturers are very close. They mostly differ now in ideology in how to build boats. For example, CC takes heat from others because they use a Chopper gun. On the other hand, CC states chopper gun application is a more uniform and therefore better process than hand laying. Sure, CC still uses more expensive components like PCM trannys, thicker glass, AME 5000, etc etc. Some explanation for the higher cost. But the gap is closing. There's also the notion that CC overkills the build process (which I don't subscribe too.) But does anyone really think that BU or MC builds an inferior boat--at the margin--anymore?

[SGY]

Abun, many times such extreme pride of ownership comes off as arrogance. I've run into this attitude many times and I've been guilty of it myself. There is a fine line between fierce loyalty and blind arrogance. I don't think the latter helps CC in their sales. It's offputting to some--especially when compared to a more flexible attitude towards other products.

Remember, we're talking about an engine surrounded by fiberglass.

[AbunDiga909]

... Make sense??

No.

Sorry

What data do you have that makes you think it only involves 10% for the 196?

I was responding to M3Fan's question when he said "...because we only make up like 10% of sales?" If I misunderstood that part that's my mad...

Abun, many times such extreme pride of ownership comes off as arrogance. I've run into this attitude many times and I've been guilty of it myself. There is a fine line between fierce loyalty and blind arrogance. I don't think the latter helps CC in their sales. It's offputting to some--especially when compared to a more flexible attitude towards other products.

Remember, we're talking about an engine surrounded by fiberglass.

Arrogance is negative contribution, pride is positive contribution. I agree with what you say but I only remember talking about pride specifically. Whether someone crosses the line into the arrogant catagory is another issue and that is subjective. I was only talking about how the positive pride could contribute to the company.