Malibu is Buying Cobalt

[NautiqueJeff]

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/2017/0...sletter-062817

[functionoverfashion]

From my time working at a marina, I felt like Cobalts were among the best-made sterndrive boats out there. I have no personal interest in them, but they seem very well made - even the old ones we'd see from the 80's were well done. If Malibu corporate can do good things with the brand, it seems like a smart move. But then right on the same page there's an article about how acquiring more brands didn't go well for Premier Pontoons. But they weren't acquiring other industry leaders, either.

[Phil8uga]

Interesting. I always felt Cobalt made a nice boat. Is this acquisition any different than Correct Craft purchasing the other boat mfg's they recently acquired? With all these acquisitions and the pressure to increase sales and capture market share hopefully the mfg's don't loose sight of quality.


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[blueroom]

Interesting. I thought they already owned them, or had some relationship. Isn't Cobalt the only company they licensed surf gat to?

[thtrog]

Interesting. I thought they already owned them, or had some relationship. Isn't Cobalt the only company they licensed surf gat to?

I believe Surf Gate is licensed to Chaparral.

[sfjakey]

Cobalt to me is the Nautique of sterndrive boats. Super high quality compared to anything else. Nautique would have been a much better marriage. I see the things getting worse for Cobalt based on what I've seen of Malibu lately.

[Evening Shade]

Cobalt to me is the Nautique of sterndrive boats. Super high quality compared to anything else. Nautique would have been a much better marriage. I see the things getting worse for Cobalt based on what I've seen of Malibu lately.

I agree. Like CC, Cobalt is privately owned, but not after the sale to Malibu. I guess at that point quarterly earnings will become more important than QC. Just my prediction.

[Neverenough]

Cobalt to me is the Nautique of sterndrive boats. Super high quality compared to anything else. Nautique would have been a much better marriage. I see the things getting worse for Cobalt based on what I've seen of Malibu lately.

Or it helps Malibu build a better boat? Cobalt and Formula to me are the "nautique" or stern boats... Well built and fit and finish is top notch

[Northcountry]

It will be interesting to see what happens. Does Malibu push Cobalt for better profit at the expense of quality. Will Malibu make multi line dealers only deal with their product (ie Cobalt dealers that carry Nautique or Mastercraft). Malibu can down hard on multi line dealers the last year or so. Boat industry is going the way of the car industry.

[xxrb2010]

It will be interesting to see what happens. Does Malibu push Cobalt for better profit at the expense of quality. Will Malibu make multi line dealers only deal with their product (ie Cobalt dealers that carry Nautique or Mastercraft). Malibu can down hard on multi line dealers the last year or so. Boat industry is going the way of the car industry.

That might be a good point, if they can deliver boats with as few issues as you find a brand new car nowadays

[Blamey]

I would've thought that Cobalt was a bigger company. I guess I always think of the sterndrive as mass market and the inboards as niche. Guess I don't really know much about the boat market.

[blueroom]

I believe Surf Gate is licensed to Chaparral.

Ahhh - I knew it was something like that.

[lucky7t]

Our dock sells Cobalts. They are super nice boats. Hope they keep that classy look instead of all that garb that Malibu puts on them

[72Miles]

Cobalt & Regal are the class of the sterndrives. IMO Nautique and maybe, maybe MC are the only wake boats that match them on cockpit quality and well-made feel. Hopefully Cobalt will influence Malibu on the quality scale, and not the other way around.