CC production numbers

[skinautique]

Guys,

I have no real numbers on financial aspects or units per model. I do know that the 211 is the largest seller in the line up. Beyond that, I don't know.

I don't understand why people are angry about CC getting a patent on the "idea" of a wakeboard tower. If you were the one that came up with it and could collect royalty on it, I am sure you would! I know I would! But if anyone honestly thinks that a company could live off the funds of a tower royalty, I think they are crazy. The expenses to run that business are astronomical. Again, I have no numbers but start to think about it from electricity, to salary, shipping trucks, to materials, to insurance and on and on.

If you want to hear a wild one as far as someone getting royalties, and this is only a rumor:

Banana Man George Blair came up with the idea of hospitals taking a photo of every new born baby and for this, he gets a royalty for every picture taken at every hospital of every new born kid.

Again it is rumor but could very well be true.

[redelf75]

I wasn't realy targeting BU, if Tige or some other company deserves the credit. and I have no idea who first invented the wing or took a patent out on it. My point was to elicit a discussion on CC's tacktic to avoid copying others when possible. As far the real numbers go, I'll bet not even the dealers know them. And I agree that CC would probably be honored to be associated with those car manufactures, but would not want to see their market share decrease any further.

[bkhallpass]

Hey Ski Nautique.

Fair enough. No anger here. Again, I think it was brilliant to patent the tower. I also know they aren't making a living on the patent. Still, I have been told that the tower royalties are significant, and were helpful in covering the costs of the new factory. BKH

[Quinner]

If you want to hear a wild one as far as someone getting royalties, and this is only a rumor:

Banana Man George Blair came up with the idea of hospitals taking a photo of every new born baby and for this, he gets a royalty for every picture taken at every hospital of every new born kid.

Again it is rumor but could very well be true.

Banana George is great guy, but I am going with "sell it", sounds like a rumor to me.

Who is angry at CC for the tower patent, besides me who didn't think of it first!

[boatech]

Re: CC production numbers

Why does CC refuse to release production numbers?

In the WaterSki mag tests, almost all manufacturers had the number of boat producted last year posted. The only ones that withheld those numbers were the smaller niche builders.

Is CC ashamed of how few boats they built last year?

Does CC want to be viewed as a niche builder?

they think they are above and beyond the rest wich they are not but they like to think it. why wont they submit to boattest.com and go head to head with other brands. becuase they will get killed in some tests thats why and then they would have to eat some crow and they are to proud for that.they dont want side by side proof that other companys build equal boats an educated boat buyers will no longer overpay for the name.

[redelf75]

Re: CC production numbers

If true, sounds like another good business decision by CC and wouldn't be the first company to do so.

WIthout pointing any fingers....why does anyone think that CC should pay to have their boats compared to the competition's? If a magazine wants to print a comparison, they can buy their own boat. CC relies on their dealer network, some print advertising, sponsorship and word of mouth to sell their boats. Till now, that has been enough. Why do more?

[SGY]

RE: Re: CC production numbers

Boatech. I think the days of CC being "above and beyond the rest" in terms of build quality and pricing are history. Whether or not CC's decision to pare down their participation in WS mag's "buyer's guide" has anything to do with a fear of comparision is speculation. I prefer to speculate that CC has joined the rest of the world in deciding the "buyers guide" is worthless. Perhaps CC thinks that because the "buyers guide" is so watered down, it puts their product on the same level as other product they believe to be inferior.

How is CC, their dealers, or loyal customers any different than MC or Bu, their dealers, or loyal customers? They all believe their product to be superior.

[redelf75]

Re: RE: Re: CC production numbers

I think the days of CC being "above and beyond the rest" in terms of build quality and pricing are history.

Agreed.

[ag4ever]

RE: Re: RE: Re: CC production numbers

Ski,

I don't think anybody is upset of the tower patent (except the other manufacturers).

I just don't understand why they keep some information so close to the chest. It will be interesting how CC's marketing changes now that they have the capacity to make more boats than they can sell.

I know at my dealer, I just got an invitation to a 2006 boat blowout, cut rate prices on all 2006 boats still in stock. Sounds like they are not selling all the boats they are making. Heck, my '02 was a left over boat that I bought in Oct. of '02 at a good discount. if I could convince the wife that i really need a 196, i would see if my dealer had a still in stock 196, but she just won't let me.

[SGY]

RE: Re: RE: Re: CC production numbers

ag4ever, just keep working on her. She'll wear down after time.

Boatech, I took a look at boattest.com. The only inboard on there I saw was Tige'. The rest are Colbalt, Chris Craft, Bayliner, Glastron and FourWinns. Am I missing something? Where are they testing Bu, MC, etc?

[boatech]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: CC production numbers

ag4ever, just keep working on her. She'll wear down after time.

Boatech, I took a look at boattest.com. The only inboard on there I saw was Tige'. The rest are Colbalt, Chris Craft, Bayliner, Glastron and FourWinns. Am I missing something? Where are they testing Bu, MC, etc?

YEAH WIERD THEY NOT UNDER SKI/WAKEBOARD BUT IF YOU SEARCH BY BRAND NAME MC/BU ARE THERE. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I TOOK A LOOK AT IT

[NAWTEAK]

i agree with ski nautique. no way they could run that business off tower royalties. what is their turnover? $40-50m?

it would be a nice little cash earner for them. if only they could patent the wakeboard boat too?

[skinautique]

Very interesting that you guys don't think CC is above the competition in terms of quality. I just researched all of the boat manufacturers: CC, MC X 15 and X 1, Malibu Wakesetter 23 and Wakesetter VLX, Tige RZ2, Supra Launch 20 SSV, and Moomba.

HUGE DIFFERENCES! One of the worst was Malibu. They look awesome to the eye at first but just start looking under cushions and such.

Tige lacks storage and the fit and finish is horrible. Not to mention all of the glare on the windshield from the colored padded vinyl dash.

Supra was way under powered, took over 20 minutes to fill the sacks.

MC had a ton of bow rise, the tower flexed like crazy from side to side, the bow wind block rattled like crazy, there was no access to below the floor on the X 15 (what happens if there is a problem with a gas tank sender or a damaged fin?)

Also, you can't get in the boat via the side because of the position of the towers. You have to enter over the sun deck or from the back or front of the boat.

Am I saying CC is perfect?? No but they are a lot further than some of these other companies. There is no doubt about it!

If I had to rank the companies in terms of build quality, it would be CC, Centurion, MC and then down from there.

[bkhallpass]

i agree with ski nautique. no way they could run that business off tower royalties.

???? Who said anything about running the business on royalties? It was suggested that the royalties may be sufficient to cover the cost of building the factory. Nothing more. BKH

[SGY]

BKH, you beat me to it.

Skinautique, what I said is based on opinion formed from riding in, digging around in, and skiing behind several 196s, several RLXi's and several MC 197's. I just spend a few hours helping a buddy replace a steering cable in his 2003 RLXi. What I noted were several nicely thought out construction techniques. I think Malibu is very innovative in terms of doing things. I don't know why they still have hallow stringers but am sure they have their own theories on how to build a boat. The same is true with MC. The 2006 MC promo 197 that I've been in is the quietest and smoothest inboard I've been in--including my cherry 196. The tranny on that thing is whisper quiet and the boat exudes quality. Had I thought about it more carefully, back in May of this year, I should have given serious thought to buying THAT boat. It's as nice as my 196 and would have saved me 2200 miles traveling to Angola to pick up my 196.

I'm very satisfied with my 196. I still think its the premier private lake ski boat/tractor out there. And, I'm still a huge CC fan. My next boat will probably be another 196. The intent of my earlier post was to give a little credit to other manufacturers for knowing how to build a nice quality boat. I just can't believe that CC has the market cornered on building a quality inboard anymore.