JD Power... Regal upsets SeaRay

I agree on the styling issue, though in my case it is in the large runaboats class. I just went to Regal's web site, and to be honest, I wouldn't even board a Regal just due to me not liking the way it looks. You have to love the exterior, IMO, to even start looking at a boat more closely.

I am satisfied with Sea Ray's high marks across the board in all classes, and in all categories. I would like to see them step up on some issues, and if they do that this year, I believe they will be back at the top for next year.
 
S/R's decline in the ratings may have to do with the allowable defects that is passed on from the factories to the dealer to fix. Because it is now a warranty issue, the dealer doesn't want to fix it and it finds its way into the consumers punch list. Therefore reducing the positive new ownership experience.

I found this the case when we took delivery on our 300 last year, and my initial SR / Dealer survey reflected it.

With the punch list resolved, I'm very satisfied with the boat.
 
Guys for whatever it's worth here is my take. These questionaires are sent to owners of boats. Styling doesn't really matter because you already own the boat so you must like the styling. Regal is a much smaller family owned boat company that has a cult-like following due to it being a small family operated company. They tend to attract the type of buyer that is looking specifically for a small production type boat. I think that Regal makes a fine boat but I just bought a 2007 Sundeck 200 over the 2007 Regal deck boat. Both dealers where very helpful and friendly. The more I looked at the Regal the more I wanted the Sea Ray. The Regal just didn't "have it" for me. I liked the salesmans' pitch about Regal being a family non-production boat but in the end this didn't matter to me. The fit and finish on my Sea Ray was better. I could have saved 5k buy buying the Regal. And you cannot beat the resale value on a Sea Ray. I know I am rambling but my point is that the person that is most likely to fill out the JD Power questionaire is the type that is very emotional about his or her purchase and will likely overlook small problems and give his or her purchase a positive response. As for styling I personally think Regal changes their styling too much and some of their lines are awful weird looking to me. The same with Cobalt they just don't do it for me.
 
A Regal salesman telling you a Regal has a higher resale value...no way! Next thing you know he'll tell you... "everybody ownes a SeaRay" :wink:
 
I know I am rambling but my point is that the person that is most likely to fill out the JD Power questionaire is the type that is very emotional about his or her purchase and will likely overlook small problems and give his or her purchase a positive response.
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How do you know this?
 
Well, our salesman in my boat buying saga left S-R went to Regal and then went back to S-R. I compared the 300 DA to the 3060 Regal and the 320 Dancer to the 3360 Regal. I think the new Regal gave me a nice wow factor at first and I was sold. But, once we started analyzing the 3060. My wife said. There is no where to store plates on the boat. We spent most weekends on our boat. There were just some design issues. The dealer said you can store them next to the trash can. As you can guess the wide didn't go for that. However the fast trac hull is cool. Then we looked at the 3360 and I was hell bent on buying the Regal. Until we saw the Regal next to a 320 Dancer. The 320 was much roomier and just seemed like a nicer boat overall. I think the big difference is the Regal Dealers are working a lot harder to please their customers than maybe Marine Max is. The big corporate dealership is less personal than the smaller Regal dealers - hence better customer service.
 
thunderbird1 said:
Well I hate to say it (because I'm generally a big Sea Ray fan), but based on the number of warranty issues I've had to deal with this year, I'm not surprised the award went to someone else.
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I have to agree with thunderbird. I am disappointed with the number of warranty issues also. Being this is my first Sea Ray, I can honestly say it is not living up to my expectations of quality that Sea Ray is supposed to be know for. With that said, depending on how all the warranty issues are handled Sea Ray will still be on my list when I upgrade.
 
skolbe said:
I think the big difference is the Regal Dealers are working a lot harder to please their customers than maybe Marine Max is. The big corporate dealership is less personal than the smaller Regal dealers - hence better customer service.
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I agree - I can't help but wonder if these latest ratings are not as much a reflection of Marine Max as of Sea Ray. In all the postings here and on SRO I cannot remember seeing anyone citing any improvements at their dealership after being swallowed up by MM. OTO, I've seen plenty of comments to the contrary.
 
Why in the world did Sea Ray score so low in the "Helm and Instrument" category?

"Helm & Instrument: This score is based on customers’ satisfaction with the ergonomics of the helm (wheel/throttle/control positions); driver's seat position and comfort; ability to see gauges and instruments easily; and visibility from the helm."

http://www.jdpower.com/boats/cruiser
 
Half Off said:
thunderbird1 said:
Well I hate to say it (because I'm generally a big Sea Ray fan), but based on the number of warranty issues I've had to deal with this year, I'm not surprised the award went to someone else.
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I have to agree with thunderbird. I am disappointed with the number of warranty issues also. Being this is my first Sea Ray, I can honestly say it is not living up to my expectations of quality that Sea Ray is supposed to be know for. With that said, depending on how all the warranty issues are handled Sea Ray will still be on my list when I upgrade.
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Half Off: You and I may be in the minority regarding our quality issues. Sea Ray scored highest in the "Quality and Reliability" category. :smt021

http://www.jdpower.com/boats/cruiser
 
thunderbird1 said:
Why in the world did Sea Ray score so low in the "Helm and Instrument" category?

"Helm & Instrument: This score is based on customers’ satisfaction with the ergonomics of the helm (wheel/throttle/control positions); driver's seat position and comfort; ability to see gauges and instruments easily; and visibility from the helm."

http://www.jdpower.com/boats/cruiser
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For a long time SR never provided a spot on the helm to add electronics.(ie GPS/Radar,ect.) They still don't on some models? Or maybe Stihlbolts is right about the "Star Trek" chairs on some newer models. :lol:
 
jrirvine1 said:
I suppose congratulations are in order, but I just can’t get past the overall look of the boats lines
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Jim, my wife absolutely hates the way they look too. She said... "that arch looks stupid." In fact the Regal 3060 was on my short list of 30 Foot cruisers we were looking at when moving to a twin engine boat. Others were Four Winns 318 Vista and the Cruisers 300CXI. The only one Mrs. Bridog would consider, other than SeaRay, was the Four Winns 318. The more I look around the happier I am that we stayed in the SR family. I just think SR needs a push.
 
Success is the breeding ground of complacency. It is possible that SR, having been used to coasting to first place over the last several years, began to rest on their laurels.

This mind-set creates the perfect opportunity for imitators to jump up and bite you.

Of course it may not help that some of the newer SR designs are, let me try to be kind here… not destined to be classics?
 
Sitting under the london bridge in lake havasu I can tell you that the older SR's look much better than the older regal's. My money is on the long haul. Anyone can pass a test but its the graduation that gets you the big money. :thumbsup:
 
Folks this thread is really not up to CSR standards. Why everyone beating up Regal, a first rate family company with maybe the highest committment to the customer and their products is beyond me. They deserve our respect for what they accomplished in the face or competition with large conglomerates such as Brunswick.
You should read up on the Regal story and the Kuck family, they deserve our greatest respect. Alone the integrity with which they treat their entire employee force like family ... you'll never find this with the large companies. And their product is clearly top quality as is their customer service.

Let's congratulate them to their well deserved award and challenge Sea Ray to pull even.
 
Alex D said:
Folks this thread is really not up to CSR standards. Why everyone beating up Regal, a first rate family company with maybe the highest committment to the customer and their products is beyond me.
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:huh: Alex, I have reread the thread and to me it does not look like anyone is beating up Regal, most are saying exactly what you said at the end of your statement (ok maybe most everyone left out the well deserved part but stated) it will hopefully push Sea Ray to take it to the next level. I think in the thread, if you reread it people are harder on Sea Ray than anyone is being on Regal.

Alex D said:
Let's congratulate them to their well deserved award and challenge Sea Ray to pull even.
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