"one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industry."

Dave S

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Oct 3, 2006
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Upstate South Carolina
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The title of this post is a quote from part of a sentence in an article in the Orlando Sentinel. The entire sentence reads as follows:

It is, however, a necessary decision forced upon Sea Ray by one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industry."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-boats2008mar20,0,648426.story

Not only are (certain) new boats not selling well but the market has an excess of used boats as well for which there are very few buyers. So if you have a notion to buy a boat, I doubt you will find a better time whether it's new or used.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Not to get off subject but I think there are alot of industries feeling the pressure right now....it is a sad situation across alot of industries. :thumbsup:

Wesley
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Good news on the horizon............... if you don't care about your taxes, (which thanks to the Dems will be up 3500/year) don't care about abortions (hell, I got out-- survival of the fittest) and the war on terror (300,000,000 Americans, what are the odd they get me... very very slim as slim as my economic stim check)

Vote for Obama and this all goes away.... He'll stop the hurricanse man...............stop the hurricanes. I saw an ad on the picture tube.... Man, he can stop hurricanse..... and who don't want dat to be hapnen, no how
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Good news on the horizon............... if you don't care about your taxes, (which thanks to the Dems will be up 3500/year) don't care about abortions (hell, I got out-- survival of the fittest) and the war on terror (300,000,000 Americans, what are the odd they get me... very very slim as slim as my economic stim check)

Vote for Obama and this all goes away.... He'll stop the hurricanse man...............stop the hurricanes. I saw an ad on the picture tube.... Man, he can stop hurricanse..... and who don't want dat to be hapnen, no how
This was posted at 1:07 AM Saturday morning. Alcohol involved? I have no idea how to interpret this. Maybe its better left alone. :smt018 :smt009

And back to the economy...
It is not all doom and gloom.
As with everything else, there are always opportunities in times like these. For example, a recent college grad 2 years ago had no chance of buying a home in my area because home values doubled in 5 years, outpacing salaries. In 2 more years, a starter home will be within reach again for a young family as prices continue to decline and interest rates remain steady.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Good news on the horizon............... if you don't care about your taxes, (which thanks to the Dems will be up 3500/year) don't care about abortions (hell, I got out-- survival of the fittest) and the war on terror (300,000,000 Americans, what are the odd they get me... very very slim as slim as my economic stim check)

Vote for Obama and this all goes away.... He'll stop the hurricanse man...............stop the hurricanes. I saw an ad on the picture tube.... Man, he can stop hurricanse..... and who don't want dat to be hapnen, no how
Does "I was a touch cranky" cover this post also? WOW, this post is a real gem.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

I found it quite refreshing...in an illiterate kind of way.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Thank goodness this isn't turning into a political discussion. . .
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

i think there was a heavy dose of sarcasm in there :huh:
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Thanks to the tanking dollar, my overseas business has quadrupled in the last 4 months. weeeeeeee.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

This was posted at 1:07 AM Saturday morning. Alcohol involved? I have no idea how to interpret this. Maybe its better left alone. :smt018 :smt009

And back to the economy...
It is not all doom and gloom.
As with everything else, there are always opportunities in times like these. For example, a recent college grad 2 years ago had no chance of buying a home in my area because home values doubled in 5 years, outpacing salaries. In 2 more years, a starter home will be within reach again for a young family as prices continue to decline and interest rates remain steady.

Yup.... ooops.I've been grounded from late night postings... wow, if it hadn't been quoted a time or two already, I'd be doing the biggest edit imaginable. oh well. I'll stick to boating and keep my big yap shut about politics.. if I can.

Sorry for the rant gents
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

The economy is in OK shape, but very localized.....I'm in the fastener business and I'm doing triple digit numbers with the Automotive industry....go figure...I have a part that takes 3 of them on the Chevy Malibu........ that car has an average stay on the dealership lot of 13 days, with no incentives or rebates... Can't wait until Chevy puts on their Thrid shift.... fo rthis car..
That said, why or why should a 44 foot Dancer be in the upper 600's...I don't get it... why does a 12" TV on that boat cost 3500.00 when I can get it in WalMart for 300.00 and instal myself.. Why are the diesels a 100,000 dollar option, when I can buy a 5.9 liter cummins brand new for under 20,000....These Boats are too much and just like the housing market righting itself... so shall everything else, including boats... cars planes and trains.... there's something to be siad when you buy a new boat and 3 months later it's only worth Half... of it's purchase price......it means, the company is screwing everyone , even themselves for future sales... comments eccepted...
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

I think the "luxury tax" era was worse. I think my first "real" boat I bought in 1988 had a 13% interest rate.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

boltman...couldn't agree with you more.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

The economy is in OK shape... there's something to be siad when you buy a new boat and 3 months later it's only worth Half... of it's purchase price......it means, the company is screwing everyone , even themselves for future sales... comments eccepted...
I agree with everything you said. I think you are right about boat prices being bloated, but what actually happens is they sell new for a 25-30% discount off MSRP. What we have to hope for is that they don't sell more overseas for MSRP because that discount will shrink as we lose market share. I doubt that will happen in the near term. Everybody wants to think they are getting a bargain, even overseas buyers.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

Much of what is discussed on this thread has to do with boat prices and the economy posing a problem for the boat industry, but when I cruise the South Carolina and Georgia coast, I am surprised how expensive dockage rates are. In just the last 6 years I believe they have almost doubled!!! Of course we know what has happened to gas prices. Oh, and look at insurance rates compared to about 4 years ago. The pressure from the manufactures on their dealers to sell more boats has depleted the dealers profits per boat retailed, which has caused a increase in service/maintenance costs in order to make up for the lost profits. I just wonder if this has affected boat sales more than the so-called downturn in the economy. At one time I did not worry about any of the ancillary costs of boating, but now I must consider much more than the cost of the boat itself.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

How true. Initial purchase cost can be trivial compared to ongoing boating costs. . .but of course with the annual 3-5% price increases on new boats (despite lagging sales); the manufactures are doing their best to ensure capital is the dominating cost component.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

The pressure from the manufactures on their dealers to sell more boats has depleted the dealers profits per boat retailed, which has caused a increase in service/maintenance costs in order to make up for the lost profits.

It's interesting how different people in business handle an economic slow down. For example, I am having some brickwork done outside to enclose a gas grill... One brick mason came over and said "$4000" and another brick mason came over and said "$200". The guy that told me $4000 (at which time I laughed as this is about 300 bricks) said he needed to make more money per job since he had fewer jobs... i.e. when business slows down he has to raise prices. The $200 guy said he could do it on a Saturday alone and just needed some money because work was slowing down... It appears the $200 guy knew more about basic business economics than the $4000 guy. A slower business economy results in deflationary pressure and trying to charge MORE will result in complete business loss as SOMEONE ELSE will do it cheaper so they just get the work.
 
Re: "one of the most challenging times ever seen in the history of the marine industr

economic slow down? my industry (music) completely collapsed within the last 5 years. I'm mean 20% per year. besides the Kodak film kiosk collapse in the 80's, I don't think i've seen such a drastic one. The people surviving my collapse are not raising their prices, they are lowering them and finding ways to increase though put and service to compensate. the ones that raised their prices, or even stuck to their guns, are no longer around. It's the end of an era, but it's also the era that gave us the backstreet boys so it's not so sad to see it go. There is a lot of fat to be cut off and it's not going to end anytime soon. The ones that survive will be lean and mean.
 

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