I need some input please...

[Les Lampman]

[Les Lampman]

Thanks again to everyone for their input, it's helped quite a lot.

The decision now is to make Delta-T a standard item in the Marinaut in the cabin and v-berth area.

We'll not do it under the sole at all. The hull is cored with 1" foam and the sole (floor pan) with 5/8" foam so it's of questionable value (there's no doubt it potentially helps but doubtful that it helps enough for the cost involved).

The raw fiberglass under the side decks, on the cockpit hull sides, the inside of the transom, and the underside of the aft deck with be sprayed with gel coat (just like the interior finish in the CD22). These are areas rarely seen since the fuel tanks cover the inside walls of the hull and you'd have to lay on your back to see the underside of the side decks and aft deck but the need to be finished off. The inside of the transom can be seen more so a nice finish there is desired as well.

The cabin and v-berth will take about 6 gallons (I think actually a little less) of Delta-T and will bring it in at a reasonable cost.

I took to heart all of the comments regarding making it an option. For lots of reasons I don't want to go that way. I want folks to have a warm (or cool) and dry boat from the beginning and I don't want them to ponder over spending the money as they would if it were an option. By the time they realize they should have gone that way it's a lot of work to change it.

We build each Marinaut one at a time for each customer and there is always a lot of conversation about the boat, ample time to explain why we have Delta-T and what it does. If someone doesn't want it we'll be happy to delete it and use gel coat but I'd rather default to the higher standard.

Les

[Oly]

Les:

It would help I think if we knew which boats (if any) we might be familiar with that definitely DO and those that definitely DON'T use it. Do you know of any in either case? I've never heard of the product but maybe I've seen it many times. Or not.

[duff]

I would say make it standard. It's always less expensive to do something at at the factory. if you buy a new truck its harder to put AC in after the fact. plus it cost more, in addition after you shell out 42000 you don't want to pay out more money right after the purchase. So most people would rather have it and be done and only pay once then mess with it later.
And your building a quality product people looking for quality will under stand. case and point the Hilton can't compete price with motel 6. and Motel 6 can't compete with the comfort and the service of the Hilton so my vote would be make it standard it will pay you back later.

[hardee]

Les,

You made a good choice. V-birth and cabin yes, under sole, no. Go with it and show it as "Value added - non-option" for a superior quality product.

The foam core hull and sole are adequate for insulation and if the owner wants a quieter ride, close the cabin door.

Harvey
SleepyC

[dave]

I know you have allready made your decision, but I didn't see this post until now. So I'll put my $.02 worth in anyway. I will give my suggestions as what I have seen as a new/normal boat buyer. "Gee, Honey, that boat sure does look purty." C-Brats are not your normal boat buyer. Most of us have been boating for decades. We are aware that any boat is a compromise. I have three boats and each has different purpose. My point being, do not limit your marketing to us. We know you, your father, and your association with the Toland brand. Market to the, for lack of a better term, proletariat. With this caveat, here are my suggestions.

1. I have a 2006 Cape Cruiser. The interior is just fine. Offer the Delta-T as an option. I live in Florida. Condensation is not a problem. Don't worry about the resale market. I do like the touch of wood in my boat. I would love to have a shelf on both sides in the berth.

2. One standard windshield wiper. Options for other two windows.

3. You are a semi-custom builder. Use the vinylester resin.

4. Standard center opening window. Optional opening window in the aft cabin door. Optional port and starboard opening windshields.

5. Use the heavy duty 8" cleats. This is one place I really like overkill.

6. I have a little swim platform/boarding ladder. This is a very functional useful piece of equipment. It is a true safety item. It allows a person to reboard in deep water. Make it a value added standard.

7. Do not offer any kind of standard anchor or windlass. I would not offer any anchoring as standard. I have yet to use my anchor. Check out what Parker has available.

8. Market to the general public, not us. The more affordable you can make the boat, the more people that can buy it. Bayliner may not be a top quality boat, but they sure sell a lot of them. Good design and they are AFFORDABLE.

The experience that you and Dusty have to offer your customers as to what options to get is the true value added benefit that customers can get nowhere else. Don't price yourself out of the market.

[Les Lampman]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the input and well reasoned points. I usually don't post within a quote but I'll do so this time for clarity (way down below there).

It really isn't my intention to be here on the C-Brat site for the purpose of marketing the Marinaut. I post here because many folks are my friends and I've been here since the beginning. I know a lot of folks followed the development of the Marinaut and I'm happy to share what's happening now. Regardless of all that I mostly come here to learn, listen, and gain knowledge about how folks I trust feel about things. It's the experience of the folks here that own boats like the C-Dory and Cape Cruiser and use them all over the country that's a special treasure. When I ask for input it means I really, honestly want to know how the folks here feel about what I'm asking about.

My customer base has been about the same for the last 15 years; typically Baby Boomers with either a lot of background in boating or new Baby Boomer boaters that are doing a lot of research before they make their choice (for some reason a typical Bayliner style boat just doesn't suit them and they've figured that out). We delivered a fair number of C-Dory boats to folks who had never had boats before as well as experienced buyers.

The Marinaut is really no different. I know how we outfitted almost every C-Dory that we delivered and with only a very few exceptions they were "fully loaded".

I can't make the Marinaut cheap. Material and labor has gone up too much, if I strip too much from the standard list then I end up with a (still) expensive boat that still needs a bunch of options added back for most folks. I can add a lot of standards and only affect the price of the boat a few percentage points but it makes a whopping amount of difference to the perceived quality of the boat. Seriously, if you went to a car dealer today to buy a nice family sedan would you really expect to see air conditioning, cruise control, power window and door locks on an options list? No way, nowadays you expect them to be standard equipment.

I can strip about $3,000 out of the Marinaut and end up with a $41,000 hull that most folks will add options back to. I can have all the options included as standard for $44,000 and the boat is "nicely equipped". That $3,000 represents a change of less than 5% of the total cost of the boat to take it from "bare bones" to "nicely equipped"; a figure that will seldom be a make-or-break decision point for the folks likely to purchase a Marinaut. It's not about making more profit on the boat by increasing the price; it's about giving the customer the highest value for the dollars spent and making the purchase an easy and pleasant experience.

Onto the individual points...

[duff]

Les i think your on the right track making it standard even if it cost more!
I recently attended a marketing seminar and one of the points they made and they used the Les Schwab tire company as the example the maJority of business don't go out of business because they charge to much, most go out of business because they don't know there cost of doing business and charge to little. Bayliner makes a little profit on a lot of boats because they can make a lot of boats. there geared up for that. San Jaun yachts on the other hand has to make a lot more profit per boat because they don't make many so they market to people that want as close to the perfect boat as possible and will pay what ever it cost to get that. But San Jaun doesn't try to compete price with bayliner they would go bankrupt Starbucks Doesn't try to sale there coffee for the same price a the local truck stop.They get much more because of the preceived value. Look at San Jaun Yachts, Grand Banks, Nordic tug , Ranger tug, none of those boats are cheap, but they are selling them Your boats will not doubt fills a nitch as well. Not every one wants the cheapest price and you don't want those clients any way, because if someone is cheaper than you you will lose that client. However if you market to those people that want value then you have a client for life and that's what you want any way. Didn't mean to write a book but thought this info might be helpful There is a great book out that every business owner should read on what people are looking for It's written by Geffrey Gitomer the title is CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS WORTHLESS CUSTOMER LOYALTY IS PRICELESS Deals with how to price your products what to include that sort of thing. I think you would enjoy it Duff

[Les Lampman]

Thanks Duff!

Les

[Les Lampman]