Federally Insured Boats, RVs, and Motorcycles??

[Casey]

If anyone doubts the tightening of consumer credit, read this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/busin ... &st=Search

As the "unwinding" continues, credit tightens inspitof reports that the availability of credit is loosening at the commercial and consumer level. I guess with the recent GM and Chrysler situation inspired folks in other industries are saying "me too..." for help (FED insured loans...) to remain operational.

I'm not a financier, but somewhere along the line we're going to have to learn to buy what we can Afford ... but not today, eh?

Interesting Times.

Best,
Casey
(vice) C-Dory Naknek
...soggy in Ketchikan

 

[Matt Gurnsey]

It is interesting times.

It becomes a vicious circle- A dealer can't get the financing to floor boats, so the manufacturer can't get the money to build boats, so the consumer, even if he wanted to buy a boat finds inventory levels down, and long delays in getting an ordered boat.

A lot of people we talk to would like to demo ride a boat before committing to buying one. But without boats in stock, a dealer can't offer that. And we are afraid to devalue the product we do have by putting hours on them in demo rides. We want to avoid anything that could make a potential buyer reject the boat in stock.

My concern is this trend of turning to the government to solve all of our problems. And local communities thinking that grants from the federal government is "free" money. Like the local law enforcement branch that just got a brand new SAFE boat with triple Merc Verados on it for "free" via federal grant.

Except they have no one qualified to run the boat, it's too big to be hauled out except by one place in town, and they can't get the boat to the local Merc dealer for service. There was also no money in the budget for bottom paint, on a boat that would live it's life in salt water, so the agency is having to find money for some of these issues involving their "free" boat.

 

[localboy]

Like the local law enforcement branch that just got a brand new SAFE boat with triple Merc Verados on it for "free" via federal grant.

Except they have no one qualified to run the boat, it's too big to be hauled out except by one place in town, and they can't get the boat to the local Merc dealer for service. There was also no money in the budget for bottom paint, on a boat that would live it's life in salt water, so the agency is having to find money for some of these issues involving their "free" boat.

Unfortunately, Matt, I've witnessed this phenomenon over and over. Logic & common sense and government don't seem to go together. I don't think it'll change anytime soon. (At least in our dept any Fed grant money we get this year is [supposed] to be going to keeping uniformed officers on the street and not to big ticket "toys".) I've witnessed a thought process that the Fed gov't will be the end all/do all, solver of all that is unfair, mommy for all our problems; it's actually quite amazing. My dad told me at a very young age that "life's not fair". I took this message and passed it on to my son...

But I digress; this goes to a larger problem that we as a country & society don't seem to understand; YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. Personal responsibility is nearly non-existant. Watch the news (I don't) . A million and one reasons why "it's not my son's fault...". Credit is the same. Buy now, pay later....maybe.

 

[DoryLvr]

I am lucky enough to have always had the pink slips for all my boats and all my cars up to this last one. Not real fond of this whole "payment" idea at all and will definitely have the pink slip early. But paying as you go is the only way. The satisfaction of knowing it is yours and yours only is immense.

It is that anticipation of the toy (read boat) while saving that is also fun. Looking at the brochure over and over (5 years in my case) til its dog eared and torn, pictures up at your desk and the virtuous feeling you get when you get home and empty your pocket change to the jar and put the lunch money you saved by taking your lunch in to the savings pot. Because of the sacrifices you savor your toy that much more. Then you sell your old boat and you have enough saved between what you got for the boat and savings to get that new (to me) boat.


Just like in the old days saving your allowance for the army men sold in the back of the comic books. Now a days you just order online or go to the store and bingo, you get it now.

 

[hardee]

Matt said:

"A lot of people we talk to would like to demo ride a boat before committing to buying one. But without boats in stock, a dealer can't offer that. And we are afraid to devalue the product we do have by putting hours on them in demo rides. We want to avoid anything that could make a potential buyer reject the boat in stock."

Matt, Send those potential buyers to a C-Brat. I, for one, am often just looking for an excuse to put the boat in the water. Yea, I'm a ways away,
but arrangements can be made, and I do occasionally run on weekends :smile

Harvey
SleepyC

 

[jennykatz]

I think there are a lot of us Brats that would take people out to help sell the dream .that way some of the dealers would not have to floorplan as many boats . It would be a win -win situation for consumer ,dealer and us Brats keeping C-Dory a viable Boat company with good resale for when we would want or need to sell.

 

[Doryman]

I think there are a lot of us Brats that would take people out to help sell the dream .that way some of the dealers would not have to floorplan as many boats . It would be a win -win situation for consumer ,dealer and us Brats keeping C-Dory a viable Boat company with good resale for when we would want or need to sell.

This is probably more true for dealers like Marc and Matt, who give much to the community without expectation of receiving anything other than good will in return. Then there are other dealers who don't give much (if anything). It's hard to get enthusiastic about supporting those guys, but if the request came directly from a prospective buyer, I am sure most of us would like to show off our boats to them.

Warren