State of the (Marinaut) Business Report

L

Les Lampman

New member
Hi all,

Yes, I've been absent, delinquent, and AWOL. I simply have had too many irons in the fire. In addition to the activity with the Marinaut boats we've also had quite a few used boat sales that take time and attention.

The Marinaut sales are doing nicely and are tracking about where I hoped they would. As a run down...we delivered Betty Ann, A0001, last year about this time; we built and delivered A0002 (went to CO) last October; A0003 is ready to roll at the end of next week for her new home in CT (this is a very well equipped boat); A0004 is delivering tomorrow (it will be a Gig Harbor boat (it's being sold as a hull only for rigging elsewhere)); A0005 is in the hull production stage and should be delivered in June to her Seattle owners; A0006 is scheduled for delivery in August to her Vancouver, WA owners; and A0007 is scheduled for delivery in September to her western North Carolina owner.

I also have a commitment to deliver a new Marinaut next April to a couple in southwest Michigan.

And I have a hull here (tan), A0008?, that I keep hoping we can build for ourselves as demo boat (it's being worked on in the gaps between sold boats).

Our production schedule is out to Sept at the moment but we can potentially fit another one or two boats into the Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan time frame.

I'm going to try like crazy to have the Marinaut in the Seattle Boat show this next January. Things could get interesting! :-)
 
Les,

Sounds like you are not going to have much spare time for mischief. Glad to hear the M-Boats are lined out pretty well for you.

Thanks for the update. Hope to see you sometime this summer.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
Les Lampman":qh99bxbv said:
Hi all,

Yes, I've been absent, delinquent, and AWOL.
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Les- You have been none of these things. Whenever a question arises on C-Brats that needs a clear, concise and understandable answer you are there. Whenever I send an email to EQ, no matter how simple or far out my inquiry, you always respond, always. So, just let me say that we take great comfort in knowing that, whether you are posting frequently or not, you are there. Further we take great satisfaction in knowing that the Marinaut is enjoying the success that it and you deserve.
 
Les,

Thanks for the update. Great to hear of a boating success story! Such a great and innovative design. I still believe the 215 could be a very successful freshwater day cruiser. Just a few mods to enhance the entertainment factor. Maybe the SW Michigan and western NC boats are headed for that type of use?

Jake
 
Jake":2ucnpyio said:
Les,

Thanks for the update. Great to hear of a boating success story! Such a great and innovative design. I still believe the 215 could be a very successful freshwater day cruiser. Just a few mods to enhance the entertainment factor. Maybe the SW Michigan and western NC boats are headed for that type of use?

Jake
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Hi Jake,

Thanks for the kind words! :)

I'd love to hear about any mods that you think would be helpful. What did you have in mind in regards to the entertainment factor?

Les
 
Hi Les,
We haven't heard from you for awhile. I assume you are busy building boats. What hull number are you up to? Will you have a Marinaut on display at the 2014 Seattle Boat Show? Like the newest photo on your Marinaut Facebook page.
Best regards,
Leo
 
Leo Smith":36q5i172 said:
Hi Les,
We haven't heard from you for awhile. I assume you are busy building boats. What hull number are you up to? Will you have a Marinaut on display at the 2014 Seattle Boat Show? Like the newest photo on your Marinaut Facebook page.
Best regards,
Leo
Click to expand...

Hi Leo,

I have to admit that my visits to the C-Brat site seem to run in cycles. I blame it on the fact that once I log in, I don't want to log out, and there's goes too much time!

We've been building the M215 boats without a break since we started hull #2. That said, we're still hand building them one-at-a-time so the numbers are not large. We've pulled 10 hulls from the molds so far (all have been and/or are sold).

The Marinaut will not be at the SBS. There are really lots of reasons: it's expensive, we don't have enough people to man a booth for 10 days, etc. The real reason is that I'm completely afraid of the response to the boat; right now we're building them as quickly as we can and can deliver about 4 to 6 boats a year. If I got orders at the boat show for 10 boats it would be a very difficult thing to deal with. I've been told "it's a good problem to have" but I disagree with that sentiment 100%; a salesman would love the situation but as the producer of the boat it's a nightmare and sure to make lots of folks unhappy.

Glad you like the photos, I really need to do more!
 
Hi Les,
Thanks for the update. It looks like I should make a trip to EQ to see one of your boats in person. Glad to hear that business is going well for you.
Best,
Leo
 
Hi Les.

I have an interest in how the market is moving for smaller boats like the CD and the Marinauts . My impression is that the GFC and the aging of the boomers moved the market up the line so that boats in the 150k range (think Ranger or Cutwater) are finding a much easier time of it. Would you agree?
 
Hi, Les! I have been doing some work for the City of Oak Harbor, and I almost turned off onto Cornet Bay Road on my way back home yesterday but was running a little late so decided not to. Next time! Love to see a Marinaut in progress!
 
chimoii":30qav1f9 said:
Hi Les.

I have an interest in how the market is moving for smaller boats like the CD and the Marinauts . My impression is that the GFC and the aging of the boomers moved the market up the line so that boats in the 150k range (think Ranger or Cutwater) are finding a much easier time of it. Would you agree?
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Hi,

If I had the ability to answer that question with assurance and authority I'd already be retired and sailing in tropical waters! :-)

"The Market" is an incredibly difficult thing to really know. As a dealer/builder you look at what data you can get, review your personal experience, dig deep into your soul, then make the best choice you can.

That said, I don't know that I agree with that analysis. It's almost a forgone conclusion that it's the Boomer generation that are purchasing boats like the Ranger Tug but they're also purchasing boats like the Marinaut. I don't think one precludes the other. A corollary in the RV business is that more affluent Boomers do purchase 40' diesel pusher motorhomes but the sales of small efficient motorhomes (the so-called B+ and the Class C's based on the Sprinter chassis) are also selling strongly, to Boomers.

A 25' boat on a trailer at 8,000 to 10,000 pounds is a lot of boat to deal with, more than a lot of us older (yes, myself included) folks want to deal with on a continual basis. If you live on the water or can have your boat dry stored and launched on demand (forklift, travel lift, or sling) a boat that size is nice but there are a limited number of folks that have a dock at their home, dry launch facilities that can handle a 25-footer are not everywhere, and keeping a boat in a marina has it's own issues (says the guy with a boat in a marina).

Many folks also find they don't want to own or drive the size vehicle it takes to tow a larger boat. Many would like to use their Grand Cherokee, or Toyota Sequoia, and such; they'll handle a 22-footer nicely but not the average 25-footer.

It's also hard to deny the sales pyramid, which simply shows that the more expensive something is, the less of them are sold. Now this isn't iron clad by any means but it's a safe bet to say that there are a lot more folks that can afford a $75,000 boat than a $150,000 boat. And oft times, since we seem to be pretty active these days, the person that can afford the $150,000 boat decides they'd rather have a $75,000 boat and a $75,000 RV so they have choices all year. Finally, there are a lot of folks that feel they only need what the need; that is, if they can be happy with a 22-footer why would you buy a 25-footer. I tend to be in this group, money aside, I just don't want the higher initial cost, the higher running costs, the higher maintenance costs, and the inherent reduction of choices.

What I really think happens between a 22-footer and a 25-footer is the head (bathroom). More than anything I've come to believe that's the defining choice; you're either a person/couple that's perfectly happy with a portable toilet and convertible spaces in which to use it, or you must have a separate and enclosed room for it. This choice is really only evident at this particular juncture of boat sizes; under about 24' it's very difficult to get an enclosed head compartment unless you're willing to give up a galley or a dinette (or a combination), over 24' you have the length necessary to accommodate the galley, a dinette, and a head compartment.

So it comes full circle I suppose. It does seem that the aging Boomer generation might be more likely to purchase a 25' + boat, because that's the demographic that's most likely to insist on an enclosed toilet space and it takes that size boat to get it.

I don't think it's appropriate to say that boats in the 150K are having an easier time of it (in the market). I think specifically that Ranger/Cutwater is doing very well but that's not the same as saying the general market (for the same cost/size boat) is also doing well. The credit is really due to Ranger for their marketing prowess and abilities, the credit really doesn't belong to the market in general since a lot of companies that build that size/cost boat are still struggling (or out).

Of course, this is all just personal opinion...but you knew that!

Les
 
Pat Anderson":3kkuyth5 said:
Hi, Les! I have been doing some work for the City of Oak Harbor, and I almost turned off onto Cornet Bay Road on my way back home yesterday but was running a little late so decided not to. Next time! Love to see a Marinaut in progress!
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Sorry we missed you Pat. Stop by when you can, I'd love to show you what we're up to.


:beer
 
Les Lampman":3bwwz4gy said:
What I really think happens between a 22-footer and a 25-footer is the head (bathroom). More than anything I've come to believe that's the defining choice; you're either a person/couple that's perfectly happy with a portable toilet and convertible spaces in which to use it, or you must have a separate and enclosed room for it. This choice is really only evident at this particular juncture of boat sizes; under about 24' it's very difficult to get an enclosed head compartment unless you're willing to give up a galley or a dinette (or a combination), over 24' you have the length necessary to accommodate the galley, a dinette, and a head compartment.

Les
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Based on my personal purchase decisions, I think that statement is spot on. My recent purchase of a 26-foot Cape Cruiser bears that out. The 23-footer would have been sufficient, as would have the Marinaut 215, except for the lack of an installed head. What I really wanted was a Marinaut 245, but that design was scuttled a few years ago, and the CC-26 is likely my last boat. If we hadn't found this one for such a great price, it's possible that we would have eventually moved up to the 22-24 foot class from the 17-foot Arima we've been cruising in for the last 8 years. But, since it would have been an intermediate step to getting a boat with a head, it's doubtful that we would have bought new.

There really seems to be a definite break in market forces at about the 24-foot length.
 
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