A sign of things to come?

[Cerddinen]

I spent a very enjoyable Friday afternoon at the Paris Boat Show. It was not surprising the Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Dufour had very large displays. What was surprising was that Hanse had an equally large display showing the Dehler, Hanse, and Moody ranges (I asked the saleswoman on the Moody how you sailed a boat with a saloon the size of a small bungalow blocking your vision. Her answer? To inform me, as if I had never noticed, that boats heel when you sail them.) Even more surprising was the almost invisible display of Bavaria: hidden a the back corner of someone else's stand with a 55 that was appointment only, and the new 32. The latter could only be looked at from outside so I presume it was just an empty shell. One can only surmise that the battle to be the major German boatbuilder has been won convincingly by Hanse.

The disappointment for me was that Structures Pogo were present but were displaying only pictures and video. I had hoped to see the Pogo 10.50 which looks, on the computer screen at least, to be an extraordinary boat.

 

[VO5]

How funny!

Obviously you have to fit a retractable periscope for all other eventualities.

No accounting for taste or common sense is there ?

 

[Quandary]

Even more surprising was the almost invisible display of Bavaria: hidden a the back corner of someone else's stand with a 55 that was appointment only, and the new 32. The latter could only be looked at from outside so I presume it was just an empty shell. One can only surmise that the battle to be the major German boatbuilder has been won convincingly by Hanse.

Don't think that follows. Bavaria may not be targeting the French market like they do the UK, (the French do tend to support their own economy) Or Hanse may have a product that is harder to sell so have to spend more on marketing, ( they also have to work hard overcome the perception of their dodgy alloy rudder shafts) The UK market is much more open to both of them.

 

[photodog]

I think that Bavaria have a real problem... this new 32 is the 3rd or 4th (?) 31/32 foot starter boat they have launched in 5 years......

So, we have this new Farr stuff, plus the 34 with the fold down transom... and then the bigger boats with the normal sugar scoop transoms... I think that this inconsistency and rapid changes in their product line is off putting... how do you build customer loyalty and sales when you are continually changing your products??

What do Bavaria now represent??

 

[Ubergeekian]

Even more surprising was the almost invisible display of Bavaria: hidden a the back corner of someone else's stand with a 55 that was appointment only, and the new 32.

Hmm. Perhaps their financial restructuring has not been quite the solution the hoped. Failure to appear at motor shows is traditionally one way of telling that a car maker is going belly-up ... it will be interesting to see what Bavaria turn up with in London.

 

[fireball]

Will my boat sink if Bavaria goes belly up?!

 

[LadyInBed]

Will my boat sink if Bavaria goes belly up?!

WHAT! You mean it is still floating

 

[alahol2]

I asked the saleswoman on the Moody how you sailed a boat with a saloon the size of a small bungalow blocking your vision.

Watched one of the big Moodys entering Newtown. The helm was jumping up and down like a jack in the box as he alternately tried to look over, then through, his massive cabin. We couldn't help but laugh at such absurdity.

 

[Tranona]

Or Hanse may have a product that is harder to sell so have to spend more on marketing, ( they also have to work hard overcome the perception of their dodgy alloy rudder shafts) .

Where did this "perception" come from? If you are thinking of the ONE faiilure of the 37 that sank in the Irish Sea, you will find that the report was unable to find a satisfactory explanation for the failure. This also seems to be the only reported failure - unless you know different. The rudders are made by Jefa, who supply many of the big production builders some of whom also use aluminium stocks.

 

[alan_d]

Will my boat sink if Bavaria goes belly up?!

No, it will become irreplacable and all the more desirable, like Westerlies.