Boats.co.uk no longer Princess Dealer

[petem]

Then Peters took over sales (very interesting after slagging off Sealine for many years when they had Fairline Sales…..things like “built by Kidderminster postmen” which I never quite understood)

That was a late 90's piss take. The inference was that the Sealine factory was full of part time postmen who pitched up after their shifts to build some boats. As opposed to other manufacturers who had proper skilled craftsmen.

Anyhow, on the subject of BUK, one has to ask why, in a market where dealers can sell all the boats they can get hold of, PMYS would want to give some of their allocation (and commission) to BUK? And BUK are probably getting the boat allocations that nobody else want and when they do sell a boat PMYS get a chunk of the commission.

 

[Portofino]

Anyhow, on the subject of BUK, one has to ask why, in a market where dealers can sell all the boats they can get hold of, PMYS would want to give some of their allocation (and commission) to BUK? And BUK are probably getting the boat allocations that nobody else want and when they do sell a boat PMYS get a chunk of the commission.

See post #3 .

 

[stelican]

There was a recent unimpressive video of a Princess 55 (walk-round at SBS.)
The guy said the model was sold out for 2 yrs
Perhaps why they were looking for something else to sell.

 

[Mr Googler]

They have recently become Searay dealers too. Brunswick can turn out some volume by comparison.

Perhaps lower price….higher volume is more suited to their setup

 

[MapisM]

See post #3 .

Saying that there are economic reasons (ignoring greed, which is just one shade of economic reasons) behind bust-ups, don't you think it's akin to reinvent the wheel?
Mind, you could say the same of new M&A, commercial agreements, and so forth, not only of bust-ups.
Coming to think of it, you can even extend the principle to any business activities, I reckon...
Nothing new under the sun, really.

 

[henryf]

Doubt it Bates have that one , I was thinking a Poole based manufacturer.

I would be very surprised if they went back to Fairline - although they did sell a lot of Fairline product when the factory needed to shift boats.

I would be even more surprised if they sold Sunseeker. The Sunseeker London group have a MASSIVE reach.

My thoughts would be a little bit more left field and wouldn’t really be in the manufacturer’s business plan for a couple of years but it would be a great fit……

 

[petem]

I would be very surprised if they went back to Fairline - although they did sell a lot of Fairline product when the factory needed to shift boats.

I would be even more surprised if they sold Sunseeker. The Sunseeker London group have a MASSIVE reach.

My thoughts would be a little bit more left field and wouldn’t really be in the manufacturer’s business plan for a couple of years but it would be a great fit……

I agree. Fairline and S/S are already selling all the boats that they can build. Why would they want to antagonise their existing sales network by taking on BUK? It's hardly like S/S are struggling.

I remember when BA Peters (post Fairline) thought that they could sell anything and this proved to be wrong. I wonder if BUK might find the same if they take on a non UK brand.

 

[mjf]

I think it has always been difficult to justify two different dealers in the UK. I had always assumed that Essex were a sub dealer for Swanwick but I may be wrong.

What Essex brought to the table was a willingness to find a deal when Swanwick might have been a bit more traditional particularly when it came to part exchanges. Without doubt Essex have forced people to get creative and see the value in used boats. I still wouldn`t p/x a boat but then again I sell stuff for a living. Why pay a baker when you make great cakes Yourself?

At the start of the relationship I was sceptical in terms of how Essex would provide back up, I have only heard great things on that score so they deserve continued success. In particular their Cala d`or operation seems to have some VERY loyal supporters.

My contact has always been with Swanwick and I wouldn’t think to play one off against the other, neither have I been approached to try and “Steal” my custom so I genuinely hope both sides continue to prosper and it is just one of those times when things came to a natural conclusion.

I can certainly think of a very interesting option for Essex if they wanted to represent a larger brand in the UK. without treading on anyone`s toes.

Henry

Henry

"I think it has always been difficult to justify two different dealers in the UK. I had always assumed that Essex were a sub dealer for Swanwick but I may be wrong."

They obtained Essexes Fairline book of names. I remember the first year at SIB the princess stand was flooded by Boats UK "names" with the lanyards / hospitality invitations, over the years the number of Boat Uk "names" seemed to fall. Do not forget that Boats Uk have a mighty agency book of brands now too.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

However I think Princess is here for the long term.

Depends how you see it. Cash flow and real profits are a recipe to kill even the best of businesses.

Princess has not shown a penny of profit since some years (around 10), and if they don't show it this year, with all these sales when are they gonna show it.
Reportedly LVG wants to off-load the business since some years now (about 5 or 6). But somehow no buyer has come with the expectations that they have.
So it will be interesting where the Princess fairly tale starts to become a real story.

Still I would think this to be some region dealer issue, with Princess Yacht Sales possibly wanting to have full territorial control, and or Essex Boats.co.uk wanting to have direct sales involvement then being a sub dealer (as some here have reported). I think more the later then the former, especially with most boat builders having supply chain issues and are really not interested in boosting production at the moment, meaning that sometimes for a boat not possible to give in 2022 means losing a sale.

 

[EricJ]

And they are back at Fairline… Sounds like there were no new Princesses available to sell anymore on short term. With Fairline there is still a big step to be made.

 

[admillington]

60 Boats in 6 years, considering that included a Y85 was some going.

I am sure they will be perfect for Fairline.

 

[sharpness]

I can certainly think of a very interesting option for Essex if they wanted to represent a larger brand in the UK. without treading on anyone`s toes.

Henry

Would that be the manufacturer "Sirena" based I think you said in Turkey? Your recent review of them was positive, just that the negative was that there was no local dealer.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Can anyone remember the reason they gave when they dropped Fairline for Princess? - 6 years (?) ago? Same reasons now?

 

[stelican]

I believe that the ex MD of Fairline is also a dealer for Princess in Mallorca which may have something to do with it.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Fairline went bankrupt in 2015/16, just a few months after Essex stopped selling them.
I think at the time and for the recent years before that they where Fairline largest dealer.

 

[pks1702]

Wonder if boats will do a smarmy video on this subject ...

They have done a video

 

[henryf]

Would that be the manufacturer "Sirena" based I think you said in Turkey? Your recent review of them was positive, just that the negative was that there was no local dealer.

Yes. I think they would be an excellent fit and it would be an interesting product not currently satisfied by any of the UK builders.

I actually think Fairline missed a trick not building a Sirena type motorboat 10 years ago.

 

[henryf]

I wish Boats.co.uk all the best with their return to Fairline.

They can once again be a big fish in a smaller sea rather than playing second fiddle as a sub dealer within a much larger manufacturing programme. They have their work cut out, as things currently stand the Fairline product is not as good as either Princess or Sunseeker in my humble opinion purely based on internal volume. They have a new 55 foot flybridge due out around SIBS next year and that for me will either be the seed for future success or the nail in Fairline’s coffin.

I think back to SIBS 2008 or 2009? when we all stepped aboard the “revolutionary” circa 53 foot new launch only to be faced with 3 foot headroom in the master cabin. Stepping off the boat their stand started falling apart and the die was cast.

Fast forward to 2021 Fairline’s mid 50 foot flybridge is tiny inside compared to Princess or Sunseeker. We were at SIBS to buy a boat and Fairline never made it to the shortlist.

They may have doors that take a week to lacquer but for me that just emphasises how out of date they are. We’ve moved on to more durable satin finishes along with huge internal volume. The contrast between Princess’ factory which I visited a couple of weeks ago and Fairline in that video was chalk and cheese. Princess woodwork is carefully protected during assembly only revealed during final cleaning / snagging, at Fairline the doors are sitting there waiting to get scratched as they are fitted.

Boats.co.uk when unleashed leave no stone unturned in finding a deal. What they need now is for Fairline to produce a boat fit for the modern era. Draw a line through the 1990’s and open your doors to the 2020’s……..

For me it will all come down to the 2023 model line up.

 

[Hurricane]

I think back to SIBS 2008 or 2009? when we all stepped aboard the “revolutionary” circa 53 foot new launch only to be faced with 3 foot headroom in the master cabin. Stepping off the boat their stand started falling apart and the die was cast.

Our experience was exactly the same back in 2007.
Fairline had "lost the way" in the "mid 60 foot" boat.
Their SQ66 just wasn't practical so apart from a Sunseeker offering, the Princess was the only real choice.
Since those days, Fairline have addressed that issue and have/had much better offerings.
Boats.co.uk though, have had and still have a very good reputation at doing what they do "well".

 

[Portofino]

Fairline went bankrupt in 2015/16, just a few months after Essex stopped selling them.
I think at the time and for the recent years before that they where Fairline largest dealer.

Which begs the Q what’s about to happen at Princess for those without ostrich syndrome

If I was Henry I would be wanting to beef up my security right now .Move it to def com 1


Yes I don’t buy into the sales twaddle vid presentation .
pleeeeese “A four inch brush “ and stuff like “ door lacquer” .

It’s all about the deal aka £££ .
Either Princess have cut there share of the take , the sales £ .
Or / and they have tightened up on the cash flow side of customer cash .Or / and possibly in reward some how liability of spreading risk financially down from themselves to BUK .

Or BUK ( wise men good inside knowledge) know LVT are about to offload imminently ? BUK do not like the cut of the new prospects jib .

BUK would have been afforded better terms with FL , and sought assurance s Princess can’t offer going fwds .= jump out from Prinny into bed with FL .

Why sell another 10 Priny s this year expose yourself greater risk , when you could sell 6 FLs with a better risk profile for more / less same bottom line .

Always follow the money in business .

Certainly not the smell of lacquer or size of gel coat brushes .You has to hand it them sales men all the way .James will be selling sand to the Arabs next

Blimey pull the other one .