Saddletramp
Well-Known Member
I have just had an e-mail from a Chinese boat builder looking for agents. Anyone heard of or had any dealings with Stella Yachts? Yihongyacht.com
Chinese Boats, Sea Stella
- Thread starter Saddletramp
- Start date
Sundays_Child
Well-Known Member
When I first came across the yard, I was informed by Poweryacht that the sports cruisers were being sold by Blu Martin:
www.blumartin.it
You can compare here:
http://transportation.category.madeinchina.com/144582/P5300040/18-70-Express-Hard-Top.shtml
and here:
http://poweryacht.blogspot.com/search/label/Blu%20Martin
www.blumartin.it
You can compare here:
http://transportation.category.madeinchina.com/144582/P5300040/18-70-Express-Hard-Top.shtml
and here:
http://poweryacht.blogspot.com/search/label/Blu%20Martin
Saddletramp
Well-Known Member
Thanks that's really useful. They say they are doing business in Italy. The review does not mention that they are made in China.
What is the view of forumites about Chinese made boats I wonder. I know other chinese products have been given a bad press on here before.
What is the view of forumites about Chinese made boats I wonder. I know other chinese products have been given a bad press on here before.
Sundays_Child
Well-Known Member
Nordhavn, Selene and other world-class boats are made in China. At the other end of the scale, so is quite a lot of crap.
With the right management, first class products can definitely be made there.
With the right management, first class products can definitely be made there.
Saddletramp
Well-Known Member
Fair comment, I just wonder about perceptions of buyers in the UK. A lot of boat owning is about kudos.
Sundays_Child
Well-Known Member
Just walking around a Nordhavn blows any misgivings into the water.
I guess you need to take a look at Yihong's actual product to find out. Then there's the issue with the brand value, or lack-thereof.
I guess you need to take a look at Yihong's actual product to find out. Then there's the issue with the brand value, or lack-thereof.
Saddletramp
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Then there's the issue with the brand value, or lack-thereof.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.
I will look into the marketing of the names you mentioned though. Thanks for that.
Then there's the issue with the brand value, or lack-thereof.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.
I will look into the marketing of the names you mentioned though. Thanks for that.
maybh1
Well-Known Member
Traders are now made in China
She runs - ducking for cover as she goes/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
May
xx
She runs - ducking for cover as she goes/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
May
xx
Saddletramp
Well-Known Member
I thought they were in Emsworth.
Anyway I think the difference is that they have an established reputation. Bringing in a new boat without an established name is another matter.
Anyway I think the difference is that they have an established reputation. Bringing in a new boat without an established name is another matter.
maybh1
Well-Known Member
They are but the boats used to be built in Taiwan and now are built on the banks of the Pearl River in China
May
xx
May
xx
PowerYachtBlog
Well-Known Member
Blu Martin have build a solid reputation in Italy, having the Co FOunder been head of building operation for Paolo Molinari Airon Marine for a few years before setting shop on his own
to my knowledge they are built and laminated in Italy, as I think for a small company as Blumartin producing in China would be a bit costly, they sell about 10 boats a year
so may be it is more of a coperation to try and enter this new market, then a real seperate production site
Ferretti in beg 90s used to do something similar in South America, with different brand names
to my knowledge they are built and laminated in Italy, as I think for a small company as Blumartin producing in China would be a bit costly, they sell about 10 boats a year
so may be it is more of a coperation to try and enter this new market, then a real seperate production site
Ferretti in beg 90s used to do something similar in South America, with different brand names
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
Look at the boats but look most carefully at the project management, quality controllers, etc. actually based in the yard in China. The only way to guarantee a consistent product from China at the moment is to have western managers monitoring very carefully on site all the time, and monitoring the whole process right back to the raw materials. This means making sure that resin comes from a source with similar management in place for example.
Based on experience in the IT world when they get it right they're incredible - when they get it wrong it's equally incredible. Not criticising but things you wouldn't even contemplate guarding against in Europe are often not regarded as wrong at all and there's big cultural differences in managing the relationships too, of course.
The other catch is that I (and others who do know what they're talking) suspect the bandwagon has moved on a little. They'll still have huge advantages over the UK but the weakening pound, Chinese inflation and energy price rises mean that it won't be as high as it was.
Based on experience in the IT world when they get it right they're incredible - when they get it wrong it's equally incredible. Not criticising but things you wouldn't even contemplate guarding against in Europe are often not regarded as wrong at all and there's big cultural differences in managing the relationships too, of course.
The other catch is that I (and others who do know what they're talking) suspect the bandwagon has moved on a little. They'll still have huge advantages over the UK but the weakening pound, Chinese inflation and energy price rises mean that it won't be as high as it was.
PowerYachtBlog
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Look at the boats but look most carefully at the project management, quality controllers, etc. actually based in the yard in China. The only way to guarantee a consistent product from China at the moment is to have western managers monitoring very carefully on site all the time, and monitoring the whole process right back to the raw materials. This means making sure that resin comes from a source with similar management in place for example.
Based on experience in the IT world when they get it right they're incredible - when they get it wrong it's equally incredible. Not criticising but things you wouldn't even contemplate guarding against in Europe are often not regarded as wrong at all and there's big cultural differences in managing the relationships too, of course.
The other catch is that I (and others who do know what they're talking) suspect the bandwagon has moved on a little. They'll still have huge advantages over the UK but the weakening pound, Chinese inflation and energy price rises mean that it won't be as high as it was.
[/ QUOTE ]
in the end China will end up as Japan in the 70s
they had this decade for cheap labour and all, but now the people of China will want to live as good as us, so the price of production will start coming up
so I suspect after 2010 China want be as cheap as it is or it was, add to this the transport rises in the last year for the fuel and it might not be worth it for boat builders producing in there
it might also be costly for those who have set shop over there to minimize the rising costs and to remain compeititive in the future
then for a car maker who want to attack that internal market that is another story, but for boat builders with small numbers it is not really worth it
SeaRay produces 2000 boats a year
Beneteau 1000
Cranchi 1000
Sessa 1000
Jeanneau 500
Sunseeker 350
Fairline & Princess 300
Azimut 300 Atlantis Gobbi 200
Ferretti 100
given the global pciture of these builders (exluding Searay which sells 70% in US and Canada) I don't think it is worth it for them producing in China
Look at the boats but look most carefully at the project management, quality controllers, etc. actually based in the yard in China. The only way to guarantee a consistent product from China at the moment is to have western managers monitoring very carefully on site all the time, and monitoring the whole process right back to the raw materials. This means making sure that resin comes from a source with similar management in place for example.
Based on experience in the IT world when they get it right they're incredible - when they get it wrong it's equally incredible. Not criticising but things you wouldn't even contemplate guarding against in Europe are often not regarded as wrong at all and there's big cultural differences in managing the relationships too, of course.
The other catch is that I (and others who do know what they're talking) suspect the bandwagon has moved on a little. They'll still have huge advantages over the UK but the weakening pound, Chinese inflation and energy price rises mean that it won't be as high as it was.
[/ QUOTE ]
in the end China will end up as Japan in the 70s
they had this decade for cheap labour and all, but now the people of China will want to live as good as us, so the price of production will start coming up
so I suspect after 2010 China want be as cheap as it is or it was, add to this the transport rises in the last year for the fuel and it might not be worth it for boat builders producing in there
it might also be costly for those who have set shop over there to minimize the rising costs and to remain compeititive in the future
then for a car maker who want to attack that internal market that is another story, but for boat builders with small numbers it is not really worth it
SeaRay produces 2000 boats a year
Beneteau 1000
Cranchi 1000
Sessa 1000
Jeanneau 500
Sunseeker 350
Fairline & Princess 300
Azimut 300 Atlantis Gobbi 200
Ferretti 100
given the global pciture of these builders (exluding Searay which sells 70% in US and Canada) I don't think it is worth it for them producing in China
Sundays_Child
Well-Known Member
HK dealer: http://www.clippers.com.hk/
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
My DeFever was made in Taiwan and is to an excellent standard. I believe when the production moved to China the standard was initially considerably lower but has now much improved with experience. I would be very wary of a new yard with little previous experience. That would be the case wherever it was.
ADLS
Well-Known Member
Having spent several years working on construction projects in Asia I've found that they can build anything well. The problem comes with quility control on a daily basis. Management tend to think that once an operative has been shown how to carry out a task, he will continue to do so every time. Of course this does not work.
I once visited a boat builder in Taiwan and witnessed the workers laying up fiberglass matting, they were not over lapping the sheets or making sure the corners were properly filled and these were around the keel area. These boats were for a local customer and the yard said he was happy with there products.
If you were to import any boats you would need to have them inspected during build as I could see you having a lot of aftersales claims.
I once visited a boat builder in Taiwan and witnessed the workers laying up fiberglass matting, they were not over lapping the sheets or making sure the corners were properly filled and these were around the keel area. These boats were for a local customer and the yard said he was happy with there products.
If you were to import any boats you would need to have them inspected during build as I could see you having a lot of aftersales claims.
