SBS - One spare ticket

[JerryC]

I take it this discussion is centred around the cost of NEW boats. Why focus on that? People who want new boats and can afford them will buy them, and I wish them good luck with their purchase, and also with the depreciation when it comes time to buy a newer or bigger boat, but I doubt that will bother them. Just look around this forum and realise that the used market is very different and affordable even to the average man. Similarly with campervans. Sorry HenryF

 

[[2068]]

An entry level car ?
What do you think ?
200k on a new (basic) four berth boat is insane ?
20k on a 17 ft Thames launch okay ?
5k in an inflatable and 4hp ?? No insane !
What ever way you look at it the average (not banker or bonus kid) 40 year old living in London with a good salary cannot get into boating on a decent scale.
We argue this point every year.
Like housing it’s out of sync.

I’m confused ... you are selling boats (yachts?) retailing at €85 million ... that seems quite out of sync to me

 

[Time Out]

MYS (Monaco) is not for the man on the street.

Southampton is supposed to be but all entry level boats just seemed to be out of reach.

Yes I could find a way to do it but could I swallow the depreciation! That’s a whole different conversation!

 

[henryf]

MYS (Monaco) is not for the man on the street.

Southampton is supposed to be but all entry level boats just seemed to be out of reach.

Yes I could find a way to do it but could I swallow the depreciation! That’s a whole different conversation!

Which High Street were you walking down where every man could afford to own a motorboat? Mayfair, Chelsea possibly?

New boats have always been expensive beyond the affordability of your average man in the street.

Princess make about 300 boats a year for worldwide consumption. There are 60 million people just in the UK. Do the maths.

Henry

 

[rafiki_]

Which High Street were you walking down where every man could afford to own a motorboat? Mayfair, Chelsea possibly?

New boats have always been expensive beyond the affordability of your average man in the street.

Princess make about 300 boats a year for worldwide consumption. There are 60 million people just in the UK. Do the maths.

Henry

Henry, I have missed your usual account of the show. Shape up man, and get something on here pronto!

 

[henryf]

Only arrived yesterday in the rain, back again today but some interesting boats.

Patience grasshoppper

 

[Bouba]

It’s a lesson we all learn at boat shows. I remember my first and being gobsmacked at the prices, then I found a boat at a reasonable price (I didn’t have the money but I could aspire to it) but I still remember the salesman’s words, ‘would you be wanting an engine with that, sir?’

 

[Time Out]

Which High Street were you walking down where every man could afford to own a motorboat? Mayfair, Chelsea possibly?

New boats have always been expensive beyond the affordability of your average man in the street.

Princess make about 300 boats a year for worldwide consumption. There are 60 million people just in the UK. Do the maths.

Henry

Ha I do that ‘math’ more than you will ever know ....

My point still stands. Entry level boating is a world away from where it used to be. Even you can’t argue with that.

It’s up there with London property prices ! Only available to the lucky few !

 

[henryf]

Ha I do that ‘math’ more than you will ever know ....

My point still stands. Entry level boating is a world away from where it used to be. Even you can’t argue with that.

It’s up there with London property prices ! Only available to the lucky few !

No, genuinely I don't think it is. A Merry Fisher 605 with a Yamaha 115 engine commissioned and delivered was £37,700 advertised before any haggling. What are you expecting, a 3 berth 40 footer for that price?

The Princess, Sunseeker and Fairlines of this world produce a far better equipped and fitted out boat compared to their offerings of a few decades ago. otwithstanding the spec increases new 30, 40 or 50 foot boats have never been the plaything of your average man in the street.

Henry

 

[JerryC]

... The Princess, Sunseeker and Fairlines of this world produce a far better equipped and fitted out boat compared to their offerings of a few decades ago. otwithstanding the spec increases new 30, 40 or 50 foot boats have never been the plaything of your average man in the street. Henry

Hi HenryF, I'm not quite so convinced, but I'm looking forward to your latest SIBS vid review, hopefully of a Priny, as usual. Compared to my 2001 one, over the last few years their interiors seem to have ventured into the area of rectangular flat packs, no doubt to cut costs. But have they passed that saving on?

Sorry for the Fred Drift, but re 'offerings of a few decades ago', my (ex) ancient 1970's Danish planing boat was built like a brick s**t-house, and had a very pointy bow, so it sliced through wave tops rather than bouncing over them like my Prinny does (cue Portofino's reply, lol). Downside was the fwd cabin was very tapered and steep sided, resulting in a very tight sleeping space for two adults.

 

[henryf]

Hi HenryF, I'm not quite so convinced, but I'm looking forward to your latest SIBS vid review, hopefully of a Priny, as usual. Compared to my 2001 one, over the last few years their interiors seem to have ventured into the area of rectangular flat packs, no doubt to cut costs. But have they passed that saving on?

No video I'm afraid but I'll be putting my thoughts down for what they are worth.

As for flat pack Princess interiors, we might have been at different shows. I was at the Southampton show where the detailing on the Princess interiors was fantastic. Subtle lighting, swage lines and detailing breaks. The interiors are coherent and less fussy but not flat pack. The Lagoon 630 motor cat was flat pack heaven with plastic jointing strips to hide potential gaps but not Princess from what I saw.

Incidentally not detracting from the Lagoon 630, it made it onto the interesting list

Henry

 

[ari]

If I come away as a ‘qualified ‘ buyer financially but can’t afford it then where does that leave the industry?

That’s an industry problem and not mine.

If you can't afford it, how are you a 'financially qualified buyer'? Surely the very definition is someone that can afford it.

Ask the folk with the 200k basic first time boat why they were not selling any ?

Then ask the paddle boarders why they are selling loads ?

It’s a massive shift and it’s obvious that beginner motor boat ownership is in decline

Where is the evidence that 'beginner motor boat ownership is in decline'? The last survey I saw suggested that boat ownership was on the up, that can only be the case if more new people are doing it.

 

[Time Out]

If you can't afford it, how are you a 'financially qualified buyer'? Surely the very definition is someone that can afford it.



Where is the evidence that 'beginner motor boat ownership is in decline'? The last survey I saw suggested that boat ownership was on the up, that can only be the case if more new people are doing it.

Paddle boarding is on the up.....

 

[stelican]

If you can't afford it, how are you a 'financially qualified buyer'? Surely the very definition is someone that can afford it.



Where is the evidence that 'beginner motor boat ownership is in decline'? The last survey I saw suggested that boat ownership was on the up, that can only be the case if more new people are doing it.

There appears to be high occupancy of the South Coast marinas, You will find a percentage of people in the new hobby of paddle boarding will move up the ladder.