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30' Cat Question
- Thread starter us1kw
- Start date
catmando
Infamous
Not sure what a new 28 costs but it's probly more than your quote. I would say 120-130 but that could be low.
No question your price is awesome. Can you give us more info on beam, cockpit setup etc? I think the raceboat setup is best, twin buckets with the sticks in between and three or four on the bench or three rear bolsters. I would prefer the bolsters myself, and a wraparound windscreen. Wind gets tiring above 60mph.
No question your price is awesome. Can you give us more info on beam, cockpit setup etc? I think the raceboat setup is best, twin buckets with the sticks in between and three or four on the bench or three rear bolsters. I would prefer the bolsters myself, and a wraparound windscreen. Wind gets tiring above 60mph.
Rik
Sponsor / Charter Member
Don't really know what you are asking but are you saying you want to get the same amount of $$ that other builders are currently getting for a 30' outboard boat?
Let's see. 30' Cat will have a weight of 3,700-4,000 lbs. X $4/lb in glass/resin = $16K in the hull minus motors and interior and rigging.
38K for two engines
2,200 for the interior depending upon the amount
Capilano helm, smart craft gauges and shifters, $2,500
Batteries, boxes, switches and bilge pumps cable $1200
Steering Wheel $200
Labor?
So, $60,100.00 and no labor and sell for $89K. Assuming a 20% profit margin (goal) = 17,800.00 = $71,200 in cost.
Tight business plan.
Maritime_eng
New member
I think it would sell great! I think I know who the manufacture is.... I know mercury is selling 250XS for a great price so I do think it is possible to build a cat for 89K.
Spectre made a 30 with twin 250XS and it ran right at 100 mph. Great performace, reliable, and easier to insure.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
I think it's a decent, but very aggressive, business plan. From reviewing numbers, I think all the overhead structure would have to be in place to have a decent chance for success.
That being said, the same aggressive plan, with a similar V Hull final product, would target a much wider customer base and, therefore, have a better chance for financing and success.
(Opinion)
That being said, the same aggressive plan, with a similar V Hull final product, would target a much wider customer base and, therefore, have a better chance for financing and success.
(Opinion)
Top Banana
Icon/Founding Member
I agree with you ....that was a fantastic boat and with the buys out there right now from Merc, it could be doable.
Businesses flourish for one reason and one reason only. Their ability to do something better than everyone else. If the value proposition is cost, you have to be able to do something the other guys can't. Are you going to build them in China? If not, how will you pay the same build costs as other American manufacturers and sell for, in some cases, a fraction of what competitive boats sell for.
Skater has been successful over the years and subsequently extracts a premium price for their boats simply because they build a great product (quality) and it performs exceptionally well (service). So they enjoy significant margins and aren't forced to compete with a bunch of marginal manufacturers (price)
In business, the basic fundamental question you have to ask is "What can we do that no one else can?" If you're assuming you can do something better than the next guy, you're most likely wrong. It's a big world full of bright, motivated people and the possibilities of someone possessing some particular skill or knowledge that the rest of the world lacks is unlikely. Cigarette builds a decent boat and gets a premium price for it. You can buy a better-constructed boat. And you can pay less. But there's a reason Cigarette enjoys the position they're in- decades of brand equity. Many people have tried to build a better boat for less money than Cig does, but they don't sell as many boats as Cig.
I suppose my response to the original question-
- would be "why would a well-known, successful manufacturer want to?" If I were a solid name brand boat manufacturer, why would I head to the basement on pricing?
Lastly, and every manufacturer knows this, building little boats doesn't cost much less than building big boats. There's a reason none of the successful manufacturers don't have a small boat in their line. Cigarette now starts at 38'. They've had the 20, 24, 28, 30 and 35 in past years. They didn't drop them because they sold well and yielded good returns. MTI, Nortech- the list goes on. No small boat.
If you could build the boat, build a strong, reliable, attractive product and deliver it to the marketplace, I believe you could sell alot of them. But unless there's some hidden magic in here, I don't believe it would be a sustainable business model. The market couldn't support the unit volume you'd need to have to function on razor-thin margins
Skater has been successful over the years and subsequently extracts a premium price for their boats simply because they build a great product (quality) and it performs exceptionally well (service). So they enjoy significant margins and aren't forced to compete with a bunch of marginal manufacturers (price)
In business, the basic fundamental question you have to ask is "What can we do that no one else can?" If you're assuming you can do something better than the next guy, you're most likely wrong. It's a big world full of bright, motivated people and the possibilities of someone possessing some particular skill or knowledge that the rest of the world lacks is unlikely. Cigarette builds a decent boat and gets a premium price for it. You can buy a better-constructed boat. And you can pay less. But there's a reason Cigarette enjoys the position they're in- decades of brand equity. Many people have tried to build a better boat for less money than Cig does, but they don't sell as many boats as Cig.
I suppose my response to the original question-
- would be "why would a well-known, successful manufacturer want to?" If I were a solid name brand boat manufacturer, why would I head to the basement on pricing?
Lastly, and every manufacturer knows this, building little boats doesn't cost much less than building big boats. There's a reason none of the successful manufacturers don't have a small boat in their line. Cigarette now starts at 38'. They've had the 20, 24, 28, 30 and 35 in past years. They didn't drop them because they sold well and yielded good returns. MTI, Nortech- the list goes on. No small boat.
If you could build the boat, build a strong, reliable, attractive product and deliver it to the marketplace, I believe you could sell alot of them. But unless there's some hidden magic in here, I don't believe it would be a sustainable business model. The market couldn't support the unit volume you'd need to have to function on razor-thin margins
Last edited:
JupiterSunsation
New member
Chris don't forget MTI just introduced the 36 and there are rumors that Outerlimits is building a 36 both down a few feet from their smallest models previously. Sunsation came out with their S-Line of 28/32's trying to save the buyers a few dollars by building lighter layup boats with a few less options.
I think US1KW is trying to jumpstart a slow market with an agressively priced and very reliable package. If that package gets someone into the showroom they might buy something bigger instead. I think it could be an attractive package for a lot of boaters if reasonable insurance is available. No sense in getting a good deal on a boat that you can't afford to insure..........
I think US1KW is trying to jumpstart a slow market with an agressively priced and very reliable package. If that package gets someone into the showroom they might buy something bigger instead. I think it could be an attractive package for a lot of boaters if reasonable insurance is available. No sense in getting a good deal on a boat that you can't afford to insure..........
My thoughts are this: It seems as if there are plenty of 36'+ new and used boats on the market, most at a fraction of what they cost to build. With most folks net worth dropping there will be more. I don't think the desire for speed and a cool looking boat will go away, just maybe downsize for a while. An affordable entry level boat that can still run in moderately bumpy water, be fuel efficient and reliable under warranty may fill the void. I don't know, that's why I posted the question.
As for how can you build it, labor costs and material costs are down. Mercury is offering some pretty good deals on power, and if you be careful with advertising expenses and boat shows I believe it is a good place to start. Then as things start coming around build the larger boats for your customers to move up to.
As for how can you build it, labor costs and material costs are down. Mercury is offering some pretty good deals on power, and if you be careful with advertising expenses and boat shows I believe it is a good place to start. Then as things start coming around build the larger boats for your customers to move up to.
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