If you could..............

How about:
  1. Engines, drives, and tabs that completely do away with all these silly, P.I.T.A. Morse cables that we have to run through the boat. In this day and age of electronics and fly-by wire, there has got to be an electronic solution for drive/tab position sensing.
  2. A simpler hydraulic system so you don't have to have a separate pump, reservoir, solenoids and relays for every appliance on the transom. Just one pump with an accumulator and a group of moog valves.
  3. A programmable trim system with several settings including a default program for coming on plane. The system would sense boat pitch angle, throttle position, engine load and engine speed, then automatically move the drives and tabs to get everything going as smoothly and quickly as possible. The settings could be customized by the user to their preference, or set to "learn" the best combination. This is just the next step from the joystick control systems that are already out there.
  4. Once we go to fly-by-wire throttles, an active throttle program that cuts power when it senses no load on the input shaft (out of the water) to reduce the chance of breaking something for those of us who are not Bobby Moore or John Tomlinson. On down the road, forward-looking sensors could be used to re-instate power when the boat lands. The Navy is already using this basic technology in active ride-control seats.

Most of this already exist and is very common. You just have to get out of the Mercury world.

Fly by wire throttles are very common for years, same goes for electronic trim indicators and a programmable trim system for the engine loads are all available today.
 
They can give me a free boat to clear out inventory...and maybe I will go on to boost the aftermarket parts sales (maybe...) buy a little fuel (little) and support local businesses and restraunts that near areas that I boat near.

Is Formula, Fountain, and Sunsation listening??

Oh I hope so.
 
Most of this already exists and is very common. You just have to get out of the Mercury world...
My point exactly, although even Mercury has had Smartcraft out for some time now and had to do a lot of fly-by wire work to bring the Axius sterndrive joystick to market. Volvo Penta's EVC (Electronic Vessel Control) network is well-proven, and they are now offering "glass-cockpit" displays that monitor not only engine parameters, but other boat systems as well. Better yet, EVC is compatible with NMEA2000 network devices, so it can communicate with chartplotters, etc.

Since Ilmor did their own proprietary ECM for the new Gen 4/Indy packages, only IlmorDude really knows what they might spring on us. I know the Indy drive is designed to use electronic rather than cable position sensing.

Engine-wise, I cant' believe that the LS engines have been ignored for so long. Since everything is close-cooled these days, corrosion issues should not be a big concern.

Still, looking back at the last 10-15 years, it's impressive how fast 38' boats are going with a pair of 525's now. Not bad at all...

Still, I'd love to see a complete 600 hp diesel/sterndrive package at 1200 lbs or less...
 
How about having some strong competition for Mercury @ construction level. ie several competing choices of power/drives when building the boat.
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41 SACCENTI with staggered 725 ILMOR'S and drives , plus canopy and cut down a notch to race in SUPER V UNLIMITED and the exact same boat as plessure version with cabin and PR boat !!!!! YEAH BABY !!!!!

Same here, but I want the Ilmor blower motors putting out around 1000hp... sure they dont exist, but they have to be on the drawing board or in the back corner......
 
Same here, but I want the Ilmor blower motors putting out around 1000hp... sure they dont exist, but they have to be on the drawing board or in the back corner......

Hennesy has 1000hp and 1200hp packages for the dodge v10. These are twin turbo car engines but it shows what can be done on the platform.
 
Everything has to get brought in line pricewise. In the past 5-10 years the prices spiraled out of control but the products didn't really change that much. Look at what happens in the car market (most models are re-designed every 5 years or so and price goes up 1 or 2%). With boats the prices go up 5% a year with no changes being done other than paint/trim options etc.

Skip bragged in one interview he doubled the price of his most popular boat (38 TG) since he took over, yet in reality the boat is unchanged with the exception of a dash change/interior options. Reggie hasn't updated the 42 in many years and even sells many versions of the same hull (42 EX, 42 PR, 42 LTG) but where are the economies of scale?

Mercury has made bravo drives/#6's for many years yet they keep going up in cost? Why? No R + D is being done on these products, steel is about the same cost, labor has gone up but why hasn't this product become cheaper? The 502 motor is proabably the most popular marine motor ever built yet they cost more now than ever before.


Any boat maker, part maker can be analyzed this way but the issue is that the consumer is getting squeezed by increases in insurance, fuel, storage, finance costs on top of ridiculous boat prices and never seen before depreciation rates. If the industry doesn't figure this mess out then there will be no manufacturers left........
 
Everything has to get brought in line pricewise. In the past 5-10 years the prices spiraled out of control but the products didn't really change that much. Look at what happens in the car market (most models are re-designed every 5 years or so and price goes up 1 or 2%). With boats the prices go up 5% a year with no changes being done other than paint/trim options etc.

Skip bragged in one interview he doubled the price of his most popular boat (38 TG) since he took over, yet in reality the boat is unchanged with the exception of a dash change/interior options. Reggie hasn't updated the 42 in many years and even sells many versions of the same hull (42 EX, 42 PR, 42 LTG) but where are the economies of scale?

Mercury has made bravo drives/#6's for many years yet they keep going up in cost? Why? No R + D is being done on these products, steel is about the same cost, labor has gone up but why hasn't this product become cheaper? The 502 motor is proabably the most popular marine motor ever built yet they cost more now than ever before.


Any boat maker, part maker can be analyzed this way but the issue is that the consumer is getting squeezed by increases in insurance, fuel, storage, finance costs on top of ridiculous boat prices and never seen before depreciation rates. If the industry doesn't figure this mess out then there will be no manufacturers left........

U should tell that SUNSATION too !!!

But you'r absolutley correct for the most part.
 
U should tell that SUNSATION too !!!

But you'r absolutley correct for the most part.

Most people could identify with the examples I listed........Sunsation and Nortech have been the most innovative in the last 24 months when it comes to new models/changes. If people like the new models/changes they are willing to pay for them......Note that Sunsation did introduce the S line of boats that were lighter on paint/bling and priced accordingly.

Anything boating related could use a pricing rollback......
 
Since Ilmor did their own proprietary ECM for the new Gen 4/Indy packages, only IlmorDude really knows what they might spring on us. I know the Indy drive is designed to use electronic rather than cable position sensing.

Drive has electronic trim sensor with an LED read out. Very cool piece. Red lights except the middle two are Blue for your run position. The "ICE" as its called has some good stuff going on. And im in for a 41 Saccenti also, when i hit the mega millions.
 
How about having some strong competition for Mercury @ construction level. ie several competing choices of power/drives when building the boat.
.

It goes deeper than that. Far deeper.

1st. The OEM has to want to offer something different than they currently do. Take your boat for example. Skip is not going to offer it with anything other than Merc. Not open for discussion even.

2nd, Anyone can play but only the one that pays can succeed. In order to get the manufactures, those with an open mind, to consider a new package they have to match the terms that Mercury has set forth and offer liberal terms on the goods in order to entice the OEM to do the deal

3rd, You have to win public perception. There are only a few things that will sell on the aftermarket and if there is no resale then there is not going to be a sale.

4th , You need to invest into infrastructure in order to support the option.

5th , etc. etc. etc…
 
...what product(s) to release to boost the marine market, what would it be?
Education to the masses so they don't believe the news media that promotes a Governmental solutions to our ills and they start thinking for themselves effectively how to earn a living, working and spending again...

If that fails, the solution that works the best I think for increased sales is show us something nice that the people want... Sort of like this....

oustairsupgirls.jpg


ticfaw426.jpg


Ouch.JPG


sunset.jpg



I think that couldn't miss.... :drool5:
 
GLH - Those are all acquisitions that will make anyone a poor man in a very short time.


"I bought my wife breast implants for Christmas, and I've had a great time playing with them ever since. I can hardly wait until they put them in." - Ron White
 
i think we are bored with the money=famous offshore racer if you have enough bling to buy a 50 foot cat you are assured of at least a top 5 finish ...i found this video intriguing and interesting these high tech high output engines a readily available and cheap i,ll bet this would be a great and fun class Rik could you downsize an arnson? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUTugwF2MY8
 
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