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Author Topic:   Old whaler dealer out? Searay dealer in?

SWarren posted 12-19-2002 09:34 AM ET (US)
I was reading my local rag this morning in Charleston SC, and it looks as if a long time whaler dealer from the 60s will not be selling whaler anymore. There was an ad in the paper by the local searay dealer selling the 13 sport with 40 merc for 8995. I doubt that Boston Whaler would support two dealers in the same town. I am going to go by the Outboard shop today and ask whats up.
Steve
WhalerAce posted 12-19-2002 09:48 AM ET (US)
'Tis true. I was talking with Tony and SMokey the other week and they were saying that Whaler's sales policies were just getting intolerable for those less-than-multi-million-dollar annual sales dealers.
I think they are going to handle Dougherty's new boats, as well as Scouts.
There is an AWESOME amount of Whaler knowledge at the Outboard Shop, as well as a lot of Whaler parts that others seem to have trouble finding.
It's a shame that had to happen.
Whaler Proud posted 12-19-2002 10:48 AM ET (US)
WhalerAce:
Could you post a phone number for this dealer? If this dealer has a lot of old parts, we all could probably use the info.
If you have done this before, please disregard the request.
Thanks
WP
witsendfl posted 12-19-2002 11:33 AM ET (US)
It happened here in Tampa. (Gulfwind Marine so called Marine Max) They have been the Whaler Dealer for a couple of years. Gulfwind has a dealership in Clearwater and in Tampa. With other Marine Max Whaler dealer in Sarasota)
On the flip side
in Henderson Harbour NY. There is a very Small dealer. The problem is is SO SO very overprised. He stil has 2001 Hulls w/ Honda's on them.
witsendfl
dscew posted 12-19-2002 01:05 PM ET (US)
Lots of MarineMax outfits took over Whalers in the last few years. In Minnesota, however, MarineMax couldn't figure out how to sell them, since the salespeople only knew how to sell to folks wearing lots of gold, makeup, and hairspray. They finally gave up 2 years ago and left Whaler to the dealer that has the knowledge and experience, Windward Marine, who have had them for at least 14 years.
jimh posted 12-19-2002 01:17 PM ET (US)
I have to laugh about the description of the new style Boston Whaler salesmen.
Personally, if I go to a business and find a salesman with mousse in his hair, the chances of me buying anything are reduced to near zero.
reelescape1 posted 12-19-2002 01:49 PM ET (US)
I hate see it happen...The Outboard Shop has seen a many of my $$$ and will continue to do so. Tony's know-how, experience, and willingness to help have saved me many times!!
WhalerAce posted 12-19-2002 01:56 PM ET (US)
Whaler Proud,
The Outboard Shop in Charleston, SC is (843) 747-9614. Tony Campbell is the Service department mangager (and multiple Whaler owner) and a super guy to talk to.
witsendfl posted 12-19-2002 02:54 PM ET (US)
Adjustment to my above post
Harbours End Marine Henderson NY
Still had 2000's w/ Honda 4 stroke
Montauk Pretty sure
witsendfl
lhg posted 12-19-2002 02:57 PM ET (US)
Just curious, guys. Tell me what other brands of outboards the "Outboard shop" handles, and maybe I can shed some light on the REAL issues.
Bigshot posted 12-19-2002 03:05 PM ET (US)
Larry as of last summer, the local BW dealer in NJ (Hance & Smythe) said they could still order certain models sans engine. They said it was difficult and more expensive. I had a long post here about it. He also said he doubts 2003's will be available w/o engine except CPDs.
lhg posted 12-19-2002 06:15 PM ET (US)
Well, I just checked their website. Sure enough, it shows OMC (as do most longtime Whaler dealers), Yamaha and Honda engines.
You can bet the real issues are probably Whaler's insistance on getting rid of some of those engine brands, or BW not willing to sell Whalers without engines. One other issue is taking on Mercury to sell "loose" engines.
Yamaha or Honda could have objected to this.
My guess is that Whaler pulled the plug on them for an unwillingness to give up some of the other brands and not taking on Mercury for loose sales. After all, if you're going to sell Mercury powered Whalers, you have to offer Mercury service. I'll bet this was too much for them. Yamaha, Honda and Bombardier (also fighting for turf these days) probably have contingent bonus structures that this Dealership wanted to keep, plus they have all those 500,000 parts in stock. Don't think that Yamaha doesn't put it all on the line either. They have been known to say you can't have us and Mercury/Boston Whaler.
From what I have observed, it seems only the really big, long time Whaler dealers can get some bare boats for Yamaha installations. These guys probably weren't big enough to pull that off, and they couldn't afford to lose Yamaha or Honda, or even Bombardier.
I recently saw a few 2003 Whalers sitting bare on two different, but large, Dealer's lots, so you can evidently still get one if you shop hard enough. It seems with the Sport Co (130-170's) that it's Merc or nothing. But Mercury and Yamaha are all intermingled in these HP ranges anyway, so why bother.
Now, what if I want a Scout with a Mercury?
All that I have seen have Yamahas, period.
Eventually, all this fuss about engine brands on a given boat brand will die down. It's this transition period that's causing all of the discussion and re-alignment of Dealers, since this is a new development in the last five years. The first 40 years of outboard boat purchasing included a reasonable degree (but not completely) of freedom of choice. It now appears those days are slowly and agonizingly coming to an end. It's now only available on a re-power situation.
If you were a BW Marketing rep for these guys, what would you have done?

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Author	Topic: Old whaler dealer out? Searay dealer in?
SWarren	posted 12-19-2002 09:34 AM ET (US) I was reading my local rag this morning in Charleston SC, and it looks as if a long time whaler dealer from the 60s will not be selling whaler anymore. There was an ad in the paper by the local searay dealer selling the 13 sport with 40 merc for 8995. I doubt that Boston Whaler would support two dealers in the same town. I am going to go by the Outboard shop today and ask whats up. Steve
WhalerAce	posted 12-19-2002 09:48 AM ET (US) 'Tis true. I was talking with Tony and SMokey the other week and they were saying that Whaler's sales policies were just getting intolerable for those less-than-multi-million-dollar annual sales dealers. I think they are going to handle Dougherty's new boats, as well as Scouts. There is an AWESOME amount of Whaler knowledge at the Outboard Shop, as well as a lot of Whaler parts that others seem to have trouble finding. It's a shame that had to happen.
Whaler Proud	posted 12-19-2002 10:48 AM ET (US) WhalerAce: Could you post a phone number for this dealer? If this dealer has a lot of old parts, we all could probably use the info. If you have done this before, please disregard the request. Thanks WP
witsendfl	posted 12-19-2002 11:33 AM ET (US) It happened here in Tampa. (Gulfwind Marine so called Marine Max) They have been the Whaler Dealer for a couple of years. Gulfwind has a dealership in Clearwater and in Tampa. With other Marine Max Whaler dealer in Sarasota) On the flip side in Henderson Harbour NY. There is a very Small dealer. The problem is is SO SO very overprised. He stil has 2001 Hulls w/ Honda's on them. witsendfl
dscew	posted 12-19-2002 01:05 PM ET (US) Lots of MarineMax outfits took over Whalers in the last few years. In Minnesota, however, MarineMax couldn't figure out how to sell them, since the salespeople only knew how to sell to folks wearing lots of gold, makeup, and hairspray. They finally gave up 2 years ago and left Whaler to the dealer that has the knowledge and experience, Windward Marine, who have had them for at least 14 years.
jimh	posted 12-19-2002 01:17 PM ET (US) I have to laugh about the description of the new style Boston Whaler salesmen. Personally, if I go to a business and find a salesman with mousse in his hair, the chances of me buying anything are reduced to near zero.
reelescape1	posted 12-19-2002 01:49 PM ET (US) I hate see it happen...The Outboard Shop has seen a many of my $$$ and will continue to do so. Tony's know-how, experience, and willingness to help have saved me many times!!
WhalerAce	posted 12-19-2002 01:56 PM ET (US) Whaler Proud, The Outboard Shop in Charleston, SC is (843) 747-9614. Tony Campbell is the Service department mangager (and multiple Whaler owner) and a super guy to talk to.
witsendfl	posted 12-19-2002 02:54 PM ET (US) Adjustment to my above post Harbours End Marine Henderson NY Still had 2000's w/ Honda 4 stroke Montauk Pretty sure witsendfl
lhg	posted 12-19-2002 02:57 PM ET (US) Just curious, guys. Tell me what other brands of outboards the "Outboard shop" handles, and maybe I can shed some light on the REAL issues.
Bigshot	posted 12-19-2002 03:05 PM ET (US) Larry as of last summer, the local BW dealer in NJ (Hance & Smythe) said they could still order certain models sans engine. They said it was difficult and more expensive. I had a long post here about it. He also said he doubts 2003's will be available w/o engine except CPDs.
lhg	posted 12-19-2002 06:15 PM ET (US) Well, I just checked their website. Sure enough, it shows OMC (as do most longtime Whaler dealers), Yamaha and Honda engines. You can bet the real issues are probably Whaler's insistance on getting rid of some of those engine brands, or BW not willing to sell Whalers without engines. One other issue is taking on Mercury to sell "loose" engines. Yamaha or Honda could have objected to this. My guess is that Whaler pulled the plug on them for an unwillingness to give up some of the other brands and not taking on Mercury for loose sales. After all, if you're going to sell Mercury powered Whalers, you have to offer Mercury service. I'll bet this was too much for them. Yamaha, Honda and Bombardier (also fighting for turf these days) probably have contingent bonus structures that this Dealership wanted to keep, plus they have all those 500,000 parts in stock. Don't think that Yamaha doesn't put it all on the line either. They have been known to say you can't have us and Mercury/Boston Whaler. From what I have observed, it seems only the really big, long time Whaler dealers can get some bare boats for Yamaha installations. These guys probably weren't big enough to pull that off, and they couldn't afford to lose Yamaha or Honda, or even Bombardier. I recently saw a few 2003 Whalers sitting bare on two different, but large, Dealer's lots, so you can evidently still get one if you shop hard enough. It seems with the Sport Co (130-170's) that it's Merc or nothing. But Mercury and Yamaha are all intermingled in these HP ranges anyway, so why bother. Now, what if I want a Scout with a Mercury? All that I have seen have Yamahas, period. Eventually, all this fuss about engine brands on a given boat brand will die down. It's this transition period that's causing all of the discussion and re-alignment of Dealers, since this is a new development in the last five years. The first 40 years of outboard boat purchasing included a reasonable degree (but not completely) of freedom of choice. It now appears those days are slowly and agonizingly coming to an end. It's now only available on a re-power situation. If you were a BW Marketing rep for these guys, what would you have done?