posted 06-05-2003 09:38 PM ET (US)            

The Grady is a nice boat but they will sink, a Whaler won't.

Dick

posted 06-05-2003 09:53 PM ET (US)            

Do you know what the $24k includes? If it's possible to get a 19 Guardian and 150 Merc for $31,500 loaded like a Nantucket, one would be foolish not to. Now if the $24,000 doesn't include rails, seating, console, lights... in other words a bare hull, than we're not comparing apples to apples here.

posted 06-05-2003 10:15 PM ET (US)         

Let me tell you whats really amusing.

posted 06-05-2003 10:55 PM ET (US)            

There is nothing wrong with analog guages They have worked great for years, I believe the Merc smart guages are available at an up charge but I don't have the info here at home to confirm it.

Seems to me that you have had a hard on for Merc for some problems that seem to have been resolved. If not, you have a bitch if they were resolved quit knocking them.

I have managed or worked at Merc dealerships since 1969 and have never had a warranty problem with them. The only reason they are #1 is customer satisfaction.

posted 06-06-2003 09:40 AM ET (US)            

The aircraft industry found that out the hard way, when the engineers tried to go digital and the pilots hated it. It takes too long to interpret 2453rpm vs just being able to _glance_ at a needle and knowing it's in the right position or not.

Sometime tech advances work, sometimes not.... Don't get me started on laser sight systems on pistols.

posted 06-06-2003 10:06 AM ET (US)            

I find the Dot scopes [UltraDot] on pistols works for me.

Tried it once and never looked back. Quick acquision with both eyes open and quick repeat shots.

posted 06-06-2003 12:16 PM ET (US)            

I carry a S&W model 4006 [40 cal. SS semi-auto] on my Whaler.

posted 06-06-2003 02:24 PM ET (US)         

Secondly, he doesn't know what he's talking about, as most of these types don't. Regarding the 225 4-stroke, Mercury has actually improved it over the Yamaha model. It is quieter at speed, with a superior hood design, handles the Smart Craft technology which is way ahead of anything Yamaha has, and also handles the Smart Craft related electronic engine controls, which Yamaha does not have. The bottom line is that if you're in the market for one of these 225 4-strokes, you're better off with the Mercury version! Incidentally, Mercury's soon to be released 250 HP supercharged 4-stroke, also with the above technology, and with less cubes, will blow this first generation heavyweight Yamaha 4-stroke engine right out of the water. Let's wait and see how long it takes the Japanese manufacturers to begin the copies of it. They're probably working on the copies already.

Finally, regarding LAWYER'S comments about Mercury not producing good V-6 engines, and about to lose market share to Yamaha, just visit the waters of Southeast FL, from Vero Beach down to Key West, and all you see are Mercurys, single, double, triple, and quadruple installations on the outboard boats. There are thousands of Optimax's, EFI's and Carbs down there, doing perfectly fine, day after day, and holding up the BEST in the salt. Yamahas are the second most noticeable, even though by less than half, with the rest occasionally visible, as the old OMC's gradually die out from old age.

One might also check out the Bass boat markets, and the outboard performance/racing marketplace, where speed and power count. Mercury has dominated both for 40 years now. When you buy HP from Mercury, you get what you pay for and then some. The HP ratings are conservative. With Yamaha, you can get dinged 10% on the HP output, and still pay more! Then there are propellers, another field where Mercury develops the designs, and everybody else copies. Nobody has more varieties of propeller offerings, for more boating applications.

Do we even want to talk about the I/O market, where Mercury has no competition at all? OMC and Yamaha both tried to break into this and gave it up fast.

So it's time to give Mercury, the only US manufacturer left in the business, a break. I believe that all of the engine brands, even the Japanese, and including the old OMC's, basically give good reliable performance, inspite of occasional lemons from all, so take the outboard brand hate mongering & "Opticrap" over to the other boating sites, where this type of comment is more readily accepted.

posted 06-06-2003 02:32 PM ET (US)            

Bare hull Ft Lauderdale marine estimates about $20k. So a 19 Guardian which is built to commercial specs and carries a 175hp rating(but not sure) is way more enticing to me than a Brunswick nantucket.

I AM THE MAN FROM NANTUCKET!

posted 06-07-2003 09:17 AM ET (US)            

Mercury and Yamaha both make wonderful motors. Neither experiences failure at the rate the internet antagonists suggest. I have Hondas on my boat, and I love them, but I'd be delighted with a new pair of Mercurys or Yamahas or Suzukis. As others have observed, almost every manufacturer occasionally builds a lemon. If any of them did it regularly, they'd go the way of the YUGO.

On laser sites: The high quality systems are durable, and they work well for some applications, but they can be a distraction too. I carry a Glock .40 with trijicon sights and a Crimson Trace laser system. The laser is a nice back-up if lighting or orientation make it otherwise difficult to get a good sight-picture - but I keep the automatic laser turned off most of the time.

posted 06-07-2003 10:45 AM ET (US)            

Lets talk about that new Conquest.
At the present time no recreational Whaler is shipped from the factory without Mercury power and rigging.
Yes, you can have a different brand of engine if your dealer is willing to make a trade and re-rig and you are willing to shell out more money. Of course the extra money is no problem for a lawyer at the rates they charge.

You may have Yamaha power on your Conquest, if you have one, but I feel that you are the one speaking with zero knowledge. As a lawyer, if you are one, I would think that you would do the research to get correct information.

posted 06-07-2003 02:49 PM ET (US)            

Your last post made a poor argument. Hope you do better for your clients in court.

Dick stated that a choice of engines was available at an added cost but new Whalers' are shipped with a Merc.

posted 06-07-2003 07:40 PM ET (US)            

My last new Whaler purchase was in 1999 while I was parts manager at the dealership. If you are interested you can find it listed in the for sale section. Oooops, You wouldn't want it as it has a black engine.

If you would read a post and absorb the contents prior to responding your responces might become intelligent. "Engage brain prior to opening mouth"

posted 06-08-2003 01:33 PM ET (US)            

"At the last Whaler dealer... meeting, one of the foremost reasons expressed to Mr. Myers as to the loss of market share and customer disatisfaction [sic] of Whaler's was the POS MERCURY that comes affixed to the majority of product."

posted 06-08-2003 01:39 PM ET (US)            

See http://www.filmsite.org/five.html for an excerpt from the movie's dialogue.

posted 06-11-2003 12:21 AM ET (US)            

It should be a pretty good sign that we have a troller when their e-mail address is not posted. Anyone with nothing to hide should have no problem showing their e-mail address.

posted 06-13-2003 03:52 PM ET (US)            

There is another dealer about 100 miles away, a local independent. He will install any motor desired.

Stopped into Buds this week and Buds no longer sells Whalers.