Ordering New BOSTON WHALER boats with E-TEC Engines

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Author Topic:   Ordering New BOSTON WHALER boats with E-TEC Engines

Fellatthelast posted 05-15-2005 01:18 PM ET (US)
I am negotiating the price on a new Whaler at the moment, to import back to the UK. As it was a new boat, I casually asked the question as to whether I could order one with the new E-TEC 115-HP V-4 engines as opposed to an OptiMax 115 (which is 32-Kg heavier). Well I may as well have walked into his home and taken a [poop] in his wife's handbag! He was horrified and explained that the E-TEC's were the best part of un-sellable in the USA and that Mercury was my only option (and he is an Evinrude dealer).
I don't understand it, these engines are all the rage over here and sell like hot cakes as they are light, torquey, very stylish and have a 3year no-service requirement with 3 year warranty.
Anyone else feel like this dealer - no name's no pack drill obviously!!
Rossi
wwbach posted 05-15-2005 11:32 PM ET (US)
Brunswick = Mercury + Boston Whaler
In other words, Mercury is factory power on BW in the US and it is very difficult to purchase one with anything else.
Of course the dealer will bash the competition.
wwbach posted 05-15-2005 11:35 PM ET (US)
I missed that you said the dealer also handled OMC. Only way I can explain that is that he probably didn't want to deal with you asking to swap out the Mercury motor for you.
jimh posted 05-15-2005 11:52 PM ET (US)
It is quite standard in the U.S.A. to find dealers resistant to selling new Boston Whaler boats without Mercury engines on the transom, however I was under the impression that in overseas markets this was not so much of a problem. Perhaps the situation in the United Kingdom is getting more like our domestic arrangement. Your dealer may be under more pressure--and by this I mean the pressure created by the chance of making a greater profit--to sell the Mercury engine and the Boston Whaler boat as a package.
I don't have any numbers for other markets, but thanks to the investigation our government conducted recently into the outboard motor market, we learned that about 85-percent of all new outboard motor sales in the U.S.A. are made as part of a package put together by the boat builder. In other words, the largest buyers of outboard engines--by a big majority--are OEM boat builders, who then re-sell the engines as part of a package with their boats.
As for the E-TEC, they are selling very well in the U.S.A, and, from what I have heard, in most cases the market is constrained by supply. The 115-HP V-4 E-TEC is just announced, so it is unlikely you could get delivery of that engine to Europe anytime soon. We'll be lucky to see them this fall.
Also, apparently boat dealers in Europe are similar to the dealers in the U.S.A--they will both tell a customer almost anything to get them headed in the direction they want to go with a boat sale.
LHG posted 05-16-2005 07:55 PM ET (US)
Giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he was only facing the fact that the 115 Evinrudes won't really be available in any significant "loose" numbers until next Spring. Early production could already be spoken for in the States.
Speedo66 posted 05-16-2005 09:01 PM ET (US)
jimh- I believe he is talking about buying and importing the boat from the US.
Buckda posted 05-19-2005 11:58 AM ET (US)
Speed - That was my take as well.
What REALLY happens when you make the switch at the dealer, and why is he/she willing to do it?
Here are my opinions.
What really happens: The dealer takes the BW you like out of his stock. It arrived pre-rigged with a Mercury engine and controls. He also sells OMC, but in this case, he'd have to de-rig the Mercury and re-rig with OMC controls and engine. He then has a loose, out of the box Mercury to sell (and by the way, how is the certificate of origin handled - are the motors now 'bundled' with the boat as one single package now? - he may have major problems selling it?) He's left with a loose motor in his stock that he'll likely have to discount to sell to another customer.
Why they're sometimes willing to do it: for a local customer, the added hassle might be worth it - afterall, they're gaining a customer for service and hopefully for other boating needs as this person uses the boat. His profits from these services and sales will eventually recoup the additional effort to make the sale - everyone knows it is easier to keep a customer than to win a new one - this is part of the cost to him of winning a new one, or perhaps keeping a longtime customer.
In this case, the customer is unlikely to ever need service from this dealer again. This takes away some of that "willing to be flexible" incentive.
I'm not saying it is right or wrong...but I suspect that this is some of what is going on.
They are probably under tremendous pressure from their manufacturers/suppliers as well, and as more and more of these dealers become "all Brunswick", you'll see that more and more.
I suspect your best bet, if you really want a Whaler, is to continue looking for a dealer who will accomodate your requests (I'm sure you can find one).
Dave
Fellatthelast posted 05-19-2005 03:55 PM ET (US)
Too late!
I have already done the deal and parted with my filthy lucre! The dealer quoted me a price that I would have been ludicrously bereft to refuse. So all being fair, on the 6th of June, a Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless with a very shiny 115 Optimax, will be eastbound out of Jacksonville for much colder waters. There are so many logistical hoops still to jump through that I'm really not counting my chickens until I see the beast on the dock at Southampton though.
Waiting really is the worst bit eh????
Rossi
daveweight posted 05-20-2005 03:08 AM ET (US)
Rossi
Please keep us all updated with the progress of your new boat as there are plenty of people in England and probably continental Europe as well who would like to circumvent the price hike of going through a dealer here.
Many thanks
-...-
.- .-.
Dave

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Author	Topic: Ordering New BOSTON WHALER boats with E-TEC Engines
Fellatthelast	posted 05-15-2005 01:18 PM ET (US) I am negotiating the price on a new Whaler at the moment, to import back to the UK. As it was a new boat, I casually asked the question as to whether I could order one with the new E-TEC 115-HP V-4 engines as opposed to an OptiMax 115 (which is 32-Kg heavier). Well I may as well have walked into his home and taken a [poop] in his wife's handbag! He was horrified and explained that the E-TEC's were the best part of un-sellable in the USA and that Mercury was my only option (and he is an Evinrude dealer). I don't understand it, these engines are all the rage over here and sell like hot cakes as they are light, torquey, very stylish and have a 3year no-service requirement with 3 year warranty. Anyone else feel like this dealer - no name's no pack drill obviously!! Rossi
wwbach	posted 05-15-2005 11:32 PM ET (US) Brunswick = Mercury + Boston Whaler In other words, Mercury is factory power on BW in the US and it is very difficult to purchase one with anything else. Of course the dealer will bash the competition.
wwbach	posted 05-15-2005 11:35 PM ET (US) I missed that you said the dealer also handled OMC. Only way I can explain that is that he probably didn't want to deal with you asking to swap out the Mercury motor for you.
jimh	posted 05-15-2005 11:52 PM ET (US) It is quite standard in the U.S.A. to find dealers resistant to selling new Boston Whaler boats without Mercury engines on the transom, however I was under the impression that in overseas markets this was not so much of a problem. Perhaps the situation in the United Kingdom is getting more like our domestic arrangement. Your dealer may be under more pressure--and by this I mean the pressure created by the chance of making a greater profit--to sell the Mercury engine and the Boston Whaler boat as a package. I don't have any numbers for other markets, but thanks to the investigation our government conducted recently into the outboard motor market, we learned that about 85-percent of all new outboard motor sales in the U.S.A. are made as part of a package put together by the boat builder. In other words, the largest buyers of outboard engines--by a big majority--are OEM boat builders, who then re-sell the engines as part of a package with their boats. As for the E-TEC, they are selling very well in the U.S.A, and, from what I have heard, in most cases the market is constrained by supply. The 115-HP V-4 E-TEC is just announced, so it is unlikely you could get delivery of that engine to Europe anytime soon. We'll be lucky to see them this fall. Also, apparently boat dealers in Europe are similar to the dealers in the U.S.A--they will both tell a customer almost anything to get them headed in the direction they want to go with a boat sale.
LHG	posted 05-16-2005 07:55 PM ET (US) Giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he was only facing the fact that the 115 Evinrudes won't really be available in any significant "loose" numbers until next Spring. Early production could already be spoken for in the States.
Speedo66	posted 05-16-2005 09:01 PM ET (US) jimh- I believe he is talking about buying and importing the boat from the US.
Buckda	posted 05-19-2005 11:58 AM ET (US) Speed - That was my take as well. What REALLY happens when you make the switch at the dealer, and why is he/she willing to do it? Here are my opinions. What really happens: The dealer takes the BW you like out of his stock. It arrived pre-rigged with a Mercury engine and controls. He also sells OMC, but in this case, he'd have to de-rig the Mercury and re-rig with OMC controls and engine. He then has a loose, out of the box Mercury to sell (and by the way, how is the certificate of origin handled - are the motors now 'bundled' with the boat as one single package now? - he may have major problems selling it?) He's left with a loose motor in his stock that he'll likely have to discount to sell to another customer. Why they're sometimes willing to do it: for a local customer, the added hassle might be worth it - afterall, they're gaining a customer for service and hopefully for other boating needs as this person uses the boat. His profits from these services and sales will eventually recoup the additional effort to make the sale - everyone knows it is easier to keep a customer than to win a new one - this is part of the cost to him of winning a new one, or perhaps keeping a longtime customer. In this case, the customer is unlikely to ever need service from this dealer again. This takes away some of that "willing to be flexible" incentive. I'm not saying it is right or wrong...but I suspect that this is some of what is going on. They are probably under tremendous pressure from their manufacturers/suppliers as well, and as more and more of these dealers become "all Brunswick", you'll see that more and more. I suspect your best bet, if you really want a Whaler, is to continue looking for a dealer who will accomodate your requests (I'm sure you can find one). Dave
Fellatthelast	posted 05-19-2005 03:55 PM ET (US) Too late! I have already done the deal and parted with my filthy lucre! The dealer quoted me a price that I would have been ludicrously bereft to refuse. So all being fair, on the 6th of June, a Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless with a very shiny 115 Optimax, will be eastbound out of Jacksonville for much colder waters. There are so many logistical hoops still to jump through that I'm really not counting my chickens until I see the beast on the dock at Southampton though. Waiting really is the worst bit eh???? Rossi
daveweight	posted 05-20-2005 03:08 AM ET (US) Rossi Please keep us all updated with the progress of your new boat as there are plenty of people in England and probably continental Europe as well who would like to circumvent the price hike of going through a dealer here. Many thanks -...- .- .-. Dave