me & my mac after 1000nm in thailand

[AWKIII]

[quote="Catigale"]It does pay to talk to the customer, but I still have to reiterate that for Roger to be able to deliver a ~15k boat to a dealer network and consistently make money puts him in a class by himself imho..

Hey Cat....

It would be real nice if dealers were buying boats from the factory at $15,000.00. Unfortunately, that's not the case. On top of that they have to be delivered from California at $1.00 plus per mile. Its a fun business but the margins are not what folks may think.

[Catigale]

I didnt mean to pry into your business Art ...but WOW.....making less than 4k a hull for the dealer is really nasty tight margin indeed imho....even if you all you gotta do is just dump the boat out of the trailer and tell the customer to take it away......

-lights
-power
-rent space
-equipment
- no sales for several months..
- environmental disposal costs
- insurance
- wages and taxes

[AWKIII]

Hi Cat.

Did not take it as prying at all.

There are only a handful of dealers that can generate a decent living selling Macs. You have to do it in volume and offer the upgrades to increase your overall margin. I am lucky. I retired at a realtively early age and am just having a lot of fun with the whole thing. We make a couple of bucks at it but I just didn't want anyone thinking that dealers are having new boats dropped at their doorstep for $15K. I wish it was the case as I could then pop down to the Lambo dealer and bring a new one home.

[maddmike]

AWK III

You don't really want a Lambo anyway, not a MAC guy kinda car. I opted for a (Silver) Porsche Boxster S, goes better with the MAC; now where the heck did I put those oversized beefed up davits anyway?

[Mac Ziggy]

gerrykite2fly,

I am surprised a copy of the Mac has not originated from your part of the world. Maybe you could partner with a local entrepreneur to make a prototype. I'm sure there is someone in China that can help.

When I was in the PI, there was a Major that had a 40 ft with lots and lots of teak made. Problem was, when it was time for him to go home, he could not take that much time off and it was going to cost a fortune to hire a crew.

[AWKIII]

AWK III

You don't really want a Lambo anyway, not a MAC guy kinda car. I opted for a (Silver) Porsche Boxster S, goes better with the MAC; now where the heck did I put those oversized beefed up davits anyway?

I had a Boxster a few years back and vowed never to own a Porsche product again. It was a real nice spring day and simply took the car out of the garage. Went to lower the top and heard the largest crack ever. Looked behind me and the complete Eisenglass window was in pieces. Called the dealer to set-up an appointment to have a new one put in. Guess what? He just laughed. Said you cannot replace the window...you have to replace the whole top. Price....around $4,000.00. Must have happened a bunch on these cars as I see the rear window is now glass.

[kmclemore]

...Said you cannot replace the window...you have to replace the whole top. Price....around $4,000.00....

The dealer was full of it. I've owned LBC's for years and had several rear window's replaced in tops. Any decent auto upholstry/top shop can do it, and it only costs around $100.

[maddmike]

Ditto that, never had a problem. However, my Rule #1 is if you go in to get the car serviced and the shop guys are all in suits & ties and wearing Rolex watches, chances are the are not going to give you the most cost effective option available. Did have a 1970 Iso Grifo once that cost an 'arm and a leg' to replace a windshield on though.

[Boblee]

Mac Ziggy
There is a copy of the X made in Australia but it has been toughened up and expanded to 28' and agree one made in thailand or threabouts would be much cheaper as the Australian on is approx $100,000 Aus but is fully optioned with a 90 hp motor for that.
In reality it is 25% dearer than the M but a hull of a lot more boat without losing very much in versatility.
You are right could be a real opportunity for someone there.
Crikey I would be able to sail it home and make my own trailer here, go to it GK2fly.

[AWKIII]

...Said you cannot replace the window...you have to replace the whole top. Price....around $4,000.00....

The dealer was full of it. I've owned LBC's for years and had several rear window's replaced in tops. Any decent auto upholstry/top shop can do it, and it only costs around $100.

Ha! That's exactly what I did. Plus it actually looked better than new. I miss that little car but not that dealership. There are only two in town and they both have the same arrogant attitude. Its funny though. You can go into Mercedes service department and you get the royal treatment but I have never encountered the "holier than though" attitude.