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New Boat Ownership

So you want a new boat! According to most boat salespeople, the three most commonly asked questions from prospective boat buyers are:

  • How big is it?
  • How fast does it go?
  • How much does it cost?

While these are good questions, you need to know more before buying a boat! There are some major factors affecting a boat's performance and safety. Three factors that you'll want to investigate are the boat's hull design, engine and drive system.

For safety reasons, skippers - and prospective skippers - should understand their boat's action in the water. Each boat has its own characteristics, but the same principles apply to them all. You need to know why your boat floats, why it heels (tips) and how it responds to the water conditions surrounding it.

It's important to remember this: all boats are a compromise! No one boat can do everything well.

 

J.D. Power and Associates - Best Boats

J. D. Power and Associates, a well known and respected marketing information company, has released its 2005 Customer Satisfaction Report for seven (7) of the most popular production boats in the United States. As was the case with the last report, done in 2003 and based on consumer responses from the previous year, the 2005 study was based on responses from 12,530 owners who registered the purchase of a new boat between March, 2003 and May, 2004.

The seven categories are:

  • Bass Boats,
  • Coastal Fishing Boats (17-28 ft),
  • Express Cruisers (24 – 33 ft.),
  • Pontoon Boats,
  • Waterski/Wakeboard Boats,
  • Small Runabouts (16 – 19 ft.) and
  • Large Runabouts (20 – 29 ft.).
The study measured customer satisfaction among those who have purchased a new boat in one of these seven categories and included the evaluation of over seventy (70) different boat brands.

According to this study, overall customer satisfaction has improved over the 2003 survey with Bass Boats, Ski/Wakeboard Boats, Coastal Fishing Boats and Pontoon Boats making the greatest gains. New boat owners showed an increased satisfaction in three basic areas: sales, service and the boat itself.

This study also shows that not only are owners reporting fewer problems with their new boats than with the boats in 2003, but they are also having fewer problems than they expected. My only concern with the survey is that it still does not make any of the actual forms filled out by the owners available to us. It surely would be educational to be able to look at some of those customer comments!

The following is the list of categories tested on each boat:
  • Cabin, Engine
  • Ride/Handling
  • Helm/Instrument Panel
  • Design/Styling
  • Sound System
  • Maintenance
  • Fishing
  • Other water sports
It is no surprise to an old boater that most of the 2003 winners were, once again, the leaders in their categories, with
  • Cobalt (large runabouts) and Grady White (Coastal Fishing) winning their categories for the fourth consecutive time.
  • Correct Craft (Ski/Wake), Bennington (Pontoon) and Sea Ray (Express Cruiser) at the top for the third year in a row.
Let's take a look at three (3) of the categories.



1. Bass Boats:

    Bass Cat was included in the study for the first time and ended up as number 1 (one) in customer satisfaction.
Bass Boats
Builder
Overall Rating
Quality & Reliability
Value for Money
Ride & Handling
Design & Styling
Fishing
Bass Cat
5
5
5
5
4
5
Nitro
2
2
2
2
3
3
ProCraft
2
2
2
2
3
3
Ranger
5
4
3
4
5
5
Skeeter
4
4
3
4
4
4
Stratos
3
3
3
3
3
3
Triton
4
3
3
3
4
5
    Scoring:

    5 = Among the best
    4 = Better than most
    3 = Does not really stand out
    2 = The rest


2. Coastal Fishing Boats:

    Grady White won this category again receiving the highest rating in eight (8) of the nine (9) categories. The next highest rated were Triton, Scout, Key West and Boston Whaler respectively. Angler and Pro-Line brought up the rear.
Coastal Fishing Boats
Builder
Overall Rating
Quality & Reliability
Value for Money
Fishing
Design & Styling
Ride & Handling
Grady White
5
5
5
5
5
5
Angler
2
2
2
2
2
2
Aquasport
2
2
2
3
2
3
Boston Whaler
3
3
4
3
3
3
Century
3
3
3
3
3
3
Cobia
3
4
3
2
3
3
Hydra Sports
2
2
2
3
3
2
Key West
3
4
3
3
3
3
Polar
3
3
2
3
3
2
Pro-Line
2
2
2
2
2
2
Scout
3
3
3
3
3
3
Sea Fox
2
2
2
2
2
3
Sea Hunt
3
3
3
3
3
3
Sea Pro
2
2
2
3
2
3
Seaswirl
2
3
2
3
3
3
Triton
3
3
3
5
3
3
Triumph
3
3
2
3
2
3
Trophy
2
2
2
2
2
2
Wellcraft
2
2
2
2
2
2
    Scoring:

    5 = Among the best
    4 = Better than most
    3 = Does not really stand out
    2 = The rest

3. Express Cruisers:

    Sea Ray was at the top of the list, followed closely by Formula. Larson was at the bottom of the ratings.
Express Cruisers
Builder
Overall Rating
Quality & Reliability
Value for Money
Design & Styling
Helm & Instrument Panel
Cabin
Sea Ray
5
5
4
5
5
5
Bayliner
3
3
4
3
3
4
Chaparral
3
3
4
3
3
4
Crownline
3
3
3
4
3
3
Formula
5
5
5
5
5
4
Four Winns
3
3
3
3
4
4
Larson
2
2
3
2
2
3
Maxum
3
2
3
3
3
3
Monterey
4
3
4
4
5
5
Regal
3
4
4
4
5
4
Rinker
4
3
5
5
4
4
    Scoring:

    5 = Among the best
    4 = Better than most
    3 = Does not really stand out
    2 = The rest
* article source about.com

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