Hi Guys,
Yep... it sucks... but I saw it coming. They killed the islandia, and the "200" was slated to be gone in 2013 anyway.
The comment from Lou is spot-on. They priced themselves out of the market. My dad was looking at at new boat... and the base 180 was $23k. (I'd say the average price of a seadoo boat right now is $35k) Sure... you wait until winter, and buy the left-overs. But, how long can a company keep doing that. I know my local dealer would sit on a bunch of boats every year. Heck... they had a 2008 Islandia that finally sold last winter. And... at their "spring sale" they had three or four, 2010's still sitting around that went for at least 20% from the sticker. And trust me... there isn't that much margin in those boats. TO be very honest... when a dealer sells a boat... they really don't make any money. By the time they give you a normal discount, a couple life jackets, and your 10 hr service... it's a wash. They are hopping to make $$$ from you on service, and accessories. (they make 35% to 50% on that)
I fear that they are going to do the same dam thing with their PWC. I know people like all the bells and whistles... but the base price for a ski is $9k... that's NUTZ !!!! Though the 90's... we had a bunch of company's making skis... but Polaris, Honda, TigerShark, WetJet all went a way.
Yes... the economy has tanked... but there is more to it than that. My personal life is the perfect example. I spend a BUTT LOAD of cash on toys every year. But, my last new PWC was a 2000 Yamaha. SO... even though I buy new motorcycles, ATV's, cars, and trucks all the time... I won't buy a new PWC because to get one with any measure of performance... I have to buy it with all the electronic crap, and spend $14k.
Seadoo needs to learn from this, and they need to make a 150 hp, carburated 4-stroke, with an open loop cooling system, and with only basic engine gauges. (tach, temp, fuel, oil pressure) Then... price it around $6k.
Looking back at the boat market.......
Seadoo started making boats a few years after they got serious about PWC. But... they had the Explorer (a semi-inflatable) and the 14.5' hull. So... they were just big jetskis. Then they came out with the 16.5' hull... and the 18' hull. So... they were making smaller, reasonable priced boats. In 2000... when they took on the Merc engines... the boats got big, and expensive. Then in 2005... when they got away from Merc... they got even more expensive. But, by that time... the economy was heading the wrong direction.
Anyway... as above... it sucks... but we will survive.
For the guys who are scared to buy a seadoo boat... or ar worried about the one they have... just remember... most of the parts aren't "Seadoo" anyway. Yes... the engine, drive, computer, and other electronics are BRP... but they are leftovers from the skis. So... just like the older boats... parts are out there. Anything else, is generic boat stuff.