Ok, Im going to walk on egg shells a little with this because I know there are some builders on here, and building boats is what puts food on there table.
BUT.... why are downeast boats so expensive?? I could understand the prices being high a few years ago when the economy was much better, and the demand was much greater. I subscribe to commercial fisheries news, national fisherman, and i pick up a fishermans voice newspaper every month. From what I read in each magazine or newspaper is that most builders are saying that business has slowed way down. So slow that some builders have closed the doors and let there workers go. Some builders have started lobstering because the phones at the boat shop have stopped ringing. Started lobstering when the Maine lobster prices were a dollar something a pound a few weeks ago and still may be (havent checked the prices recently).
In my quest on finding a new lobster boat my fiance' heard me talking to some guys on the phone and she heard some of the prices coming out of my mouth. She said "jesus Joe, you could buy at least two brand new 2013 pickup trucks fully loaded for less than some of these lobster boats", and I never thought about it but she's right!! Ive been looking at some of these boat kits for boats in the 30'-34' range that are "basic boat less engine" and
they are still around 80k as a average.
Like I said above, I could somewhat understand it a couple of years ago when people had some money in there pockets , and were basically bidding against other people for a slot in a boat yard because there was a demand.
But in todays market, from what i have heard, and the articles I have read of interviews with boat builders... those days are gone. So why does it cost so much today? I dont know the cost of materials put in to making a boat and that is why I am asking. Does a solid fiberglass hull cost that much to make??
Like everybody else, I would absolutely love to order a new boat, and give somebody in Maine my business but unless the prices drop Im going to completely exhaust the used boat listings. Thinking back to what my fiance' said about the trucks, why does a basic lobster boat without all kinds of fluff and electroncs, etc, cost more than a fully loaded, brand spanking new pickup truck? I would think if one of the builders lowered the prices considerably for the working man, the phones would start ringing again, and again, and again. That builder would have business and the other builders would possibly lower their prices if they want business and there phones will start ringing to. Then people would be buying boats again, the builders would have business again, and be able to hire their help back, and down the road to a better economy. What are your thoughts?
BUT.... why are downeast boats so expensive?? I could understand the prices being high a few years ago when the economy was much better, and the demand was much greater. I subscribe to commercial fisheries news, national fisherman, and i pick up a fishermans voice newspaper every month. From what I read in each magazine or newspaper is that most builders are saying that business has slowed way down. So slow that some builders have closed the doors and let there workers go. Some builders have started lobstering because the phones at the boat shop have stopped ringing. Started lobstering when the Maine lobster prices were a dollar something a pound a few weeks ago and still may be (havent checked the prices recently).
In my quest on finding a new lobster boat my fiance' heard me talking to some guys on the phone and she heard some of the prices coming out of my mouth. She said "jesus Joe, you could buy at least two brand new 2013 pickup trucks fully loaded for less than some of these lobster boats", and I never thought about it but she's right!! Ive been looking at some of these boat kits for boats in the 30'-34' range that are "basic boat less engine" and
they are still around 80k as a average.
Like I said above, I could somewhat understand it a couple of years ago when people had some money in there pockets , and were basically bidding against other people for a slot in a boat yard because there was a demand.
But in todays market, from what i have heard, and the articles I have read of interviews with boat builders... those days are gone. So why does it cost so much today? I dont know the cost of materials put in to making a boat and that is why I am asking. Does a solid fiberglass hull cost that much to make??
Like everybody else, I would absolutely love to order a new boat, and give somebody in Maine my business but unless the prices drop Im going to completely exhaust the used boat listings. Thinking back to what my fiance' said about the trucks, why does a basic lobster boat without all kinds of fluff and electroncs, etc, cost more than a fully loaded, brand spanking new pickup truck? I would think if one of the builders lowered the prices considerably for the working man, the phones would start ringing again, and again, and again. That builder would have business and the other builders would possibly lower their prices if they want business and there phones will start ringing to. Then people would be buying boats again, the builders would have business again, and be able to hire their help back, and down the road to a better economy. What are your thoughts?
