New Bu Brand???

[zad0030]

[Fast1911]

looks like a boat for 16 year olds

[yllw20]

I'll judge it once it actually hits the water and can see what wake it throws.

[chpthril]

I'll judge it once it actually hits the water and can see what wake it throws.

No worries, I'll bet it will throw a killer wake like all the other Malibus





































After adding 3k in ballast like everyone does

[illiniboarder88]

why is "toyota-lexus" different than Moomba-Supra?

[zad0030]

why is "toyota-lexus" different than Moomba-Supra?

Supra Moomba are both under one company, Skier's Choice.

Unlike Malibu-Axis where Malibu is the company and AXIS being produced under it.

[MoneyPity]

Doesn't exist. Even when Ford was still building blocks, a 302V/P was more then a 5.0 Merc. # of units sold have a huge impact on cost of production



Is there a Tige dealer in the Windy City area now, last I heard, the closest one was a ways out of that market? I've heard that this show is one of the costliest for booth space ans well as set/tear down due to union help......you cant poop with out a union bathroom attendant doing it for you. If the market is limited or non-existent, then why bother? Shoes are long and costly, I know what my dealer spends for the week long show here in Feb. It's a big job to due a good, it's a huge undertaking to do a GREAT show. There's about 2 weeks, prep, another week setting up, manning the booth for a week of 12 hr days, then they expect you to be gone in 1 day after the show closes. It's a hellof a project, and we are only 20 mins from the show hall, cant imagine being 1-3 hours drive for a dealer. IMO, a dealer would be better off spending a fraction of the cost doing local stuff to draw in customers.

Unfortunately, the very people that these boats are targeting, have lost actual cash due to the economy (loss of job/hours/sales, increased living expense, adjusted mortgage, etc) and are tightening up the belt to in order to get by and not spending money on luxury type items. Now, some people that may have been looking at the $70k range boats last year, may be taking a real close look at these price point boats.

The Vortec idea was just a followup to issues we address in my industries. If we can normalize an item and get to the right price point we may save money.

The Windy City does not have any local Tige Dealers. For that matter most of the dealers showing wakeboard and ski boats are not from Chicago but the surrounding areas. For example the Mastercraft and Malibu Dealers are about an hour to an hour and 1/2 or more away from where they hold the show. The head down from North Central Illinois. Others come in from Wisconsin , Indiana and Michigan.

My only point was that Tige has not shown at that show and misses out on some opportunities. I was surprised that Tige did not show in Chicago last year. That is why we went to the Milwaukee show. It is Tiger's business decision if it wants a presence in this market.

This year will not be a good year for exhibitors at the Chicago show for reasons you have eloquently stated.

I have been involved in trade shows for many years because the trade show is where we launch new productsl and I have worked the booth for many an hour assisting sales with the technical aspects of the product. McCormick place and it's electrical and labor unions is a nightmare. You cannot pug in a power cord to a PC with out a union worker there to watch you so yes it truly sucks.

Luxury items like boats will be slow this year but those who are able to buy have an opportunity to take advantage of a buyers market. People who can't afford to buy still will buy even though they shouldn't. If pricing is real aggressive it will suck in buyers who can't afford a new or used Money Pit.

[chpthril]

The Vortec idea was just a followup to issues we address in my industries. If we can normalize an item and get to the right price point we may save money.

The Windy City does not have any local Tige Dealers. For that matter most of the dealers showing wakeboard and ski boats are not from Chicago but the surrounding areas. For example the Mastercraft and Malibu Dealers are about an hour to an hour and 1/2 or more away from where they hold the show. The head down from North Central Illinois. Others come in from Wisconsin , Indiana and Michigan.

My only point was that Tige has not shown at that show and misses out on some oppurtunities. I was surprised that Tige did not show in Chicago last year. That is why we went to the Milwaukee show. It is Tiges business decision if it wants a presence in this market.

This year will not be a good year for exhibitors at the Chicago show for 1reasons you have eloquently stated.

I have been involved in trade shown for many years because the trade show is where we launch new product and I have worked the booth for many an hour assisting sales with the technical aspects of the product. McCormick place and it's electrical and labor unions is a nightmare. You cannot pug in a power cord to a PC with out a union worker there to watch you so yes it truly sucks.

Luxury items like boats will be slow this year but those who are able to buy have an oppurtunity to take advantage of a buyers market. People who can't afford to buy still will buy even though they shouldn't. If pricing is real aggresive it will suck in buyers who can't afford a new or used Money Pit.

Well, participation in a show is typically up to the franchise dealer, not the manufacturer, all though most will participate in the cost to some degree. So, if there is no Tige dealer close to that area, then the closest dealer may be making a smart decision by saving the 30K he may spend on the show, and put it somewhere else to draw customers. Tige may encourage it's dealers to do boat shows, but I dont recall it being part of the franchise agreement to make them.

With the amount of cost and man-hours involved in doing a show from start to finish, it takes a lot of moved units to make it worth while.

[illiniboarder88]

I'd love to see Tige represented at the Chicago show, but if I was the dealer, I would not pick this year to make my debut. Interesetingly, last year when I was there, there was not that much traffic around the inboards/v-drives. The cruisers were getting all the attention for what it's worth.

[chpthril]

I'd love to see Tige represented at the Chicago show, but if I was the dealer, I would not pick this year to make my debut. Interesetingly, last year when I was there, there was not that much traffic around the inboards/v-drives. The cruisers were getting all the attention for what it's worth.

That's what I was wondering, the NE corner of the state just doesn't seem like it would support the towboat market. Last time I was @ Navy Pier, didn't see to many (ok, none) wakeboard boats in the local marinas

[MoneyPity]

Well, participation in a show is typically up to the franchise dealer, not the manufacturer, all though most will participate in the cost to some degree. So, if there is no Tige dealer close to that area, then the closest dealer may be making a smart decision by saving the 30K he may spend on the show, and put it somewhere else to draw customers. Tige may encourage it's dealers to do boat shows, but I dont recall it being part of the franchise agreement to make them.

With the amount of cost and man-hours involved in doing a show from start to finish, it takes a lot of moved units to make it worth while.

I agree with you in thr case of this local dealer. He does not need more business from Illinois,

[kko]

im trapped at malibu training class right now. im going to ask about the boat tomorrow and see what he says. i dont really like the one in the pic either.

[Jetrey]

I figured it out! malibu really wanted a pickle fork, but wanted to save all the copycat comments so started a new brand to do it under.

[gstauffer]

Does anyone remember which company actually came up up with the "picklefork" idea? I think it came out in the very late 60's or early 70's way before inboard ski boats started to become popular.

[NICKYPOO]

Does anyone remember which company actually came up up with the "picklefork" idea? I think it came out in the very late 60's or early 70's way before inboard ski boats started to become popular.

You might be thinking of the trihull craze that came about in the late 60's early 70's. Not quite the same thing. What we see in the tow boat industry today, a pickle/V hybrid, was originally designed for Cobalt, who didn't really push it's sales. Soon after he designed it, he sold the idea to Mastercraft who, very wisely, pushed the crap out of it while sales we're hot. I think it's a great idea and would by one today if I could but, it is by no means originated by MC, or even Cobalt. It was one guy who put pen to paper.