No, I am not a Cobalt owner, but I might be insecure and that might be the
reason I am taking a firm stand without any facts. I have not read "the
Cobalt Report" where can I get one? The only report I have seen is the one
on their web site, and I did not see anything that would suggest it was
designed to show off Cobalts strengths.

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Boat Owner Satisfaction Shows Year-Over-Year Increase


Bennington, Cobalt, Correct Craft, Crownline, Grady-White, Ranger and Sea
Ray
Rank Highest in Overall Satisfaction in Seven Major Boat Segments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2003


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.—Boat owners’ overall satisfaction with their new
boat shows a year-over-year increase, with two of the larger-sized-boat
segments—express cruiser and coastal fishing—showing the greatest increase
in product satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003
Boat Competitive Information StudySM released today.

The study covers seven segments: fiberglass bass boats, small runabouts
(16-19 feet), large runabouts (20-29 feet), express cruisers (24-33 feet),
coastal fishing (17-28 feet), pontoons and ski/wakeboard boats. These seven
segments represent a large majority of the total number of power boats sold
in the United States. In addition to providing an analysis of product
satisfaction and quality problems, the study measures several product
factors, including the boat’s exterior styling and craftsmanship; various
features offered by each boat brand; helm and instrument panel; how well the
boat rides and handles; comfort and convenience items; engine and propulsion
system performance; seats; and ease of maintenance.

"The fact that satisfaction has increased across all seven boat segments
surveyed, and increased significantly in a few, is a very good sign that
many more boat manufacturers are beginning to place a premium on satisfying
their customers," said Frank Forkin, partner at J.D. Power and Associates.
"Those boat companies savvy enough to understand the link between customer
satisfaction and financial indicators such as consumer loyalty and advocacy
have the best chance of being successful in the very competitive powerboat
business sector."

Though the actual number of problems per boat has remained fairly consistent
from prior years, consumer perceptions regarding the quality of boats has
improved as more and more consumers indicate they had fewer problems than
they had anticipated.

"This may be due, in part, to sales staff working closer with consumers to
better manager customer expectations," Forkin said.

One area where boat manufacturers can increase overall customer satisfaction
is in the dealership experience, and in particular, the sales and service
process. Boat owners consistently report lower levels of satisfaction with
the sales and service experience than do their counterparts purchasing new
automobiles or motorcycles. Among boat owners who took their boat in for
service, 28 percent had to take it back a second time, with a small
percentage actually reporting their boat was returned with a new problem
caused by the repair shop.

"Boat owners who have to take their boat to the service shop are probably
not very happy," said Eric Sorensen, director of the marine practice at J.D.
Power and Associates. "But, the problem is compounded if they have to take
it back because the problem wasn’t fixed properly the first time, or if it
takes longer than expected to get their boat back on the water."

Among individual boat brands receiving a J.D. Power and Associates award for
customer satisfaction, six repeat as the highest-ranked boat brands in their
segment, with Ranger (fiberglass bass boat), Cobalt (large runabout) and
Grady-White (coastal fishing) leading their respective segments for the
third consecutive year. Correct Craft (ski/wake), Bennington (pontoon) and
Sea Ray (express cruiser) rank highest in their respective segments for the
second straight year. Crownline ranks highest in the small runabout segment.

Fiberglass bass boat segment

Ranger ranks highest in the fiberglass bass boat segment for the third
consecutive year, receiving high marks for exterior, maintenance and
features. For a second consecutive year, Triton and Skeeter, respectively,
closely follow Ranger in the segment rankings.

Small runabout segment

With a substantial year-over-year improvement in overall satisfaction,
Crownline receives strong marks in the small runabout segment for the boat’s
exterior and ride and handling. Chaparral and Four Winns, respectively,
follow Crownline in the segment rankings.

Large runabout segment

Cobalt leads the large runabout segment in every major factor for all major
boat satisfaction components measured, with particularly high marks for
exterior styling and quality. Crownline, which shows a large year-over-year
customer satisfaction improvement, and Sea Ray, respectively, follow Cobalt
in the segment rankings.

Express cruiser boat segment

Sea Ray ranks highest among express cruiser boats for a second consecutive
year. Sea Ray, which makes the largest year-over-year customer satisfaction
improvement among cruisers, receives high ratings from customers for areas
including ride and handling, exterior, and safety and maintenance.

Coastal fishing boat segment

Grady-White ranks highest in the coastal fishing boat segment for the third
consecutive year. Grady-White performs particularly well for the boat’s
exterior and engine and propulsion. Following Grady-White in the rankings
are Boston Whaler and Scout Boats, respectively. Boston Whaler shows a
remarkable year-over-year improvement in customer satisfaction.

Pontoon boat segment

For the second consecutive year, Bennington ranks highest in the pontoon
boat segment Bennington’s success in the pontoon segment is attributed to
strong performance for features, maintenance, safety and warranty. Manitou
and Premier closely follow Bennington in the rankings. Odyssey makes a
dramatic year-over-year overall satisfaction improvement.

Ski/wakeboard segment

Correct Craft performs well in every major factor of overall satisfaction in
the ski/wakeboard segment. Correct Craft receives very high scores in engine
and propulsion, maintenance and boat warranty coverage. Malibu follows
Correct Craft in overall satisfaction.

For the first time in the study, consumers were asked if in the future they
would continue boating as a recreational activity. Nearly all, 96 percent,
indicate they would do so.

"Given the ever-growing number of leisure activities available to consumers,
this is certainly good news for the boating industry," Sorensen said.

The 2003 Boat Competitive Information Study is based on responses from
10,734 consumers who purchased a new 2002 or 2003 model-year boat between
January 2002 and February 2003. Seventy boat brands are included in the
study.

A more comprehensive listing of results by boat brand can be found online at
the J.D. Power Consumer Center at
http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/boatratings.jsp

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an
ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in
key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting,
training and customer satisfaction. Media e-mail contact:
or

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in
this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and
Associates.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Cobalt is considered the best runabout in the industry. It is the most
expensive, well built boat in it's class. Why wouldn't it get the number
one rating? What is so surprising about that? As I said, you are always
spotting black helicopters popping up everywhere you look.

Are you genuinely dense, or merely argumentive?

I recommended that you look at the Cobalt report for lack of objective
format.
Has nothing to do with whether in your opinion Cobalt is the "best"
runabout.

Is that what this is all about? You're an insecure Cobalt owner?