On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:37:52 -0800 (PST), Chuck Gould
wrote:


What this country needs is to stop assuming that everybody smart
enough to do so needs to go to college. There ought to be a first
class trade school and/or union apprenticeship program available to
people so they can learn to build and/or repair things properly. The
way the system works now, we teach the kids to look down on anybody
that doesn't have a "white collar" job, so some of the boat
manufacturers are forced to hire the dumb-as-a-post screwups, often of
dubious immigration status.

Decent plumbers and electricians can get plenty of work that will
never be sent "offshore", and a six-figure income is a realistic
possibility for a sharp, hard working individual.

I agree - totally.

The problem, at least here in CT, are the apprenticeship rules the
state adopted. We have a top flight state tech school system and the
kids who go through the programs are motivated. The problem with the
electrical/plumber programs comes after graduation. Each licensed
plumber or electrician can only have one apprentice. With dictated
pay scales and full benefits, plus mandated insurance costs, the
package costs the employer more than he can afford for each
apprentice. So for independant electricians/plumbers are in a losing
proposition even if they want to take on apprentices. Add in the time
required, even with school credits, to make Journeyman status and they
flat out can't afford it.

The bigger companies who can afford to take on apprentices for their
Masters are limited to one per Master. I've spoken to several Masters
who have told me their hands are tied and until the state loosens the
rules, the shortage is only going to get worse.

Part of the problem is that some of the manufacturers seem afraid of
quality, or at least afraid of what it would do to their shares of the
market if people were asked to pay for good workmanship. And not just
boats.

That makes sense to me.

One thing, though, that could be a possibilty: Isn't that a big chain
operation? Wonder if there isn't (at least unofficially) a "quick and
dirty" series slapped together to allow cheapie pricing? Or, possibly,
whether the retailer gets a screaming deal on all the reject layups?

Cheapie pricing? $90,000 for a 26 CC with a 250 Optimax isn't exactly
"cheap". I can add thirty thousand to that and buy Eisboch's Grand
Banks which is one hell of a boat.

Johnny Morris bought, in succession, Trophy and went to the well with
those boats degrading the over all quality. Then he bought Mako and
apparently did the same thing. If he follows form, the same thing
will happen to Seacraft.

Another example is Nitro. Outwardly, they seem to be well made.
However, compare weights and really look close - the carpet is cheap,
the boats are extremely light, vinyl is thin and you can scratch the
gell coat just by looking at it wrong.

In my opinion, they took a great boat line, went cheap on the
manufacturing, loosened up the quality control and rely on the once
great name to sell them.

I was always a fan of Mako - never owned one, but I know guys who have
them and was always impressed with form, fit and function - they were
really tough boats and nice looking. They had a true innovation with
the long forefoot and trailing deep vee which made them a real
performer in heavy water - even in the smaller boats. These boats
look like every other CC on the market, only worse in terms of
quality.

I was - well, not shocked certainly, but disappointed.