Better Get Mako (and SeaCraft)

[ocuyler]

I'm reading the article in the Jan./Feb 2005 issue of Boating Industry about the revamp of the the Mako "team" by Matt Gruhn. Better Get Mako

No wonder their products have tubed in the last couple of years. Curt Jason, Director of Sales has been there 11 weeks. Dean Jarvis, the Plant Manager - 7 weeks. Victor Schmidt, Operations Manager - 1 year. John Bower, Head of Engineering and Marketing, the only veteran of Mako has been back 5 weeks having had quit after 7 years.

At least they have a new team and a new effort. The article doesn't say much about SeaCraft other than they share the plant, marketing and sales resources. John Bower quotes: "We've got alot of small issues to iron out" and "we're not going to let these names (Mako and SeaCraft) slide".

Sheesh, how did the EVER sell or build boats in the last few years? I think we have finaly answered the question about "what years of SeaCrafts are better (or worse) than others".

Best of luck to them. The saga continues...

[ScottM]

“When we get it all together, I don’t believe it’s reinventing a brand or a brand name because I don’t believe that has been injured,” Jarson says.

During his years at Boston Whaler, competitive analysis showed Mako slowly drop down the list, until it eventually fell off the radar.

Seems like a contradiction to me. If the brand has not been harmed, how did it fall off the radar? I think they have a long road ahead of them to bring both brands back to their 1970s prominence and glory. I wish them well.

[Abe's Rocket]

It will never be the same, with all the great boats like Regulator, Contender, SeaVee and HellsBay being built now...those brands will never rise above the above mentioned rigs.

[ned2nav]

Not sure about all the brands you mentioned, but the contender's are horrible IMHO. Never been on a boat as wet as a Contender. Yet they are one of the most selling boats, and reselling (boat trader). Still if the Mako's would somewhat go back to there old style, i think it would be an even greater boat than the new Seaceraft's.
If you need to take a shower, feel free to ride in a contender with 2 foot or even less seas.

[Abe's Rocket]

Good point...out of all those boats I mentioned, I've on;y been in a Regulator...

Showers aren't bad, especially if you're with a lady friend.

[Billybob]

I'd have to agree, showering with lady's ain't so bad. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

But seriously, I think they have their work cut out for them.
I think the mid-size CC boat market is saturated, there are just so many builders making them now.I don't think Mako can compete in the high end market.Mostly because there's too many really good top end boats being built, but are they pricey.Go price a Regulator, if Mako thinks they are going to grab some of that market share, they're dreaming.
But, if they can get their act together and produce a boat that can compete with the Wellcrafts, Prolines, Aquasports, etc. then I think they can get some of that.
I don't think you can expect someone to pay top dollar for a boat built by a "division" of a conglomerate when he can get one from a dedicated builder like Regulator or Yellowfin or Pursuit.
Unfortunately, I think the same holds for Seacraft. They're still beautiful boats but they're made in the same plant as Mako and people just aren't gonna like that, and with some of the well publicized problems with some of the newer one's I don't blame them.I wouldn't be surprised if Seacraft goes away, let tracker concentrate on a good mid tier production boat, and maybe sell the Seacraft business to an independant.Like Otto for example. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
But don't worry boys - none of this is bad for us CSC owners.
Bill

[gbf03]

I agree in todays market with so many other companies out there, it is going to be hard for mako/ seacraft to fix there tarnish record. I dont ever think they are ever going to be the same.

Never been on a boat as wet as a Contender

Ned2nav what contender were you on? I have been on just about every size conteder except for a 36 and the 31 was the one that was the most wet. To me pretty much every outboard boat is wet.
web page

this one might be dry. I have heard nothing but great reviews in the tournament trails with this one

[ned2nav]

George, the Contender i was on was a 25' and compared to the 74 23' SC i had, that contender was designed to get you wet in 2' or less. Now on the other hand all outboards boats beeing wet.....not sure. i think it depends on how you drive her, and your experience. i did a billfish tournament in maimi, were the wind was blowing at 25-30 knots, went out on my old trusty 23' SC, and i have to tell you given the conditions it was a dry ride, except for the occasional wave crasing on and over the side.....hehe. I have not had the chance to ride on a 36' Comtender, but from i have heard from people how have, it is the driest boat Contender makes, but then again look at the size of the thing.

[Ed]

My issue with Mako is not the guys who are running it now, its with the folks that ran the company from 1992-2003. The problem with Tracker in my opinion is that it is a publicly owned company and as a result always has to post profits for its shareholders. In order to make these profits, boats are rushed into production, built quickly and poorly, and as a result the brand declines.

I just think that if you are going to build a high quality boat, you need to own to be independently wealthy, own the company outright, keep the production numbers low and the per boat cost high. You're not going to make a ton of money (you might even loose money) but you are going to make a helluva boat!

[Scott]

No wonder their products have tubed in the last couple of years. Curt Jason, Director of Sales has been there 11 weeks. Dean Jarvis, the Plant Manager - 7 weeks. Victor Schmidt, Operations Manager - 1 year. John Bower, Head of Engineering and Marketing, the only veteran of Mako has been back 5 weeks having had quit after 7 years.

At least they have a new team and a new effort.

Otto …
They apparently had people in there that were only looking at bottom line …didn’t give a crap about the prowess of the hull, ultimately in the quality of what was manufactured. I don’t care if the guys have been there a month or 10 years …their backgrounds are what will make or break the re-org. They need Operations and Plant managers along with Engineers that can redesign and build boats right…Now that’s not “rocket science”.

To follow somewhat as Bill and Ed said ….
I don’t care for companies with such broad spectrums in their lines … You need really REALLY good people to manage such diversity. I personally feel they really need to be separately managed entities. So many boat lines have suffered when they have lost focus and expanded their lines ….

Just look at these two lines Mako and SeaCraft. Both once very proud lines …. But with somewhat different target audiences. Mako is gearing more towards the all around line …boats from 17’ to 31’ including center consoles, bay boats, walk-arounds, cabin boats etc etc …. With more boats becoming much more “Family Friendly”

SeaCraft ….Hard core sportfish boat …one style being center console and what …five boats in the line 20,21,23,25,32. Several other high end lines follow this plan …Regulator is almost a twin with its lineup 21,23,24,26,32…small line some may say but who do most others almost always get compared against?? A seemingly narrow focus has certainly worked well for them...

These names need to break away from the Tracker stigma …. I mean come on …Saltwater center consoles, that share bloodlines with freshwater Bass Boats …I even think they (tracker) has a houseboat line ….GET REAL !!! I can just see Regulator, Contender, SeaVee etc etc doing something like that ……

He is trying to build a boat empire riding coat tails of two once very prestigious names … but until he gets the right people, which these guys may be those people, in there … and starts to build quality stuff and STAND BEHIND IT …Its going to be awhile before one is “ able to get in it and run it 50 miles offshore and not be concerned. It’s about confidence in the product.” …Sorry, but me personally, I have little “confidence” in Tracker based on recent press.

Lots of work ahead for this new crew... I hope they can do it…. It would be a sad day to see SeaCraft dissolve