How much are you willing to pay for a new composite boat?

[42M]

He also built Blair's SST-60 (the same one that Rob Rinker just won 2011 APBA Hall of Champions with after Blair sold it to Joe Shulte.

For those guys out there that consistently win races at the regional and national level, they understand that a top runner doesn't come easy or cheap. You always get what you pay for and today $5000 isn't a shocker any more.

Yeah... I'm sure the money for that 60 boat came out of Rob's wallet. Sponsorship & 'The Old Man' are what got him that rig. These days you can get a turnkey sst 45 rig for the price of a new CSH.

[HRTV]

Here is a sobering article that might be helpful in regards to this topic.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/10/pf/e...fund/index.htm

[blueskyracer]

Here is a sobering article that might be helpful in regards to this topic.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/10/pf/e...fund/index.htm

That is so true..Just when you think you might get ahead another disaster happens..I don't see it getting any better for many years!!

[pat]

Very good article. A terrible global economy and ridiculous oil prices all add up to the rising cost of epoxy and carbon fiber and disappearing disposable income (boat racers included). You add them together and they don't mix very well. I can remember talking to Matt about the rising costs to build carbon panel back in 2005 well before the financial meltdown. Back then, he was having trouble making any money never mind today. It's almost to the point where the average middle-income person can't afford luxuries like stock outboard racing anymore. The good times may not come back any time soon.

[raceright]

Here is a sobering article that might be helpful in regards to this topic.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/10/pf/e...fund/index.htm

Well Dan don't want to be a I told you so BUTTTTTTT

At the risk of being political,In the last few years everything has been costing more. My view as to why, SIMPLE the RICH know there taxes are going up so raise prices before so there bottom line stays the same or increases.
Have a very wealthy Uncle and he laughs every time the classes think they are going to get more of what he has.

[HRTV]

Well Dan don't want to be a I told you so BUTTTTTTT

At the risk of being political,In the last few years everything has been costing more. My view as to why, SIMPLE the RICH know there taxes are going up so raise prices before so there bottom line stays the same or increases.
Have a very wealthy Uncle and he laughs every time the classes think they are going to get more of what he has.

Its all good Pat :-) read my latest post this morning and please chime in.

[Hunter]

value of boats

My Arltralite,built in 2004, has been over twice at 90 plus. It has been slammed around turns and generally used hard. There is not a crack in it,it has no rotten parts, the only weight it has gained is from layers of yellow paint. By comparison, my son barrel rolled a wood FEH last year and it became fire wood ! Doesn't take a genius to appreciate the real value. And there is another value to consider. In my case ,the boat is frightfully light compared to wood. Simple physics says I'll out accelerate you. In my opinion,most boat racers have a preconceived notion that our sport should be cheap. Go check out the cost of a new jet ski which gets used a few times a summer. I would do anything to get Matt building a a few boats again.He treats his boats like his children and wants to take care of them.He helps get them going fast and safe. And, he is a consumate craftsman who really knows what he is doing. Ultimately, his boats like all others are worth what someone is willing to pay. Sadly, our sport stands to lose him and others if we keep expecting them to subsidize our fun by building boats at a loss.
Hunter III

[matthias]

I have decide not to build any boats for a couple of reasons.
1. nobody seems to value the time it takes to build a boat or the time I spent learning the art from Jamie Auld and developing my own processes.
2. everyone want a copy of some other boat.

the main benefit of composite material is flexibility of design. being able to do something that cant be accomplished with wood.

[PAUL PRICE]

Maybe you should build J boats , and keep the sport growing......

[bh/]

Matt has built at least one J/AX boat, this one in '06 I believe.
It is fast, but the only order he has had for a J boat (?)

[stu_racing]

I know that I can build a boat for a little less than the others quote but that is because I put the extra effort in keeping my costs lower.

If you are truly intrigued to know my costs you can contact me, but the last 2 boats I have built have been relatively inexpensive.

This is the only way I keep costs down (besides paying myself about $6.25/hr). I usually build one boat a year because I love building boats, the sport and like finding out how fast these things will go compared to the others.

Matt's stuff is great stuff. I even run one of his boats in 20ssh. I am 190lbs and come in 5lbs over with a rig that will hold up for a lot more years than a wood boat. I have banged up the boat a ton too (Ask pretty much any racer in Canada). But I have previously stated that I will even let go of that boat for the right price because I enjoy tinkering with different boats.

It is possible to keep costs down but you have to pay yourself 3rd world labour for the love of the sport.

[ram95]

Everyone has the option of building their own boat. And, we need to make sure that we don't pass rules which make it hard for them. KISS.

[ram95]

Geezzz I can't believe I made such a profound statement that there have been no comments since. "KISS"... Keeep it simple stupid! Never a bad idea. But, maybe everybody feels they have said enough on the subject. OK.

However, maybe I can add something that will generate some more commotion. Like maybe we ought to shorten our course to no more than 3/4 of a mile max!! The idea being to slow the faster classes down... put more emphasis on acceleration.

Will this help composite boat builders? Perhaps... if the driver is a lard-azz. But, for the rest of us light-weights... a light-weight wood boat will work fine. I mean you can only be so light and still weigh in at 480, right?

If it helps ya, my boy thinks I'm nuts... but, he's only fifteen and 'all nuts' ... what can I say.

Alex

[Team 12R]

nice....

"If it helps ya, my boy thinks I'm nuts... but, he's only fifteen and 'all nuts' ... what can I say."

that's a good one...

[blueskyracer]

Geezzz I can't believe I made such a profound statement that there have been no comments since. "KISS"... Keeep it simple stupid! Never a bad idea. But, maybe everybody feels they have said enough on the subject. OK.

However, maybe I can add something that will generate some more commotion. Like maybe we ought to shorten our course to no more than 3/4 of a mile max!! The idea being to slow the faster classes down... put more emphasis on acceleration.

Will this help composite boat builders? Perhaps... if the driver is a lard-azz. But, for the rest of us light-weights... a light-weight wood boat will work fine. I mean you can only be so light and still weigh in at 480, right?

If it helps ya, my boy thinks I'm nuts... but, he's only fifteen and 'all nuts' ... what can I say.

Alex

I think if you raise the weight limits in all the classes you can make a safer boat, eliminate the need for expensive composite, handle marginal water conditions, and this will also slow down the boats so the course can still be big if folks want it. This will also allow folks that are not the size of a horse jockey to compete in more than one class.