8 replies to this topic

[jr_wake]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but BRP's decision to stop making boats is a little confusing to me. Where i live in central ontario the majority of boats are sea doo boats. I live on lake simcoe which is a pretty large body of water and with the levels of water dropping every fall for the upcoming winters a seadoo boat is essential in low water levels to get your boat out.

 

My first seadoo boat was a 2005 utopia and now i am lucky to own one of the last 2012 210 wake's ever made. The difference is jaw dropping in the fit and finish and technical aspects of the boat.

 

I hope that the huge steps BRP made in their boat line will not be lost forever, Yamaha boats are not the same and i hope i never have to venture down that path.

 

If anyone has heard any rumors about a possible comeback post them i would love to hear it

[mmp65]

Although it is now fairly well publicized that both Chaparal and Glasstron/ Scarab are licensing BRP's engines it is also leaking out that Scarab (the revived name) will also be licensing the hull design.  Although it looks like BRP may not be making boats anytime soon again the boats may live on as another brand.

[jr_wake]

wow i did not know that.....i hope this 2012 210 wake last long enough that everything gets sorted out and that there is a new jetboat brand that will be as good as the seadoos. I have looked at Yamaha and for me and where i live i need the shallow draft of the seadoo platform vs the yamaha

[mmp65]

You have a great boat and one for years to come. Scarab / Glasstron did purchase all of the remaining hulls BRP had including the new 19 foot that BRP was bringing to market. Also they are rumored to have a 24 foot rather than a 23. Only time will tell.

[jr_wake]

thanks, i love this boat...time will tell and maybe BRP will regret their desicsion down the road....

[Kevin Leclair]

http://www.boatingin...et-boat-market/

[mmp65]

And the other end of it...

 

http://www.boatingma...carab-jet-boats

[keviseeb]

As a dealer for Sea Doo sport boats since their inception we agree with BRP in their decision to exit the boat market. The problems had nothing to do with product quality or engineering, it had everything to do with the wrong dealer network and too many unqualified dealers selling a product they couldn't represent or service properly. There are other behind the scenes reasons such as once per year ordering and poor options choices for the consumer. Having to order millions of dollars in inventory in September of each year was a crap shoot as we never knew if we had second guessed the market 9 months ahead accurately. If we ran out of a particular model we found ourselves trying to find it at another dealership who typically did not have what the customer wanted. By BRP selling engine package systems directly to the manufacturers through their MPS (marine propulsion systems) division BRP, dealers, and the consumer will be better off overall. RBH (Rec Boat Holdings) will offer a comparable (Glastron) or better (Scarab) product which will be sold by marine dealers only, not powersports dealers. Chaparral will be equivalent to the Scarab in terms of fit and finish and is equally determined to have the right dealers represent them. Being able to initially purchase a representative sample of the product line and then order boats as we need them will help us during this economic depression we are in and give the consumer a better choice for options. You may have to travel a little bit further to a dealer however, when you get there, the dealer will be better qualified to handle your needs. Neither Chaparral nor RBH purchased any hulls, RBH purchased the rights to manufacture the "Venus" project which is now known as the Scarab 195. I had the pleasure of driving the prototype at the Sea Doo test facility in August of 2012 and was impressed with it's features. Scarab has only improved the design since they have been working on it. The Sea Doo boat may be gone but it's heart will live on for many years to come in the Glastron, Scarab, and Chaparral.

[mmp65]

Just a few points.  Kevin, you come across as one of the most knowledgable people posting here so I mean no disrespect by this post; just a few points to ponder.  

 

The Glastron boat is is beyond ugly and misses the advantage of having a jet drive and small engine footprint and what it can mean to interior design and space.  

 

I am sorry to see the 195 for Scarab only has a single engine option.  Having driven both singles and doubles the double engine makes water sports such as wake boarding and skiing a better experience; I am guessing by the tower and the design that is the target of the 195 HO.  I look forward to the larger boats but the price point should be interesting.

 

Competing dealers in markets who handle Chaparrals or Rec Holdings products actually complicates the servicing issue and gives the potential to fracture who works on what.  The BRP dealers who bring in one of the "new" boats have a leg up as far as I am concerned.  What could be devastating to BRP dealers is what if the other guys across town from the BRP dealer provides better service than the BRP dealer and people start taking their CanAm, Skidoo, etc. products with Rotax engines to the "new" dealer? Good for the consumer,; not good for the dealer/ service department.

 

 I am missing your point on unqualified dealers as in my part of the world in Canada all of the dealers are also BRP dealers; maybe just around here.

 

Just a few points to ponder.