Evinrude motor on a new Lund

[Lundman]

Although Brunswick now owns Lund Boat Co.,along with
Crestliner,and Lowe,...I am looking at a Lund SSV-16
and wanting to power it with tiller steer 40 hp E-TEC
motor. Who is Brunswick to tell me I can't put this motor on a Lund boat? I don't feel they have the right to do so,since I am the one buying the boat. It is my understanding that they,Brunswick,want only Mercs on
their boats. No offense,but I don't like Mercury motors
because of past problems and bad experiences. I'd be
alot happier with the Evinrude motor. A buddy of mine
tells me to go to a Lund dealer,buy the Lund you want,and then go to an Evinrude/Johnson dealer to get
the motor if the Lund dealer does not carry Evinrude.
I like Lund boats,but can't stand Merc's motors.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Kinda like saying "Who are you to tell me I can't have a Ford motor in my new Chevy"....

 

[JRJ]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

If you have to have a Lund and an E-TEC then go ahead on it. I see 40 tiller E-TECs for $3999 and $4799 with remote T&T plus shipping.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Your Lund dealer should be able to order your boat by specifying "no pre-rig". You still get everything except the engine control and engine specific gauges. The voltmeter, speedo, tach, fuel gauge should all be there. You can then have the Evinrude dealer install the engine of choice. I did that last year with an Alumacraft Navigator. No problem at all. I can't imagine a Lund dealer wanting to lose a boat sale because the customer doesn't want his motor. Profit is profit.

 

[JB]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

I share your resentment of Brunswick marketing policy, Lundman.

This is the first time in the history that a manufacturer of boats tries to mandate what OUTBOARD engine you may have on YOUR boat.

I have not purchased any Brunswick product since they started that predatory, monopolistic practice. I will not.

For those who are about to say, "What about your Boston Whalers, JB?", all of my Whalers were made before Brunswick owned the company.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

As I recall Brunswick once owned Harley Davidson and just about put them out of business with a series of terrible cycles.As I recall the workers bought the company and put it on its feet again.
Not sure I would want a Brunswick product.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Lund is a good solid boat -- perhaps a little overpriced like lots of things, but it has good resale value. That said, one can still buy it without an engine and install whatever you like. They would be cutting their own throat if they prevented the sale of a "no pre-rig" boat. I would be upset if I were a dealer and had to deal with that attitude.

 

[ratracer]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

As I recall Brunswick once owned Harley Davidson and just about put them out of business with a series of terrible cycles.As I recall the workers bought the company and put it on its feet again.
Not sure I would want a Brunswick product.

Harley was owned by AMF who also at the time owned a bunch of companys and (like Brunswick) was a big name in the bowling industry but the only boats I remember they made were Alcort (remember the Sunfish & Force 5 sailboats?). About a year after a group of Harley employees bought the company back, AMF itself was taken over by another company.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Genmar does the same thing.

Buy your boat, then go get the motor you want.

 

[Lundman]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Thanks,guys. Tell me something,though,...how would
you go about telling a dealer that may not carry Evin-
rude that you want Evinrdude on that new Lund,...not
his Mercs. I have pretty much specified to another
Lund dealer that all I want is the boat,and trailer,and
that I already have another motor in mind,...Evinrude,
of course. What would you say to the guy if he were
to refuse to sell you a boat if you did not choose the
motors he carries?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Geez -- it's your money. Don't buy from the dude. Don't buy the engine from the Lund dealer if he doesn't carry Evinrude as he won't be able to perform reliable service or warranty services. You don't even need to tell him you want an engine. Order a "no pre-rig" boat. Take delivery and go to a dealer that sells Evinrude (worked out ahead of time if you are in a hurry). You will pay the same for installation either way and why not have it done where you will get the engine serviced if necessary.

 

[Lundman]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Exactly,Silvertip. However,regardless of which motor goes on that boat,be it Merc,Rude,Johnny,or whichever,
I just can't go along with Brunswick's predatory monopo-
listic marketing policy,which is not Lund's fault as far as
I am concerned,...only the parent company's,which is,of
course,Brunswick. Their way of doing business is going
to eventually hurt them,I think. Furthermore,you can't
really blame the dealers either as some are being forced
into this horrible strategy by Brunswick. I know of at least
one dealer who used to carry Lowe Suncruiser pontoons
but no longer do so because of the fact Brunswick was
going to force them to carry Mercury and install only that
motor on those pontoons. This dealer is an Evinrude dealer along with Yamaha. Now they carry Bennington
pontoons since they are a non-Brunswick company.
Right there is a very good example that Brunswick is
already losing dealers because of their marketing policy.
Brunswick owned company or not,boatwise,I'm staying
with Lund. Motorwise,yes,I would prefer Evinrude. I don't
want to go with Mercury unless I absolutely have to do so. Here's another clincher,...I found out yesterday that
if a Lund dealer also carries Honda along with Mercury,
if you want a Honda motor,Brunswick will allow Lunds to
be factory pre-rigged with Honda controls as well,...but
NOT with Evinrude or Yamaha. Evinrude and Yamaha quit selling motors to Lund after Brunswick bought them,
which is partly due to Brunswick not allowing those motors on their boats.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

if he refuses to sell you the boat, i would sue him for discrimintaion. i've had merc's, and hope not to own another. be honest, just tell him you want the boat , but he couldn't give you his motor. i do it all the time. i like that hamburger joints moto-- have it your way.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

I can't believe this is as serious a problem as you are making it out to be (and I'm not being nasty). I see Lund boats with Evinrude & Johnson motors all the time. Only a company destined for oblivion would force a dealer to "install" a Merc on what is essentially a "no pre-rig" boat to start with. I've run into dealers that don't sell engines separately which is another stupid business practice and that dealer is now gone. I wonder why! This policy would say that should I love my boat and simply want to repower it, I can't. It was Yamaha in this specific case. My next visit to a nearby Lund/Alumacraft dealer will put your situation to the test. I suspect I can order any Lund powered with any engine I want. This dealer handles them all. That may happen this weekend and I'll report back.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Here is a page out of the Lund brochure. Seems to me if Lund wanted only Mercury or Honda engines on it's boats they would show that in the pictures. Seems to me about every manufacturer is represented here.

http://www.lundboats.com/adventureseries.html

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

I would have to think that this is not really about what the factory wants, as much as it is what the dealer wants to sell, which is the motors he carries. Buy the boat and find an Evinrude dealer...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Silvertip, clik on the pictures, all the closeups and Mercury.

 

[BF]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

lol that is hilarious! Yes, you click on a pict of one of their boats with a johnson/evinrude on it, and on the enlarged pict there is a merc photoshopped in! There is a local dealer that sells lunds that is also a honda and bombi dealer... I'm sure there is no problem buying whatever combo one would want from him.

I guess I can see why they wouldn't want to endorse the competition with a nice glossy spread, but I also think it's just the dealer wanting to sell you what he's got. (don't blame them for trying either).... just maybe just they've done too hard a sell.

Friend bought a lund and e-tech last year (as a package), and loves em both.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

If any dealer or manufacturer expects me to shell out five figures for a fishing/sport boat he better not expect me compromise on the engine. Ain't gonna happen.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Evinrude motor on a new Lund

Those of you who have run into this situation should email Lund (or whichever boat brand you are dealing with) expressing your displeasure with their policy. Follow that up with the same message to the dealer. Dealers (especially the big ones) have clout. If they start losing buisiness, the message will get to the manufacturer.