Less Known Brands

[Samvq1]

I have owned a 91 Cobia Monte Carlo 188 ( My avatar) for about a year now. Last summer we averaged 4 outings a week. We use it a lot. I bought it to learn in as it wasn't very expensive and knew I would upgrade in a couple of years. I'm not ready to buy right now but I wanted to know what are some of the less known brands that don't get talked about a lot? Maybe regional manufacturers or small builders with limited numbers. I live in Huntsville, AL and we have a large military presence so people are coming and going all of the time so you never know when some of these "unusual" brands will show up for sale.

I haven't made up my mind what I want yet but I'm leaning toward a bowrider about 21 ft. I also like some of the deckboats I have seen. I'm a long way away from purchasing so my mind will change at least 100 times between now and then.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Less Known Brands

Personally, I don't think the brand name on a boat is as important as it's condition and drivetrain. As long as the floors/transom/stringers are solid and it has an OB or I/O that you can still get parts for you should be okay. I have a 1990 Sea Raider 19' cuddy. Through research online I have figured out that the boat was built in OH buy a company that is out of business. It has a 4.3 Mercruiser and Alpha 1 outdrive, so parts are readily available and easy to find. The floors, transom and stringers are all solid in my boat so I have no worries in that department.

Find a boat you like, that is in good condition and go for it. If you are looking at an I/O, stay away from anything OMC (they have been out of business for 10+ years) and if you find an OB you like, make sure it's one you can still get parts for. Good luck and happy boating!

 

[Samvq1]

Re: Less Known Brands

Tom

I agree with everything you said. I'm not especially brand loyal. Since I will not be ready to purchase anytime soon I use brand names for research. If I see something I like on the river I go home and research the brand to see what models they have and features for each model. I've looked most of the major well known brands but was looking for something that is not typical. When I am ready to buy I will already know what the boat is supposed to look like and then judge the condition accordingly.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Less Known Brands

Some brand names are trashed by owners.

Each boat MUST stand on their own legs.

There is a reason why many offshore boats are always for sale after 2 years. Ask a good mechanic.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Less Known Brands

I've looked most of the major well known brands but was looking for something that is not typical.

I think its a great idea to get acclimated with as many brands as possible. I think to start this, it might work best if you tell us what you find to be the well known brands. There are litterally 100s of boat manufacturers. Many of those are very small regional builders that make specialized boats. There are brands out there that one person may see every day that someone on the other side of the country may never have heard of.

It is sort of "hobby" of mine to research any "new" brand that I happen to see or read about.

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: Less Known Brands

The past decade hasn't been a great one for the little guys. There are a lot fewer small boat builders than there used to be.....even larger ones for that matter.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Less Known Brands

I read where there are only a couple of ...TRUE.... bare hull manufacturers in the USA. So you really are only buying a different set of colors and gauge layouts. Just like auto companies & suppliers being the same.

Any way, it does feel good to see & buy a new boat every 40 years or so.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Less Known Brands

I read where there are only a couple of ...TRUE.... bare hull manufacturers in the USA.

That is a false statement. While there used to be 2 large conglomerate companies (Brunswick & Genmar) that made a significant portion of all boats, that does NOT mean the bare hulls were the same for each individual brand. In fact within those conglomerates, I can only think of a few cases where the hulls were shared between the brands...Maxum my have used a few Bayliner hulls within Brunswick and Glastron may have used a few Larson hulls within Genmar.

Maxum is no longer and Genmar was recently dissolved with the primary assets being split between 2 "new" companies. Rec Boat Holdings (Platinum Equity) got Glastron and J&D acquisitions got Larson.

It is important to note that even with these large conglomerate companies there are MANY brands that are indepedent.

Regal
Cobalt
Monterey
Stingray

and several others.

As noted there are litterally 100s of boat manufacturers and I would say that a vast majority of them have unique hull designs and do almost all of the manufacturing of the hulls internally.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Less Known Brands

Actually I should haved jogged my memory more.
The people were talking about special shaped boats like the, Carolina skiffs & Center Console only boat companies.

That was before the Depression began.

They actually posted the 2 largest builders of those styles that then sold them to the small companies. & named some of the brands supplied by the 2 hull companies.

Could the cost of getting USCG approval for seaworthiness be the main reason for buying blank hulls ?

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Less Known Brands

I just returned from a quick Surf of USCG boat approval. It seems The boating companies are another completly " self certified " industry.

I feel so much safer now.

You and I can build boats for the public. Right ?

 

[Philster]

Re: Less Known Brands

Well, there are hundreds of builders and thousands of molds out there that belong to only them. Many molds have been sold or auctioned; some have been outright copied. Still, so many builders and so many models; all are very unique in ways and proprietary in others.

Still, while it's a relative term, diversity is huge. If you look at decades worth of boats, there are times as recent at today that I learn of new manufacturers. As to the center console builders, I learn about new ones every day.

It's kwazy out there!

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Less Known Brands

The site I read was a builders site stating that there are OVER 4,000 builders in 2011 ??? & 60,000 boats were sold ?

He said there is no way any agency could keep up with the inspections............Sounds like the same safe logic of deep off shore drilling rigs.

The buck still rules !

 

[Samvq1]

Re: Less Known Brands

I really appreciate all of the information. I wasn't sure what to expect when I posted my question but I was hoping it wouldn't turn into some sort of brand war. I really enjoy the boat I have now but I bought it knowing that I would upgrade when I figured out exactly what I liked and didn't like. I'm still working on figuring things out but it has been a lot of fun in the process.