Lund boats - How to justify price

[Navy Jr.]

I've been shopping aluminum boats for the past month or so, even so far as to take factory tours at Lund, Crestliner and Alumcraft.

The question I have is why does Lund cost so much more than the others? I mean, we're talking a premium of around 10 percent. One would think the answer would pop out during the factory tours, but not so.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

I've been shopping aluminum boats for the past month or so, even so far as to take factory tours at Lund, Crestliner and Alumcraft.

The question I have is why does Lund cost so much more than the others? I mean, we're talking a premium of around 10 percent. One would think the answer would pop out during the factory tours, but not so.

Why does a Cadillac cost more than a Chevy

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

Why does a Cadillac cost more than a Chevy

Well, that's my point. To me, a Lund really isn't a Cadillac. It doesn't really have any more features than, say, the Alumacraft. In fact, Alum's Trophy 175 is larger than Lund's Pro Sport 1770, can handle more HP, has two 12v outlets by the console (PS 1770 has none by the console), and has a 25" transom (compared to 20" on Lund). But the Trophy is at least a grand less. On top of that, Alumacraft isn't married to Brunswick, so buyers have their choice of power instead of having to settle with Mercury Optimax.

So, either there's something about Lund that I'm completely missing to justify the cost differential, or Lund must think most boat buyers don't really do their homework or shop around.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

It's not a question of "shopping around" It's more of "driving" around. I'm not telling you to buy one over the other. Boats are a matter of personal tastes.
That's why there are so many different models, sizes and manufacturers.

You appear to already be sold on the Alumacraft. You asked a question of why the premium price for the Lund. I'm just giving you my recent experience with the same dilemma. And I found the Lund to be head and shoulders above the Alumacraft in comparing two similar models. So don't shoot the messenger

I went with the $3000 more Lund and then some, because I upgraded the motor and the trailer too a few weeks later.

I could have bought the Yamaha as I think it's a great motor, but I figure resale wise the average Joe knows the Mercury brand better and there are many shops for warranty work around my area. There are not as many Yamaha dealers in my area as Mercury ones. I also liked the 3 cylinder setup and EFI of the Merc.

I tend not to hold onto boats that long so resale value is a big consideration for me. The last 2006 boat I bought new last year . . . I sold it 6 months later for more than I paid for it. Boats take a huge depreciation hit. I figure if I buy from one of the top of the line manufacturers of Aluminum boats, it might hold more of it's value over time since I flip them so fast.

That line of Brunswick controlling everything sounds like it came right out of an Alumacraft dealers mouth! Do I care that they own Mercury, Lund and many of the accessories companies that can go on the boat . . . No!

Why not try and buy a several year old rig in whatever brand you choose and then paying a premium for any boat won't be as much of an issue.

Say, you are not an Alumacraft salesman just trying to turn off Lund buyers are you

Just make sure you drive several models and brands before you buy. Don't listen to the salesman. Most of them don't own boats themselves, so why would you spend big dollars on what they recommend.

Once you decide on a model, shop around with 3 different dealers if you want to save a few bucks. I knocked about $1500 off their already "sale" priced rigs that way.

So my short answer to Why does Lund command such a premium over other similar boats? is . . . because they can!

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

That line of Brunswick controlling everything sounds like it came right out of an Alumacraft dealers mouth! Say, you are not an Alumacraft salesman just trying to turn off Lund buyers are you

No, I am not a salesman for Alumacraft. Or for Lund. Or for Crestliner. Or for Tracker.

I'm just a new boater trying to understand why things are the way they are.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

No, I am not a salesman for Alumacraft. Or for Lund. Or for Crestliner. Or for Tracker.

I'm just a new boater trying to understand why things are the way they are.

Just kidding . . . by the way I read in another thread that Tracker was sold a few years ago, so many feel they are not the boat they used to be years ago. Do a search for the thread or google it.

Seems to me Tracker is always hyped up by the Pro fisherman who get paid to drive and hype Tracker boats. That's where a premium price would come into play for that boat line for sure.

By the way . . . rather than try and figure out why one boat line is more expensive than another before you put your money down . . . being a new boater, why not describe first what type of use you will be looking to get out of a boat. How big your budget is. Are you buying new or used. What types of waters you will be using it on. How many people you usually ride with.

State answers like the above in the general boating thread rather than ask in a brand specific category like the Lund forum.

This way you will get responses from many experienced boaters with various brands and some might point you in a direction you had not thought of.

You won't get unbiased opinions asking in forums specific to a particular brand.

Also look at the activity in each boat brand thread. When you look at the list of "all" the boat brand threads. That can give you an idea of how popular a particular brand is with the public.

Scroll down and look at the threads and posts on the right side of each brand:

http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

My last boat was a Sylvan which is now the same company as Smokercraft, many of the manufactures are merging together over the past few years.

Stay away from the oddball brands with only a few posts as I'm sure they will be tough to move re-sale wise if they don't get a lot of attention in the various forums.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

...why does Lund cost so much more than the others?

Okay, after some more research, I may have the answer to my own question.

It's the warranty.

Lund has a lifetime warranty on not only the hull, but all of the plywood materials as well. And here's the kicker. The warranty is fully transferrable to future owners.

That's on top of a bow-to-stern three year warranty on everything else in the boat.

 

[ASCTLC]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

When did they change the warranty rules? My 2004 brochure specifically states: "Your 2004 model year Lund boatis backed by the premier warranty in the industry, including... <lists details> ...while still owned by the original purchaser.". As the second owner, that noted exception leaves me without such a benefit.

Andy

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

When did they change the warranty rules?

Not sure when the warranty change occurred, but here is what their website (and their sales brochure) says:

"Lund's Lifetime Limited Warranty gives you the best overall coverage ever available on hull material and workmanship. From bow to stern, gunwale to gunwale, and from the bottom of the hull to the top of the windshield, your new Lund is backed with a transferable warranty - and Lund's promise that we'll make sure any claims are handled with speed, ease, and our full support.

"Warranties include...
- Lifetime Warranty on double-riveted seams.
- Lifetime Warranty on all plywood panels, related materials and labor.
- Three Year 100% Bow-to-Stern Parts and Labor Coverage with applicable exclusions - ask your Lund dealer for details.
- Transferable.
- Some exclusions apply - please see your Lund dealer for details."

This is quite appealing as I've probably got about 10 good years left to do this here boating thing. The idea was to hand it down to one of my sons when I was done with it.

 

[ASCTLC]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

I believe that would qualify as one heck of a warranty! Rivets have been known to leak so getting such repaired correctly would make such a warranty quite valuable (in my opinion).

Andy

 

[The Reel Affair]

Re: Lund boats - How to justify price

I have had 11 aluminum boats in my 40 years of boating I had all brands and I'll tell you right now there's no boat present that can beat the workmanship quality and the craftmanship of a Lund.
Have you ever seen a lund boat leak( normal usage) My friend and I wont mention the brand he paid $22,000 for this 2001 boat The boat was never moored but sat on a bunk trailer It leaked and did it ever,
The manufacture would help out So what we found out after tearing apart the floor and getting to the heard of the aluminum That the bunks pressed upwards separating all the rivets alin the bunks.

And you know whats going to happen when you purchase another brand of boat You will be saying l...... I should have bought that Lund
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