Re-birth of a boat line?

[jdw174]

This from another site:

Western pro Rich Tauber sat down with another site at the recent ICAST trade show to discuss a new boat company that was formed July 1. Phoenix Boats is based out of Tullahoma, Tenn. and features a list of talent including former Stratos and Champion names Gary Clouse, Hank Baker and Teresa Johnson, plus boat designer Greg Strahm. Rich Tauber is a national sales representative.

"We purchased Bumble Bee Boats, their 40,000-sq.ft. facility, along with their molds and remaining parts inventory," Tauber said. "A new line of boats will be available on September 15, 2007 and will be called the Bee Line Boats. This line will be our entry-level boat with a price point around $30,000. The first line of Phoenix boats will be produced and available in March of 2008 and will be our custom high-performance boat."

Phoenix Boat Company is a privately owned company. "They want to keep it that way," Tauber noted. "We want to produce a quality product with a family atmosphere."

An "entry level" boat with a price point at 30K??  Don't sound too "entry" level to me.  I wonder what the newer "Phoenix" will cost?

[cart7t]

I suppose that depends on what size that's based on.  If it's a 19 footer, than 30k would be an entry level price.  If it's an 18, then it really isn't.  It's also relative, if the Phoenix line is some sort of gold plated, uber bass boat than 30k would be cheap.

This buy-out rumour has been going on since the first of the year.  BumbleBee had shut their doors then.  I've always heard those boats were well made but had become very dated. Apparently the company couldn't afford to freshen their line.  Rather a regional following without a good dealer network.  Hard to see this company going anywhere in this economy right now.  

[R520dvx]

I agree with cart7. Hard to see this being successful in our current economy. I and told the bass boat market is soft except for upper mid level stuff like Rangers and Tritons.

This new company won't have that kind of reputation to carry them.

[RobDar]

I personally feel one of Bumbles problems was that they did not offer an expansive line from year to year. They had larger boats, 20 and 21 footers in the upper price range and that was it. If a guy wanted a Bumble but could not pay $35,000 for a boat he did not have any options other than to go with another manufactuer or buy an older used boat. They targeted the high end market and stayed there...which cut out alot of their potential sales.

I feel 520dvx hit the nail...companies like Stratos seem to have their finger on the pulse and started offering  a baseline, small, entry level, affordable boat ( not that stratos was not already affordable) in the 176xt...and they did it for a reason. Companies like Stroker, Norris, Legend, who do not offer these entry level boats are going to struggle a bit in an economy where folks just do not have the confidence for large investments like a $35,000-$45,000 dollar boat.

I do not think $30,000 is too much for a good boat...but I think $30,000 will cut out a good portion of the boat buying public.

[cart7t]

As I understand it, home mortgage defaults are at record levels.  Too many people went for those teaser rate ARM's and since the index rates those loans are based on went up, so went the monthly mortgage payments.  The first thing to go when you're struggling to make a new, higher mortgage payment is the boat loan, which explains the glut of newer used boats that have been on the market since the first of the year.

In my recollections, I really can't recall ever seeing more than a couple bee boats in and around Missouri. I also can't for the life of me tell you where you could go in this area to buy one back when they were still in business.

The upfront costs for that company are going to be huge.  Trying to build brand awareness in a market like boats is expensive and time consuming.  Hope those investors have deep pockets.

[ThomasL]

Delee your statement on a lower to midrange bumble bee is mistaken,the company started with a stinger trihull line in 15' that started at 8000,9000 with a 50,i'd rather have that than most aluminums in the same price range,they then made a 255 model with a better hull in the same basic length but more geared to performance bass boat for 10,000,the models went to a 270 pro at 16'4"rated to a 130 in the 12,000-16,000 range a 278 at 17'8" rated to a 150 from 15,000-20,000 depending on outboard,then on to the larger models,180,190,200 super bees in the mid 25,000-40,000 range.The boats were well built and missed by many.

The main areas to see them were tennesse of course,louisana,kentucky,va,nc,sc had a few dealers.I know of several dealers that have leftovers still and GOOD deals now. 8-)I'd liked one in north carolina,at least you wouldn't see your type boat everytime you went somewhere sort of like seeing camrys and accords all over the highways,nice to have something different.

[RobDar]

off the subject a little...but I saw on CNN or one of the channels a few months back where there have been more foreclosures and bankruptcies in the past 5 years than there was in something like the previous 25 years...quite alot of those due to ARM's and the interest only payment loans.

I also believe...which my father does not get...that a good portion ( not all but alot) of employment these days is not like it was when he was working. There is not as much stability in the job market as there was in his day. It used to be that guys who got into the mills, or rail road, or some manufacturing plant had a job for as long as they wanted. I dont think my dad has a single freind who did not work at the same place for 20-30 years...

I dont think I have a friend who has made it 10 before being laid off/ taken a pay cut/ or something similar for one reason or another.

The days of people going to a job and staying there for 30 years are slipping away. As we move away from manufacturing towards a service based economy and continue to try to compete in a world market flooded with dirt cheap labor...job stability is slowing slipping away.

[RobDar]

Delee your statement on a lower to midrange bumble bee is mistaken,the company started with a stinger trihull line in 15' that started at 8000,9000 with a 50,i'd rather have that than most aluminums in the same price range,they then made a 255 model with a better hull in the same basic length but more geared to performance bass boat for 10,000,the models went to a 270 pro at 16'4"rated to a 130 in the 12,000-16,000 range a 278 at 17'8" rated to a 150 from 15,000-20,000 depending on outboard,then on to the larger models,180,190,200 super bees in the mid 25,000-40,000 range.The boats were well built and missed by many.

The main areas to see them were tennesse of course,louisana,kentucky,va,nc,sc had a few dealers.I know of several dealers that have leftovers still and GOOD deals now. 8-)I'd liked one in north carolina,at least you wouldn't see your type boat everytime you went somewhere sort of like seeing camrys and accords all over the highways,nice to have something different.

...and how long ago was that?

the cheap tri hull boats were years ago...when I was looking on their website and contacted them just about three years ago they offered three BASS STYLE boats...all 18 feet or over...all $30,000 plus. ( once you had the dealer rig a trolling motor, graphs etc etc

Ranger once built a $5000 dollar tri hull as well...but not anymore!

[RobDar]

it is a shame Bumble went under. I have talked to a few guys that simply adore there Bumble Bee boats. I hear they were a good boat.

I still think though that this Pheonix boat company is going to be fighting an uphill battle as a "new" company in that price range when there is Triton, Ranger, Stratos, and the other big boys with well known and reliable names whom also carry cheaper baseline models for the price conscious buyer. If they had a more affordable boat...like the $17,000-$23,000 range to compete with the Nitro's and lower end Stratos etc...they would be entering into a more flexible market with a broader appeal.