Probably TMI, but here is a piece from a US Business report about the boating industry.
Quote:
“The EPA rule certainly influences how you look at some boat designs moving forward,” says Roch
Lambert, president of Recreational Boat Holdings,which manufactures the Glastron, Four Winns and
Wellcraft lines. “We’re planning to go with outboards for all of our Glastron boats 20 feet and below.”
Lambert, former president of BRP’s Evinrude/Johnson division, lists the benefits of outboard power
by rote — quiet, fuel-efficient and giving an owner the option of re-powering three or four years down
the road. “It’s a no-brainer with sterndrives becomingmore expensive,” says Lambert.
Other builders in the competitive but depressed sterndrive niche are also jumping into outboard
design. Larson plans to introduce 4.8, 5.1, 5.4m (16, 17, 18ft) bowriders with outboards because of
catalyst cost considerations. Rinker Boats has also launched a 5.4m and 5.7m (18 and 19ft) Rinker
Captiva. “Because of pricing on sterndrives, it wasn’t competitive for outboards to
be on these units,” says Doug Sexton, vice president of Nautic Global Group, parent of Rinker
and Hurricane brands. “Now, if you tack an extra US$3,500 on a V6 sterndrive, it makes a lot of
sense to use an outboard.” Sexton says there’s “nothing in the works” for Captivas larger than 5.7m (19ft), a cut-off
shared by other builders.
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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:2000 Four Winns 268 Vista
Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral
235 ssi cuddy
