Quote:
Originally Posted by sunchaser
Better get a salesman or two. I nominate PK and YBGuy.
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Count me out, I was the East Coast dealer for Lien Hwa in the late 80s-early 90s, and that was back when there was no EPA refulations at the marina, and we could paint boats outside. Prices were low, fuel was cheap,, and there was many vendors available for services (those boats don't commission themselves, nor does warranty work fix itself) , nor were there billboards and TV commercials for lawyers every couple of miles, and every 5 minutes.
There wasn't much money in it even then- hence the saying "great way to make a small fortune". Lien Hwa was, and still is subsidized by the owners other money making industries. He did the yachts for sentimental reasons, and to keep relatives employed. He lost money on every boat sold. Not a great business model is it?
The smartest long time (Palm Bch, Broward, Dade counties since 1959) boat dealer I know sold all his real estate off at the top of the market, gave all his boats back to the bank in 09, and moved to Kentucky where he's built a compound at the top of a mountain, down a long dirt road, and just bought a hotel to keep his relatives working. His accountant just bought a 54' Meridian from me. He knows what he's doing. We used to discuss the demise of the industry at length back in the late 90s. It all came to pass.