New Trawler Build: Introduction and First Question

[healhustler]

Bake is right. However difficult the process (most new things are that way), you’ve got a unique vessel that will turn heads and provoke questions everywhere. I sure hope the answers end up to be positive ones. So sorry about your frustrations in the build. I’d surely have not done as well.

[BandB]

And now that the truth is out....well, part of it, but the whole truth is much worse than she describes, as she's greatly censored herself in this post....I do stick firmly by my criticism of the builder and anyone deciding to contract with them needs to understand the risks and it's caveat emptor. Please understand that many of the issues Miz Trom speaks of were also inherent on Hull #2 and others. The delay cost the buyer of #2 their only chance to do the loop before health issues, which now have led to their boat being for sale.

So, I add one item to the list Donsan made:

8. Be very careful in selecting your builder.

[ssobol]

Originally Posted by Donsan

...

1. Avoid buying hull #1 of a new build.

...

The people who buy early production boats are incentivized by the introductory pricing. This can be a substantial discount on the regular production price. They are pretty much buying the prototypes.

The first sold TT35 had a intro price from the factory of about $220K. It is now listed for sale at $320K. How much of that price is owner preference change orders vs. the real cost of the boat, I don't know. However, I expect that production versions will be in the mid $300s when the design is stabilized.

In the end, introductory pricing on boats may not be the bargain the buyers expected. Unfortunately, the company resources of companies that make new or unique boats do not generally allow them the luxury of building prototype and test boats in order to work all the bugs out. Development must be done on customer delivery boats.

Same thing is probably happening with the SeaPiper.

On the other hand, bringing a new design to market is very difficult. The development costs are pretty high. If you develop a new boat and no one buys it, the company can fail. Trawlers Midwest developed the ECO Trawler 33 (for the same niche as the TT35). They built two as prototypes and marketing tools. AFAIK, they still have them both and no additional ones were ever made.

[Benthic2]

Thank you so much for sharing your ordeal with the forum. If possible, can you give some examples of criteria that are not up to ABYC standards ?

[Miz Trom]

Benthic2:

Unfortunately, our attorney has advised us not to publish any details, so I am unable to answer your question at this time. I wish I could.

And I would like to request that the moderators close this thread.

Cheers,
Pea

[Baker]

Originally Posted by Miz Trom

Benthic2:

Unfortunately, our attorney has advised us not to publish any details, so I am unable to answer your question at this time. I wish I could.

And I would like to request that the moderators close this thread.

Cheers,
Pea

You do realize that closing it will still leave it available to be read? I did just sent a report to the team and we will discuss it. Thank you for your civility and candor in this thread.

[Benthic2]

I understand...thank you for responding.