Forkliftt wrote:
Is a Grand Banks a better investment?
I would say "not automatically."* Or "not just because it's a Grand Banks."** Grand Banks are very well made boats but their real advantage to a buyer, as I said earlier, is the consistent build quality from boat to boat.* If you like the aesthetics and configuration of a Grand Banks, assuming the boat has been well maintained and properly operated, you can pretty much bet it will be a good, reliable, trouble-free (as much as any boat can be considered trouble-free) boat.
But I can think of other boats that I believe represent investments with equal--- maybe even more--- value.* Nordic Tugs, for example.* Tollycraft is another one.* Maybe American Tug although they haven't been around long enough to built a long sale-resale track record.* Hatteras I expect is another example of a boat that is a good investment.
Of course, what does a good investment mean?* I would say, based on*certain people we've met*who have them, that*a Bayliner can be a good investment based on*what the owners were getting out ofowning the boat, and the condition they were keeping it in.
I would say that the "Grand Banks advantage" is not unlike what you have described for Caterpillar but to a lesser degree.* Cat actually makes much of the*stuff that goes into their machines.* Grand Banks does not.* They make the external and internal structures and cabinetry, but everything else --- engines, transmisons, props, shafts,*toilets, plumbing, electronics, refrigerators, windlasses, pumps, door handles,*you name it--- are for the most part purchased components.
But.... Grand Banks still supplies limited support in the way of unique parts or compenents to their older boats.* And the purchased components they use are generally of very high quality built by reputable manufacturers, so if you buy a used*GB there's a good chance the anchor windlass will have been made by a company that's still around and still provides parts and service.
Reputations have to be built on something.* We don't own a new GB so I have no clue if economic and market forces over the years have forced them to compromise on the quality and reliability that built their reputation in the first place.
Our boat was made when Howard Abbey was still supervising the layup and construction of every GB fiberglass hull.* As a result, the hull is amazingly strong.* Not long after we bought the boat I busted a heavy bronze pump-out fitting off the side of the hull up near the rub strip.* The impact tore the fitting out of the hull (it was just*screwed on) and bent the heavy flange around the base of the fitting back 90 degrees.* I figured this had done some major damage to the hull at that location.* When I examined it, the gelcoat had a*tiny dent*in it.* That was it.* And since the fitting was dangling out of the hull attached to its plumbing, I had a chance to see how thick the hull was. This is way up by the rub strip, and the hand-laid fiberglass----it's not a cored hull---is some inch and a half thick.* God knows how thick it is in the bottom.
This is the kind of thing that built the repuation of the boats.* Whether they are still this heavily made I have no idea.
But brand is definitely a factor in*return on investment if one cares about that.* We didn't buy our boat as an investment, and we didn't go into it expecting to get anything back for it.* At this point, I'd be inclined to sink it as an artificial reef for*ling cod*when we can't use it anymore
* We chose a GB because we'd chartered one and liked it, and it had a reputation for being well built.
To some people, brand is everything. On a subject probaby dear to a lot of members hearts, Colt revolvers are priced the way they are primarily on the name, in my opinion.* I do not believe they are that much better, or any better, in terms of construction or operation than other*"not Colt"*brands.* When I needed a revolver years ago in Hawaii, I wasn't about to pay the price of a Colt, so I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in .30 M1 caliber.* I had friends with Colts.* Other than the logo, I couldn't see any difference.**
But I don't think this is the case with GB, Nordhavn, Krogen, Fleming, Nordic, and the other so-called "premium" boat brands.* Like your Cat example, I really do think a buyer gets something extra for the extra money they pay for these boats.* Whether what they get is worth the extra they pay is totally subjective.
-- Edited by Marin on Wednesday 23rd of December 2009 11:09:32 PM