I love going onto websites and building dream boats. Does my editor know this? I’m going to go with probably not. But it is work, I tell you. It’s not easy to decide what options to pick when you have so many choices.
I was recently building a new online dream boat when I got to the pontoon “option.” As in, the floating pontoons on the bottom of the vessel were being billed as an option. So essentially, if you didn’t opt in, you would have a sinking platform. This caught me off guard but it got me thinking: What do most manufacturers think of when they decide option versus standard feature? At this point of my workday, everything else was put on hold as I started my investigation.
My first phone call was to Greg VanWagenen, director of communications at Manitou Boats. He’s super efficient and one of my faves.
“Historically, nearly everything we offer that is new starts out as an option,” says VanWagenen. “At the end of each model year, we run numbers to see what percentage of boats were ordered with each option. If anything reaches 75 percent or higher we usually make it standard for the next model year.”
Seriously, don’t you love logical thinking? I do.
My next call was to Jeff Martin, director of sales and marketing for Misty Harbor Pontoons. I like working with him because he keeps me in line. “Katie,” he says, “as a writer, you should know not to start a sentence with the word and.” I always listen. And sometimes I forget.
“There are two unmistakable issues that are held in tension when making a decision about standard features and options,” says Martin. “The first one is maintaining our status as being the best value available to consumers in the market and the second is evolving with the overall consumer market to keep our product fresh.”
My next request went to Beverly Ramsey, the marketing manager at Lowe Boats. I met Beverly at the Lowe plant and from the moment I pulled into the parking lot, I knew this was a company that takes its job seriously. Also, she’s super fun to hang out with.
“Cost plays a role here. For example, if we see something is popular, but it's expensive and disrupts our value proposition, we will offer it as an option,” says Ramsey. “It's the way we keep a competitive price, but still offer luxury amenities. Basically, we look at our competition and try to maintain standard features to match or beat the competition to have a better valued boat in the marketplace.”
I then touched base with Tim Allen, vice president of sales with MirroCraft Boats, who has a brand-new line of pontoons.
“When we thought of options and standard features, we looked at the competition and gathered information,” says Allen. “We didn't want to be in left field coming out of the gate.”
When you first go to buy your boat, there are a lot of reasons you have to put thought into what options you are going to shell out for. Not only will it impact you day-to-day use of the boat, but it will affect the resale value.
If you are buying used, you can still have some options (depending on the make and model) installed on your boat. A local dealership will be your best bet in getting started.
The last time I was at Lowe Boats, I was sitting in the waiting area when a customer walked in. He had purchased a used fishing model off the Internet and wanted to get some of the optional pedestal seats. The receptionist, Angel, picked up the phone and started making phone calls on his behalf. When you buy a boat from a reputable manufacturer, it can be done!
It’s always fun to know what other people are adding to their boats. I asked each manufacturer the top added options so far this year.
Manitou: Teak vinyl flooring, blue LED track lights and cupholders and center in-tube storage on V-Toon models
Misty Harbor: Triple pontoons that include a larger fuel tank, performance shield and lifting strakes, ski/tow-bars, vinyl floors with snap-in carpet and booster speakers
Lowe: XL package, which consists of a third log, wave tamer aluminum shield and lifting strakes or chrome packs, stereo upgrades, engine upgrades, canvas or trailers
Montego Bay: Playpen covers and vinyl flooring
There seems to be a formula that we can learn from here. Flooring on the boat is important. Whether you buy new or used, make sure the floor is something that you will be comfortable resting your feet on.
