Moomba boats?

[surroundsound64]

I saw one at the lake today. Is there anything special about them? I've never really seen them on tv or anything, but it had a gravity games sticker on it. Is it just another wanna be? Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Anyone know anything?

[DRAGON88]

They're an for $$ they can't be beat IMO.

Supra and Moomba (Skiers Choice) do the Gravity Games, and you can order the boats with the Gravity Games Packages, they have larger sacs, and also the graphics you saw.

Overall, I think they make an awesome product and their 06 LSV looks awesome!

[bkhallpass]

It's really the same as cars.

Not everyone needs or can afford a Hummer, Mercedes, Porsche,
whatever. A Chevy, Hyundai, or Geo may be the right
car for your needs and budget. Reliable, and can go over
100,000 miles.

Similarly, not everyone needs or can afford a CC, MC, Bu. Moomba
offers many of the features of the more expensive boats, but
at a much lower price tag. They don't pretend to be a competitor
to the more expensive boats. They just make a boat that people
can have fun with in a more reasonable price range.

BKH

[SkiMatt]

One of my friends told me Moomba originated from two designers that left Mastercraft many years ago. The two guys started Moomba but they had their differences and went separate ways. One of them kept building Moomba and the other started Geko. Any of you know if this sounds true?

[Mikeski]

Doesn't sound right to me. Rob Shirley was the original mastermind behind Mastercraft, when he left he started Infinity boats with Chris LaPoint specializing in slalom boats with a mid engine v-drive (yes, you read correctly). This was happening about the time when slalom boat sales went flat and everybody started buying wakeboard boats so Infinity ended up going belly up.

Supra boats have been around since the mid 70's? Not really sure when they became Skiers Choice and when/how Moomba came into the mix. In any case I don't think it makes that much difference.

Bottom line, Moomba is a great price point boat.

[bkhallpass]

Wow, interesting how stories get twisted around.

Supra has been in business since early 80s. Started as a "luxury, family, inboard." Boats were bigger and deeper than traditional ski boats. Did very well.

Late 80's/Early 90s, Supra developed the Moomba Boomerang as
a price point boat, under 20K.

Shortly thereafter, Supra sold to United Marine. There was a series of
Management changes. In 95, two Mastercraft Execs were brought in,
Rich Tinker and Dan Miller. Eventually Management group bought
company in 99 changed name to Skiers choice.

One of th Smart innovations made by Skiers Choice was to eliminate
separate production lines for Moomba and Supra. Now the boats are
made from the same molds, and some of the same components. They split out at the end of the line for different upholstery, towers, carpeting, etc. Result is tremendous savings in production line.
Moomba gets a Supra quality hull and some other high end components,
yet consumer still gets a price point boat. Manufacturing costs are
reduced for Supras, without compromising quality, allowing Skiers Choice
to keep the price of Supras slightly lower than CC, MC, Bu, while
still maintaining its margins.

Obviously, I'm sticking with CC, but Skiers choice is an interesting business case study.

BKH

[SGY]

SkiMat, I think your buddy is confusing the history of Mike Brendel (sp?) formerly of Brendella boats. He and his partner split the sheets. One started MB boats, the other started Calabria (sp?).

Not positive, but that's my understanding.

[bkhallpass]

The Brendella/Calabria/MB story is a more confusing one. I understand there might have been some bad blood and/or litigation involved, and
there's not a lot of public information available.

I met Mike Brendel at a golf tourney several months ago. I wanted to get the story "from the horses mouth" but there wasn't time (nice guy and good golfer btw).

Factually, what I do know.

The Brendel Family has been in boating for nearly 50 years. Mike's father Irv Brendel was a legend in drag boats, and was the designer of Hondo boats.

Brendella Boats, Inc. began producing Ski Brendella boats in 1987.

By 1992, Mike Brendel left Brendella Boats and started MB Sport. The reasons are less clear, and I've read probably 50 differenct speculative accounts. It appears there was a lot of legal mumbo jumbo going on.
Brendella Boats Inc. were the shareholders of another company called
International Marine, doing business as Calabria Boats, etc. It appears there was a lot of haggling between the various entities and at some
point an agreement was reached to stop using the Brendella name.

In 1998, Brendella Boats introduced the Calabria, originally the name
for a hull design. In 1999, Brendella Boats went away and the company became International Inboard Marine. By 2000 none of the boats bore the Brendella brand, but instead were called Calabria's. Today
International Inboard Marine owns the company and is dba Calabria
Genuine Ski Boats.

BKH

[G-man]

The guys that started skiers choice were exec from MC not designers.

[83sn2001]

I read an article in Waterski mag several years ago that Moomba came from Australia. Supra bought them and then brought it to the states and it has evolved from there. I remember the first one I saw at a boat show the rudder assy. came thru the transom instead of under the hull. The boat was not very impressive. Now they play off of the R&D of Supra and thats how they can sell for less along with not using premium grade materials except for the hull. This is just info I have read about in various Waterski issues

[baedriver]

I had a supra for ten years great boat good looks! we sold it a few years ago and went boatless for a few years. We test drove a 97 196 with a 120hrs this boat was great. Just from a quality point the SAN is a better choice. Supra was my first boat but now cc will be my only boat. We are very happy we put money down on the 196 with the gt-40 will pick up at labor day can't wait.