Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Edition

[NautiqueJeff]

Most of you will remember a similar thread that I started last year, where I asked you to come up with questions that you would like to have Bill Yeargin, Correct Craft's President/CEO, answer for us. Well, he has agreed to answer our questions again this year. Bill has been at Correct Craft for almost two years now, and has made a number of positive changes during that time. Post your questions here, and I will do my best to get them answered within the next few weeks. I'll leave this thread active for one week, so please try to post your questions as soon as possible.

The results of last year's questions can be found here.

I am planning to spend a couple of days down at Correct Craft in the beginning of August, so if you have any comments or suggestions for Correct Craft, you can post those here too.

[tdc_worm]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

I have two:

--How is it beneficial to the consumer for CC to set up exclusive territories for their dealerships? What I pay for a CC in Austin, TX is thousands more than than a fellow CC Fanatic that lives in Houston, TX, less than 200 miles away. Why is this a big deal? Two reasons:

1. It kills my resale value. Why? The internet. Anyone in the market for a used boat will go to boattrader.com, and find a used CC from anywhere around the country where CCs are selling for less and have it shipped to them and still save thousands.
2. It doesnt force a dealership to work for a CC loyalist's business, which is ultimately bad for the consumer. It forces the consumer to make a decision based on brand, and completely factors out the dealer. For instance, I dont particularly care for the service department at my dealer, and (since I prefer CC) they dont have to care about it because my hands are tied as the consumer.

if they are allowed to compete in a free market economy, whey dont they let their loyalists?

--Will CC ever consider building their own trailers or sourcing their trailers from 1 manufacturer? Why do I care?
My 2006 CC 220 has a Ramlin trailer. My local dealer uses Magnum. My Ramlin trailer has been nothing but a headache, and my local dealer refused to help me get it fixed. I had to contact my old dealer, have them contact Ramlin, and have Ramlin okay Magnum to do the warranty work. The outcome? My 220 is being held ransom at the local Magnum trailer dealership because Ramlin has thus far reimburse Magnum for the repairs. MC builds and services their own trailers and Skier's Choice services all of their trailers from Boatmate...they have it figured out.

[BigBald]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

My question is also related to the trailer. How come something that is less than 10% of the overall boat cost end up being the main source of issues. My boat delivery was held up for several weeks waiting for the trailer. And then the wrong trailer (fit a 211 instead of a 216) was delivered....and it took several months to get the correct one. And the wrong trailer did damage to my boat's gel coat. And.....the correct trailer still needed work when it was received. Very frustrating.

[aquaholic]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

Is it common to have spider cracks in the gelcoat, on a boat just being delivered?

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

A couple of things here...

Trailers are the responsibility of the dealerships. Correct Craft corporate has very little to do with trailes, so any trailer issues should be taken up with the local dealers or the trailer manufacturers themselves. TDC_WORM's question about whether or not CC will ever build their own trailers is valid though.

The idea behind this thread isn't just for people to bring up issues that have come up with their boats. That's what Correct Craft's customer service department is for. Some suggestions would be to ask about recent changes at Correct Craft, how the company is being run, the future of the company, what products might be released soon, etc. Take a look at last year's questions for an idea of what we're looking for here.

[tdc_worm]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

so is my first question a valid one?

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

Sure.

[bchesley]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

TDC,

I have one comment for the territory issue. One of my good friends owns a small dealership in a 100k person town 90 miles from a 1.5mil person town. Said dealer in 1.5 mil person townsells 70+ boats a year with a small margin. My buddy sells 15-18 boats a year with a higher margin. No one in their right mind would buy a boat from my buddy if all they had to do was drive 90 miles to save 3-4k on a boat. It happens anyways under the table, but that is a whole other thread. The territory works for the small guys in a good way. My dealer is there with parts and service for us who dont want to have to drive 90 miles one way. It might not please everyone but for the us in the sticks it does in the long run.

Brad

[aquaholic]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

Were there recent changes in the quality control of the gelcoat?

[TravisFling]

RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 Editi

Will you ever consider making Wetsounds or some other "long-throw" option for sound systems? The Polk System seems very overpriced for what you get. Or a stereo allowance for whatever you want installed by your dealer?
I love the '03 lines, why the swoopy rub rails?
Can we get back the colored decks for all models?
I second the trailer question. The trailer is part of the boat package, and for 95% of people the trailer is a huge part of owning a boat. The trailer not working is, in essence, the same as the boat not working. You still can't get to the water.
Will CC ever become publicly held, or better yet - a coop where you get stock when you buy one? Or employee owned?
Why the current gel coat quality problems?
Additional Ballast for Super Airs?
Can you stop getting aftermarket towers, or at least continue to offer the FCT?
Any thoughts on a Fuel Cell powered boat? Diesel isn't very available at most marinas, nor is propane here in the states.... Electric boat powered by a solar panel that goes on the roof of your boat house? Or a wind turbine?

[jmo]

Re: RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 2008 E

A couple of things here...

Trailers are the responsibility of the dealerships. Correct Craft corporate has very little to do with trailes, so any trailer issues should be taken up with the local dealers or the trailer manufacturers themselves. TDC_WORM's question about whether or not CC will ever build their own trailers is valid though.

The idea behind this thread isn't just for people to bring up issues that have come up with their boats. That's what Correct Craft's customer service department is for. Some suggestions would be to ask about recent changes at Correct Craft, how the company is being run, the future of the company, what products might be released soon, etc. Take a look at last year's questions for an idea of what we're looking for here.

Hi Jeff,

First off I think its really cool that you are able to coordinate this asynchronous interview loop with Bill and I understand you don't want to just flood him with complaints, but...

How about when you collate all of the questions, group them into categories and include one that is the "top ten complaints" list.

I think this could provide invaluable insight to Bill as to where the problems are and give him an independent assessment of how good his companies quality control really is. In many companies CEO's don't always see the issues happening because they are being suppressed by management or they are just too busy.

Here is an opportunity for Bill to hear it unfiltered and untainted. He can take the info and use as he see's fit. If I was the CEO, I would take the list and compare to what my head of Quality Control thinks the top 10 problems are and see how in touch he/she really is.

That aside, I would love to hear about CC's vision on building "green" versions of their boats that are fuel cell or electric based as TravisFling has asked.

Thanks,

jmo

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 20

That sounds like a good idea. While I do not want this interview to simply be a list of complaints, I am sure that he would value the information. I will at least put together the information for him.

[TravisFling]

RE: Re: RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 20

I just LOVE the idea of a fuel cell boat that only emits water as a byproduct for a boat. Just seems too cool. Great idea on the complaints, too... Seems there are several that are very common, and some that aren't.
Anyway, I hope the interview is good times, as I'm sure it will be.

Travis

[SuperSquirt]

RE: Re: RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 20

I think you should ask Bill to start making more garage friendly boats, i think it might help sales since people are having to cut back on expenses with the economy (such as boat storage, marina slips, insurance...). Make all boats garage/driveway friendly with options like a foldable or electric platforms, towers that will fold under 7ft, etc..

[DWhitt]

RE: Re: RE: Questions for CC President/CEO Bill Yeargin - 20

Love the Byerly Icon Edition boat. Who's next? Murray? Any chance of a limited production run of the Icon boats?

Any hints on future models?

Can you offer teak platforms on the wakeboarding boats again?

I agree that a Nautique trailer would be nice. It's a big part of boating and tends to be a real sore spot when it comes to quality and functionality.
A folding swim platform like the X2 would be cool too.