What makes Morris yachts so expensive?

[Mickeyrouse]

Morris Yachts was acquired by Hinckley in 2016. Hinckley itself was acquired by Bain Willard, a private equity company in 1997, who then sold a large part of it to Monitor Clipper Partners in the Aughts.
Morris has built boats in Southwest Harbor, Maine, home of Hinckley, since its beginning. The two companies tap a common pool of incredibly talented and exacting craftsmen. Both builders have employed some similarities in their market approach: build semi-custom boats only to order, build the best-looking, best-sailing, best-constructed, most reliable boats possible, then sell them for whatever it takes to make a buck. Build a relationship with the owner. I used to know the late Rig Reese when he was sales manager at Hinckley. He maintained that Hinckley didn’t make much money on building boats, but that they made it on service- at least before the Picnic boat.
A fellow I know tells me he saw the contract on what was probably the last Sou’wester 42 Hinckley built, about 10 years ago. Total drive-out price: $2 million. I still tingle over that.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by pcmm

Teak is still a very popular interior wood choice for new boats, at least here in North America.

New boats use teak , outside of a few specialist s

Are you saying Catalina and hunter use teak, not including deck or sole ? I find that had to believe

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Mickeyrouse

Morris Yachts was acquired by Hinckley in 2016. Hinckley itself was acquired by Bain Willard, a private equity company in 1997, who then sold a large part of it to Monitor Clipper Partners in the Aughts.

Morris has built boats in Southwest Harbor, Maine, home of Hinckley, since its beginning. The two companies tap a common pool of incredibly talented and exacting craftsmen. Both builders have employed some similarities in their market approach: build semi-custom boats only to order, build the best-looking, best-sailing, best-constructed, most reliable boats possible, then sell them for whatever it takes to make a buck. Build a relationship with the owner. I used to know the late Rig Reese when he was sales manager at Hinckley. He maintained that Hinckley didn’t make much money on building boats, but that they made it on service- at least before the Picnic boat.

A fellow I know tells me he saw the contract on what was probably the last Sou’wester 42 Hinckley built, about 10 years ago. Total drive-out price: $2 million. I still tingle over that.

$2 million for a 42 footer. That most be the definition of a niche market , Total customer base :1

[Mickeyrouse]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

$2 million for a 42 footer. That most be the definition of a niche market , Total customer base :1

Though the sticker price of a Sou’wester 42 advanced like everything else thru the years (I have a brochure and price list from about ‘92) the series was the third best-selling sailboat for Hinckley. According to Ben Hinckley’s book and other sources, they sold about 80, give or take. Rig Reese always answered questions about cost with “they’re not for everyone.” No kidding.
Trully, unless you just have to be the first to touch everything you own, it makes no sense to buy a new one. You can find a ragged-out Hinckley (they do exist) of any model or age, and Hinckley would be delighted to make it like new. And it trully would be- I’ve seen more than one example of what their yard turns out. Of course, that ain’t cheap neither. But a stratospheric yard bill is still a lot less than a stratospheric new boat cost.

[Mickeyrouse]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

New boats use teak , outside of a few specialist s

Are you saying Catalina and hunter use teak, not including deck or sole ? I find that had to believe

I don’t think I’ve seen wood of any kind outside on either brand in 30 years. It would not fit their marketing plan if they did.

[Roniszoro]

The workmanship at Morris is impeccable. My friend took his mid-70s Swan 44 there about a decade ago for a total refit, and they did a fabulous job. But when they present you with the invoice, they also bring a nurse with a defibrillator. The bill was greater than tuition, room and board for 4 years at Harvard!