When will there be a hull everyone can afford?

[Brian_216]

I still think we should be able to pull off a glass version from these molds for right in the 3,000.00 range. I look at it this way, if you want a carbon lightweight hull you know what you are after and should expect to pay a good dollar for it. I won't be able to say for sure until we make a couple. We really need to sit down and look at cost and time spent. We aren't expecting to make a ton of money on each hull, but instead get a bunch of hulls out there.

[Brian_216]

Some people confuse "affordable" with "just cheap enough so that MY income level can buy it"

In other words, "affordable" depends on what you make and/or choose to spend on this hobby.

Well put man. Im not looking to cut corners to save money and build something "cheap" in the end I want to produce a quality hull in glass that's lighter than a stock hull, has a great look and that will suit those that aren't ready to spend 6-8k. Granted I will be building myself a carbon version, and just looking at what will be tied up in materials alone, I couldn't imagine selling a carbon one in the 3k range. Again this is all just talk until we get the first one together. I will start a thread once the molds arrive.

[Matt_E]

I still think we should be able to pull off a glass version from these molds for right in the 3,000.00 range. I look at it this way, if you want a carbon lightweight hull you know what you are after and should expect to pay a good dollar for it. I won't be able to say for sure until we make a couple. We really need to sit down and look at cost and time spent. We aren't expecting to make a ton of money on each hull, but instead get a bunch of hulls out there.

Careful though: You will probably spend at least 100 hours on each hull (to make it a complete, bonded, rigged hull). After materials, that puts you at $25/hr max. That's not even counting your overhead and operating expense.

[tokarzl]

Matt's got it, 100 hours at least materials for your inserts add up also every dollar counts when attempting to get the most cost effective part. Your first parts will take you a lot more time and every time you will get faster and better it is so muc fun though!! Congrats on getting the molds looking forward to seeing some skis out of ur shop! I'm not to far away may have to come down and test one out!

[Brian_216]

Matt's got it, 100 hours at least materials for your inserts add up also every dollar counts when attempting to get the most cost effective part. Your first parts will take you a lot more time and every time you will get faster and better it is so muc fun though!! Congrats on getting the molds looking forward to seeing some skis out of ur shop! I'm not to far away may have to come down and test one out!

I cant wait to get started. I have a fully heated (115 degree bake) paint booth at home and gave up side work now that Im running a body shop for a living. We are now converting it to a composites shop. We have a big enough vacuum pump to lay up a few things at a time, and with the 2 of us living within 2 miles of each other we will have time to spend a few hours each night building. I think if we lay up parts during the week, by the weekend we can be assembling a hull.

[Waternut]

Just be careful and don't sell yourself short man. Everyone wants a good deal but there are many who believe a good deal has to mean that short cuts were taken and they'll discredit your hull regardless of what it can do. If you're upfront and brutally honest with your customers you may turn some away but those who do buy will come back and defend you.

[player1]

Krash Industries have just done it. Look them up - Nic Barton

[mxmark4]

make it, braap it, refine it,braap it,tweak it,braap it,sell it !!

[Brian_216]

Well as of today the deal has been finalized down to the last dollar. Its now in the hands of the shipping company to get it loaded on a container ship. And for anyone wondering what it costs to import a 3 cubic meter crate from Thailand to the USA... It cost an arm, leg, and first born child...Seriously it was almost as much as the molds to get the crate here! And its a 4 week boat ride. We will have plenty of time to get the shop ready. Everyone cross your fingers that pirates dont hijack the ship and decide they want my molds!

[Jp79]

Ahrrrrr!!!!

[Brian_216]

Ahrrrrr!!!!

Dude I still say on that note we call our selves pirate jet skis, and market this hull as the black pearl lol!

[steve-uk]

congrates brian, i loved this hull from nicks threads, very interested to see what you make of it

[Brian_216]

congrates brian, i loved this hull from nicks threads, very interested to see what you make of it

Plan is to keep quality high, price and weight low. Work with a low profit on the entry level one, and sell many. This will be made possible by making a huge investment in a bulk order of materials to get the best prices.

[ajmps1]

have you thought about letting the buyer come and do the labor with you for their particular hull? might be a way to differentiate your self

[mxmark4]

Plan is to keep quality high, price and weight low. Work with a low profit on the entry level one, and sell many. This will be made possible by making a huge investment in a bulk order of materials to get the best prices.

Hell yeaH MAN GO BIG OR GO HOME, you are doin something that most of us would love to do, can't wait to see how it all turns out.

[Brian_216]

Well just 11,060 nautical miles to go and they hit Philadelphia ! I think this is more exciting than when I got my stroker motor.

[Brian_216]

have you thought about letting the buyer come and do the labor with you for their particular hull? might be a way to differentiate your self

Maybe, but then they are going to be fully responsible if anything fails. We want to be able to stand behind our product, taking a chance like that could lead to a failed hull and bad press. After the initial investment I would hate to see this fail over something like that. I would say come on up and hang out when it gets put together, save on shipping and get a chance to ride one before you get yours.

[ajmps1]

haha yup it was just a thought, along the lines of chevy does something where you can go to chevy and build your own crate motor, dyno it and box it up and send it home.

[NorCalSJ]

Wow this sounds awesome cant wait to see how everything turns out.

[Waternut]

Maybe, but then they are going to be fully responsible if anything fails. We want to be able to stand behind our product, taking a chance like that could lead to a failed hull and bad press. After the initial investment I would hate to see this fail over something like that. I would say come on up and hang out when it gets put together, save on shipping and get a chance to ride one before you get yours.

Agreed... Just watching someone do this kind of thing gives the average guy a lot of insight and knowledge. That way when something does break, he has the power to fix it.