Lund Will Have Only Two Twin Cities Dealerships

I stopped down to Erickson’s Marine in Hastings last Saturday and the service guy there said that Lund will have only two dealerships in the Twin Cities. I’m not sure when this will happen but it sounds like it will be either in 2007 or perhaps 2008. The one dealership will be Nelson’s Marine in White Bear Lake and I think he said the other will by Rapid Sports. Erickson’s has sold their Lund inventory to Nelson’s and won’t be carrying them this year. And get this… Erickson’s is a Mercury dealer in addition to Yamaha.

I sure would think a metro area of a couple million people in one of the most popular boating states in the nation, especially one that likes aluminum fishing boats built in Minnesota like Lunds, could support more that just two dealerships. Weird! Nelson’s is so cramped for space I wonder where they’re going to put that many boats. Plus, I don’t think Nelson’s even carried Mercurys. Maybe the guy at Nelson’s was wrong.

Anybody else hear anything? I’m glad I just got my Lund Explorer from Smitty’s in Lake City. I haven’t heard if Smitty’s will keep their Lund dealership. I sure hope so. Although I doubt I’ll be looking for a new boat for several years, I was very please with my experience from Smitty.

Boone

Quote:

---

Plus, I don’t think Nelson’s even carried Mercurys.

---

If they carry Lund they will be handling Merc’s!

Last I heard Lund will be pre rigged for Merc only. (Merc and Lund are owned by the same parent company)

My prediction is that the boating public will be turning to G3 and Alumacraft for their boating wants.

I know people at Lund, Crestliner and Merc have much smarter people than I…must be why I don’t get their marketing plan.

I am pretty sure my 2005 Lund Explorer package that I got from Erickson’s last summer came with Mercury prerigging in it. I did not want a Merc, and wanted the Yam F115, they just said fine. No problem.
they didn’t even try and talk me into a Merc that I didn’t want. They just gave me what I wanted. Will be sorry they are no longer a Lund Dealer, Their service Dept IS excellent.
Jack..

Starks Sports Shop here in Prairie du Chien just started carring Yammi’s and the Alumacrafts are pre rigged with them on..Randy Stark says they get a better deal on the package that way…passes the savings on to the customer

I like saving money !!

Buy the package you want now. I predict the boat and motor company’s will attempt to become pre-rig only.

The day’s of choosing will be gone.

They will eliminate cost to the dealers by pre-rigging everything they sell, motor wise. The boat company’s will pocket that profit and the dealers will be stuck making money on the package and service work.

To protect the dealers the dealer networks will shrink and and the few left will sell at the same pricing. No more bouncing around between dealers to get a “price” you like.

You want a Lund? You get it with a Mercury at this price or you don’t get one.

If this works for Lund the rest of the boat company’s will fall in line like domino’s.

Lund will also do the same thing with their new fiberglass line of hulls.

Yes that is true, Rapid Sports center and they bought R R Marine in Shakopee which did handle Crestliner and they switched to Lund now. That will be your 2 dealers

Crystal Pierz accross the road was the Lund dealer now Crestliner

Does anybody know what it takes to get a merc. on a G3. I know their made by Yamaha.

Quote:

---

Starks Sports Shop here in Prairie du Chien just started carring Yammi’s and the Alumacrafts are pre rigged with them on..Randy Stark says they get a better deal on the package that way…passes the savings on to the customer

---

Does Starks still carry Lunds?

Quote:

---

Does anybody know what it takes to get a merc. on a G3. I know their made by Yamaha.

---

First of all you cannot. They are a Yamaha company. You could if you could find someone to change the rigging, and that is assuming you can find rigging to the proper dimensions for a boat that was never meant to hold anything but a grey motor.

Secondly, why would you WANT a Merc?

Brunswick’s plan is “For every hull, there will be a Mercury motor sold.” This simplifies inventories. You are going to see a number of dealers pick up G3 now. I know Hoot’s and Hallberg have now added them to their lines. And Marine Specialties in Red Wing and FIRM in Garrison and Aitkin have been doing very well with them. You get a lot of bang for your buck.

G3 has a awesome tunnel hull flatbottom! Have you seen Crestliner or Lunds???

No you say?? That’s because they don’t make ’em!

At least CPM will no longer carry either of these lines!

So brunswick is following G3 a Yamaha company.

Quote:

---

Lund will also do the same thing with their new fiberglass line of hulls.

---

Anyone have any info on this? I heard this the other day and was just curious as to what kind of models they will be making and when?

From the horse’s mouth:

Lund Boats Extends the Ultimate Fishing Experience by Introducing a New, Fiberglass Fishing Boat Line in Early 2007

NEW YORK MILLS, Minn., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Lund Boat Company, renowned for delivering the Ultimate Fishing Experience, announced today that it is adding another arrow in its quiver with the launch of a new, fiberglass fishing boat line to complement its existing offering of high-quality aluminum boats.

“Lund has long been known as the aluminum authority,” said Andrew J. Klopak, president – Lund Boat Company. “We are now extending our expertise to the fiberglass fishing boat market, responding to our customers and using the resources available to us as part of the Brunswick Freshwater Boat Group.”

“We are responding to a ground swell of support from our dealers and customers by expanding into fiberglass,” said Tom Mac Nair, vice president – sales and marketing at Lund Boat Company. Mac Nair added that Lund Boat Company conducted extensive “Voice of the Customer” research, during which the company interviewed Lund and competitive brands dealers, boat owners and pro- fishermen, finding enthusiastic support for Lund developing its own fiberglass fishing boat line.

“We were particularly moved by what we heard from fishermen,” Mac Nair added. “They were eager to see if combining the styling and performance of fiberglass with Lund’s fishing knowledge could bring the perfect fiberglass fishing boat to market. They all showed great interest in seeing a fiberglass boat line with the same quality, reliability and value of our aluminum models. The result gives the serious angler another option to fish in a quality Lund boat.”

“My customers demand the best — and Lund delivers,” said Terry McCardle, owner of Townsend Marine, a long time Lund dealership located in Townsend, Mont. “They now have the option of Lund quality and fishability in a fiberglass boat.”

The brand-new fiberglass fishing boats will not only include features that tournament pros and serious amateurs alike have come to expect, but also some new and innovative features that are not available on the market, yet are strongly desired, according to the survey’s respondents. “What those features will be is our secret for now,” Klopak said.

“Lund Boats has enjoyed a strong following and brand loyalty for decades because of its ability to listen to the customer and incorporate feedback into every new boat,” said Mac Nair. “With the new fiberglass fishing boat line, we are simply doing what we do best — extending the Ultimate Fishing Experience based on customer feedback.”

Quote:

---

So brunswick is following G3 a Yamaha company.

---

I don’t know about that…Yamaha went into the business to do that with a boat company. They bought a division of Lowe (G3 stands for the 3rd generation of the Lowe family.) And they were to put Yamaha motors on them. They were funded by Yamaha. Brunswick on the other hand took a boat company that customers were used to buying “Their favorite motor” for, and forced them to buy black.
Quite a bit different. But yes, the same eventual plan you could say.

Lund now wants to sell boat packages [boat, motor trailer]. Their long term goal seems to be only one dealership per state. That will down the road be easy to obtain as they want their dealers to only carry Brunswick products, nothing else, so they are losing alot of dealers because of this. In my mind Brunkswick is ruining a good boat company. But they are a huge company and can afford to do whatever they want. When you think of G3 and Tracker you think of a boat package deal. Lund will become the same way. I for one have switched to Alumacraft, others will switch too. They make a great boat with 2XB hull and have alot of room, features, and are a top quality boat.
Thanks, Bill

I for one was NOT a huge Mercury fan to begin with. I am now. I love my Optimax and the 9.9 kicker works excellant. The Yamaha engines are also wonderful.

Yami’s boat venture has been an interesting experiment. Anytime a manufacture breaks stride with what they are known for will have the potential for issues. That doesn’t mean that the companies won’t resolve them. But I know of at least 3 Tournement anglers who where forced to withdraw due to issues with their 06 boats that made them un-sea-worthy. Rumor was that they “rushed” to put product out there in 06. I think that their 07 line will be much improved.

As with most anything, research, research, and research before spending your money.

Ok…I called LUND.
Rapid will have 2 locations and then there will be Nelson’s. This is where Brunswick/Lund will be focusing their efforts and support of their product in the Twin Cities at this time.
There will NEVER be only one dealership in a state for Lund boats. Sorry to disappoint you there.

I did not know about Lund eliminating dealers, but last weekend in speaking with my uncle (a Crestliner employee) he said that Crystal Pierz will be the sole Crestliner dealer for the state of MN. When competition is eliminated, the consumer loses.

Sully

From what I gathered, Crystal will be the sole Crestliner dealer for the Cities.
It is a double edged sword. Larger dealerships that can get more inventory at a better price. Less compition amongs dealers. The bottom line is that they only have so much room on the pricing of the products to begin with.

BOTTOM LINE, an individual willing to spend tons of money on a newly rigged boat, motor, and trailer should be able to get whatever they want on that boat.

What’s next, specific electronics on specific boat brands

I’m sorry, but this seems really crazy

I agree. I have had 3 bad motors in my life, and they were all Mercury. I guess I will no longer buy Lund if that is all I can get on them.

Eliminating dealerships is going to hurt Marketshare for all of these manuafcturers isn’t it?

after to talking to friends who sell fishing boats in Wisconsin there is not a better place in the world to buy a fishing boat than the Twin Cities. in some cases dealerships can’t buy boats from the manufacturer cheaper than a CP or similar can sell them. I’m speaking of C-liners but Lund would probably apply also.

So does anyone know when would the dealers stop selling Lunds with Yamaha without charging extra for rigging?

If anyone thinks prices will be LOWER because of a lack of compitition you are smoking something.

As soon as the compitition is gone the pricing will rise.

Call it the Wal-Mart effect.

Quote:

---

From the horse’s mouth:

---

Thanks Mr. Ed!

Quote:

---

Lund now wants to sell boat packages [boat, motor trailer]. Their long term goal seems to be only one dealership per state.

---

I should be able to mix and match stuff.

One dealership per state? They would need several locations.

They just made life really worth living for Alumacraft, Starcraft, Pricecraft and others! You can still put any motor you desire on them! UNLESS Brunswick decides to stop selling loose motors!

You all (We) out there will decide if this is the right thing to do.

Vincent, they already put an end to the motor options, and your only option in ’07 will be black unless you paint a Merc another color. You may find some hold overs, but I would believe that a dealer that has some will be able to sell them for top $$.

For what its worth, if you want to get a new boat and want to choose any motor to put on it………YarCraft Boats come from the factory rigged for Mercury, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and soon even Evinrude!

There is no problem putting any motor you might want on the best built glass boat on the market today! Check them out!

And if you dont want to take out a second mortgage, Alumacraft or G3 with a Yami is the way to go..