Hey everyone. We (Skeeter Boat Center) need your help to find a convenient location to hold a MX1825 Ride and Drive in the Twin Cities Area sometime the second half of August. We are willing to pay a reasonable fee for access to such a location. Our needs are as follows:
1. Convenient to the greater Twin Cities area
2. Shelter for bystanders in case of rain.
3. Access to Food and Drink would be a bonus
4. Plenty of free parking available
5. Slips for five boats would be ideal.
6. Beach with dock would work, too.
7. Can’t be limited by no wake zones
We will be bringing a MX1825 single console with 150 4 stroke, a MX1825 dual console with 150 4 stroke and a MX1825 dual console with 200HPDI. We will also be bringing a WX1850 with 150 4 stroke and a WX1900 with 200hpdi for test drives. That way you can compare the WX and MX Series first hand. We would really appreciate your suggestions for any venues that might fit the description.
Limited MX1825 production started 10 days ago. Current production capacity is approximately 1 dual console and one single console per week. Skeeter took the first 3-4 production boats. One for rep and then others for an upcoming photo shoot for the brochure that will be occurring in the Brainard area next month, and the dealer open house in August. Four other production slots were availabe before the week of July 4th factory shutdown. SBC recieved 2 of 4. One was a presold order and one is our single console ride and drive boat. On July 11th, full production will start at a rate of 5 boats a week. The first couple months of production will be coming to the upper midwest.
On pricing. I am very sorry we still don’t have final pricing information as of yet even though I promised in early May that pricing would be available by Memorial Day based on what I was told by Skeeter leadership. Obviously that didn’t happen. I did make several polite inquiries as to pricing availabiltiy since and was told each time that it is not ready yet. As James mentioned in a post late last week, I talked to the VP of Sales and Marketing last Thursday and he said that official pricing should be out by the end of June. The bottom line is that Skeeter changed it’s mind and decided to release 2012 pricing for all of its models at the same time.
When comparing to James 30K pricing target, I can now give you a little background and tell you what options will be standard and what will be optional. Original 30k spec was for dual console with wind screens not walk through windshield. The length was to be 18′ and the beam was to be 94″ on boat. This new fishing boat was to be based off the existing SL1800 fish/ski hull design. The target price was $27,500 at 2011 pricing levels with 115hp as std and the 150 4 stoke was a $2500 upcharge. No electronics. That is how James came up with his pricing estimate.
We took one of my SL1800 ride and drive boats to Mille Lacs with the engineers from Skeeter on one of their trips up north. It was determined that even though the SL1800 cornered and handled phenomenally well, it didn’t ride smooth enough to be used for fishing in heavy water conditions. The decision was made to change the hull design, lengthen the boat 4″ and widen the boat 3″ to increase stability, ride quality, and fishability. That makes the MX1825 a much bigger boat as it comes to market than the original spec. Those changes also enabled the MX1825 to be offered with the optional 200HPDI – not part of original spec. The MX base package will be a single console instead of a dual console. An extra console on a bass boat costs about $500. I don’t know for sure, but I am hoping that that Skeeter will limit the increased cost of the bigger boat to the cost reduction of dropping one of the consoles as std.
Here are most of the features that will be standard that could have been optional:
1. Terrova with 60 inch shaft verses Edge 70 with 54″ shaft. FourTrex with 60 inch shaft will be n/c exchange.
2. 2 Bank charger will be standard with small upcharge for 3 bank charger. No battery charger was spec’d at 30k price.
3. Snap in carpet will be standard. There was discussion both ways.
4. Rod Holster will be std instead of optional.
5. New starboard side storage compartment will be std. This feature was not included on original spec for 30K.
6. Under console shelving will be std. Not on original spec.
7. Insulated rear live well will be std. Not on original spec.
8. Trailer rachet tie downs will be std. An upgrade to original spec.
9. Upgraded winch handle to original spec.
10. Tuff coat trailer will be std.
11. Upgraded fuel cap system to comply with new federal regulations. Not part of spec 18 months ago.
12. I believe live well pump out will be std. Not for sure though.
14. No electronics will be std. Same as original spec.
15. Tilt and Hydraulic steering will be std. The 115 fourstroke will be the base motor package. That will reduce price a couple grand. I’m not sure about performance of 115 on this boat since it got longer and wider. Top end on MX1825 with 115 is estimated to be 37.5 mph. The MX has been optimized for the 150 4 stroke. We will have to test the 115 once we receive our first boat and report back. We will be promoting the Single console with 150hp as our base package.
I had two other factors to mention. James had indicated that the $30k cost would include batteries, freight and prep. That’s true assuming you would buy your boat during the fall or spring boat show offers. The original $27,500 target price didn’t include freight, batteries or prep. Expect Yamaha to offer incentives during mid Sept – Nov timeframe and again from Jan-Mar boat shop timeframe.
The other factor is that we have been told by our Skeeter rep to expect price increases across the Skeeter line-up for 2012. Skeeter is planning to begin recapturing some of the price decreases they offered during the recession. Don’t know % yet. That’s what we’re waiting for.
Sorry about the extremely windy post. I expect the 2012 MX1825 to be a tremendous value for the money!! Once I receive the official pricing and programs, I will do a detailed analysis of pricing for your evaluation, including stating the sale price we will be posting on our IDO banner ad. 
Have a great day!
Still I wouldn’t trade it for the world!! Dollar for Dollar Skeeter Boats continues to give customers the most boat for my money.
Hoping to “kick the tires” on a DC MX.