The "alleged" new Cobra Boat Company - JMHO

[AlanW]

I have been silent on this so far, however, as many have noted, the length of time this is taking is past frustrating, more for some than others. It indeed makes you wonder if this new company is really going to come together and actually happen & make boats again. Yet it appears somebody somewhere is going through some kind of motions, however slowly, toward this, so why would they keep apparently pursuing it if they don't intend to carry through with it?

Now it has drug out so long to the point that if it does happen, it WON'T be the same dedicated, talented, and well trained staff of people building them anymore, people you had faith and confidence in to make a quality product like they did so often in the past.

If it was going to be many of the old key employees cranking out the same known quality product as before, well that's one thing. But if it is a whole new staff of unknown quality making the same old boat....well, that's another thing. As several have noted, the original Viper hull is now old and well copied, Pro-Craft uses the same hull for one, there are others. Legend has made improvements to it and that company is catching on.

If this ever happens, it will truly be a whole new boat company. If they try just making the same old Cobra boats again without changes and updating……..I don’t foresee much coming out of it. Face it-there are A LOT of good bass boats out there now, competition is TOUGH in the bass boat game. Cobra will have to have something new and improved to offer to have a chance. The wet ride and some other issues really need to be addressed.
The new Cobra Company will really have to show us something new and PROVE something now to catch on.

Now I’m not a “serious” bass fisherman and I don’t fish Ts, so I’m not really into the bass boat “thing” so much as Fish & Skis (for several reasons). I do love my Coral, I guess I’m like Tx 201 in that I feel I have an original, quality Viper boat made by great boat-building people-a boat that will hopefully serve my needs for years to come. So I now also don’t really care so much what happens with the new company.

The one thing that would really, really be a shame if the company doesn’t start up again-the BEST Fish & Ski boat ever built-the Viper Coral, would be gone and never built again. I guess that’s all I really care much about now. My hope is that if the Cobra Boat Company doesn’t ever fire up, that maybe Legend would buy the Coral top cap molds and build a Legend Fish & Ski model on the updated hull.
Anyway, just my thoughts.

[Tx 201]

They may have all the experience in the world in running a boat company, but they have a long way to go in communication and people skills.

Since we may all be faced with the reality that Cobra boats will not be available, or the quality may not be the same that we have become accustomed to, what would be your next choice if you were going to buy a new boat in the next 30 days?

Larry does not get to vote since his choice has already been made known.

I sure like the style of our boats, so the Legends appeal to me. I also think the fade that they have on some colors is pretty sharp, so they would get my vote.

Be sure to comment on Alan's post so this isn't a total hijack, more like a hitch hiking!

[Grant]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tx 201 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what would be your next choice if you were going to buy a new boat in the next 30 days? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've always liked BassCats.

[MigAz]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tx 201 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

... what would be your next choice if you were going to buy a new boat in the next 30 days?

Larry does not get to vote since his choice has already been made known.

I sure like the style of our boats, so the Legends appeal to me. I also think the fade that they have on some colors is pretty sharp, so they would get my vote.

Be sure to comment on Alan's post so this isn't a total hijack, more like a hitch hiking! </TD></TR></TABLE>


I agree w/ the bleek outlook for Cobra. They will certainly have their work cut out for them once/if they do begin. The competition is leaps and bounds ahead now.

If I were to buy in 30 day, I would look at the Legend 199, Champ 198/200 or the Ranger Z-19 (in that order).

[Cleveland]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlanW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> so why would they keep apparently pursuing it if they don't intend to carry through with it?</TD></TR></TABLE> Good point here

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlanW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it WON'T be the same dedicated, talented, and well trained staff of people building them anymore</TD></TR></TABLE> I half agree with this statement. It may not be the same dedication because the original employees who built the old school Cobras were like a family...much like we are here. And we really CARED about the quality of the product before it left each department. We taught ourselves better ways of adding to the quality all along the way. From the beginning.
As far as finding talented people to come in and build the new Cobras...I don't think that will be a problem. There are many, many talented boat builders in this area. The heart and soul may not be the same as the old school crew but the talent is there If they offer a kick ass employee package, they will get the people to build the boats.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlanW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The new Cobra Company will really have to show us something new and PROVE something now to catch on.</TD></TR></TABLE> Rumor has it that the new management plans on doing some modifications

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlanW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The one thing that would really, really be a shame if the company doesn’t start up again-the BEST Fish & Ski boat ever built-the Viper Coral, would be gone and never built again</TD></TR></TABLE> Amen brother....I hear ya on THAT one

Now for my hitch hike ride If I were on the other side ..... being a buyer and not a builder..... I would have to choose a Champion !!!

[Gary L]

It is nice for you all to sit back and second guess the New Owners. I said it once and I will say it again. The New Owners owe you nothing. They do not need to come on here and give you a blow by blow of what they are doing and where they are taking the company. This Web page is for the Cobra Boat Owners and has nothing to do with Cobra USA. When they open the doors they open the doors if you all want to abandon the Cobra Bassboat that's fine somebody else will come forward and take your place. When they first started Cobra they needed a work force and they got it and trained them to build the boats the was they wanted them built and the force evolved into a dedicated group that showed pride in building great boats. There are a number of boats out there that have not changed molds in 15 to 20 years because they have what they want in the boat they build. Could Cobra make some changes sure could but they don't have to and can still sell boats. Do the battery compartments need to be bigger? What for you only go into that space when you have the change a battery and that is what every three to five years. It cast upwards of $50,000.00 to $250,000.00 to change a mold depending on how much change is made. That is a lot of money to spend and it may not be right in the first place. They are a small company not a huge company that has money to through around. Those changes or any changes would raise the cost of production and in turn the cost of the boats themselves. I myself hope that when they do finally open the doors that they are ready to build the Best Bassboat they can build. I only hope that at least one of you buy one of the new boats as I can see most have boats built in 1999 or earlier. They don't owe any of you and explaination of what and why they are doing what they are doing it is there money and there company and when they are ready and have all the (i)'s dotted and (t)'s crossed they will open the doors. To do that before that time could bring about failure.
Let's all just sit back and wait for them to get everything in place and open the doors and then be happy when they do because it will be right and they will be ready.

[Al from Canada]

Gary........I wouldn't totally agree that the new owners owe the present Cobra owners nothing; not if they want to keep the current loyalty and have Cobra owners remain Cobra owners and buy the new ones. This isn't just a case of an operating boat manufacturer being bought by new owners and going on as business as usual. This is a boat company that has had numerous "problems" and has been "out of business" for quite a while.

Obviously this is just my .02 cents worth, but if I were buying a company in this situation, I would be coming online and letting the present loyal owners know just what was happening and when the company would be back in business. Maybe provide some insight into what the initial plans were.

Given that there was a work force that were patiently waiting for this to happen, I would have handled things differently. I would not have let this work force "move on" and not have them at least for the initial startup.

What's the point of buying Cobra if you're not at least trying to "carry on" with what it's been and with the quality, dedicated employees that it had?
Seems to me that it would be easier (and probably less expensive) to just start a brand new company building boats other than Cobras.

Again, this is just my personal opinion. I'm obviously not a Cobra owner but if I were, I'd have to check out the Legends; definitely hearing good things about them and the quality of their fit & finish.

[Gary L]

Al, You are not the one that is investing Millions of dollars into a cmpany that has had the problems that Cobra has had in the past. I see the loyal Cobra owners here and I also see that most have older boats and few if any 2004 and 2005 boats on here. Maybe they should give some insight into what they are doing but they sure don't have to. I don't see the owners of Gambler coming on site to tell about plans for the boats nor does Genmar come on and say what they are doing with Ranger and the dozen other boat companies they own. Why does Cobra need to tell them of the plans they have for the boat company they have purchased. It is a small company and does have some very loyal and highly qualified builders. They will hire and train the new people to build the boats the way they want them built and with time they too will become loyal but the one thing they don't want is the good ol boy thing at the plant. They will open again and when they do it will take millions of dollars and at least five years before things are running up to par. So everyone just sit back go fishing and worry about something that you can do something about.

[Al from Canada]

Gary, obviously they don't owe anyone anything, but this is a different situation than your examples of Gambler or Ranger. This is a company that's had numerous problems and had been out of business for some time; Gambler and Ranger are not out of business and totally different.

All I'm saying is that I wouldn't have handled it the way they have; where's the harm in providing a little bit of information to let Cobra owners (and prospective new boat owners) know what they're doing? Seems to me
that it would make more sense than not saying anything.

We have a Legend forum where the management of Legend are online and talking to the customers/prospective customers. We have management from Triton, Skeeter, Stratos and other manufacturers monitoring the BBC Boards on a daily basis. I just would be doing it differently; just my personal opinion, for what it's worth.

And......if you're correct that it will take 5 years to be "running up to par"....well I won't comment on that.

[Gary L]

I understand what you're say Al and to some extent I agree. It would be nice to hear from them and have them online and talking and kicking around ideas. Perhaps down the road they will come on and talk to owners and perspective owners but maybe for now they wish to remain in the backround and just read the comments. It will take at least five years before Cobra becomes a name in Bassboat industry again and with that will come millions in advertising revenue.

[Cleveland]

Gary, you're right. The new management don't "owe" the public an explaination of their every move of what they have in mind for the company. But out of "respect" it sure would be nice to hear a little something positive.

Do you know how hard it is and HAS been for me to come on here day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year and be optimistic and keep a little bit of hope in everyone's minds that the company will once again "bounce back" from it's doom when the management won't even back me up on my optimism ??

One little statement from the management won't hurt.

Hell, I'm leaving the freaking country. I won't even be here to build the boats but I have chosen to stay on board here in the Cobra forum and show my support for the company. But mostly to help out the Cobra owners when they have questions about this or that with their boats. And sometimes....quite often.....I have been asking myself why?? I have nothing to gain from it anymore. I still "have their back"......why can't they help me out a little bit here ??

My main job here now is to help people out with things like....where is the transducer for the front locator....or how do I remove the front L-back cushions on a fish & ski....or where do I find the gas sensor on my gas tank.

I want to be on the side of the management too but they sure are making it hard.

[Al from Canada]

Good post Kathy........

And Gary, if it's going to take them 5 years to be a name in the bassboat industry then I personally think that's not a very good investment of so much money. And millions in advertising revenue? I would very much doubt it.

[Al from Canada]

Like Kathy's saying.........this will remain a forum for the Cobra owners (as it has been since Day 1) and she'll be here helping out as she has in the past.

[1rudebee]

I have seen several Cobras in my day, but do not own one. Here's just a few things that I've noticed......1) They make a good quality, good finished product 2) They have had a very loyal customer base 3) The boat is very simple as far as layout and look 4) They haven't changed much over the years 5) They need some changes to keep going........ Every company has to change and improve and do face lifts from time to time to give folks a reason to buy new products. This is an area that the new owners of Cobra MUST address!!! Why would people want to buy a boat that hasn't changed much in the last 10 years? There are a select few folks that don't like change and will buy the same old boat over and over again. However, this strategy doesn't promote growth in sales or profits! Bottom line is if you ain't makin money, you can't keep the doors open. The past of Cobra boats should be an example of that. Now, it doesn't help when you've got criminals suckin every peny out of the business either. From a business standpoint, if I was the one buying this company I would want to make sure I was totally free of all previous liabilities. I would want to have a clear contractual agreement with my investors. I'd want to get good quality employees to start back up. I hate that most, if not all of the old employees have moved on. But, they have bills to pay and mouths to feed too! That being said, sometimes having a fresh crew, with no past prejudices as far as design and old ways makes things easier! When Cobra boats is back up and going again, they will have an easier time doing the needed changes up front, instead of retraining and remolding the old. I feel that it will be great for newer and better products in the future!!! If they make the same old boat, they won't make it!

I think it's neat that a lot of you would like a similar boat to your cobra.....Legend, Champion, etc. They all look similar in mold and layout. I thought that was funny, but I am the same way on the opposite spectrum. I've been around Stratos boats my whole life! If I couldn't buy a stratos, it would probably be a Triton or Skeeter. Not because I think they are better than other brands, but because they have similar features, sleak modular consoles, tackle organizers, sportier sleek designs! So, I guess I understand your feelings. The thing I don't like is the corporate aspects of their companies. I'd rather do business with smaller companies where you can talk to someone at the factory and they'll know your name. I just wish there was a small company like cobra that made a sleek boat with that other layout! JMO

[Tx Champ]

Hey folks, remember if the contract has not been executed by both parties, there are no new owners, period. So with that, it would not be appropriate for any prospective buyers to make any comment on operations of any kind on a business they do not yet own.

Granted, this has taken a long time, and I'll remind everyone again that when Champion went through this it was a long time before they were back in production. In fact they lost an entire model year. But Champion is back and has survived some internal issues at Genmar and ie on it's way to better things with at least 3 new boats in the current lineup.

The Mountain Home area is full of craftsmen and women and I bet that when this thing gets going that they will have a top notch team. Granted, they may loose some of the old team, but there is always change in life. Champion continued on without anyone that was in production of the boats and they are a boat equal to if not better than the ones produced in Mountain Home.

I'm convinced that the anonymity of the prospective buyers of Cobra is probably well founded. I think it will be very interesting when things start coming to light.

[5over15]

Gary L, glad you said it! I agree 100%!

[Pat Cella]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tx 201 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> what would be your next choice if you were going to buy a new boat in the next 30 days?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Chris I have been looking a little and it would be Legend for me as well.

As far as the owners, no they do not owe the current Cobra owners anything. But I do think that it would be smart bussiness to get on the board and let everyone know what's going on, what future plans they have, etc. They could do all of this without even telling anyone who they are and I bet sell a few of the first boats they do turn out right here. Not only would they probably sell a few boats, but they could have this whole board rallying around them in support instead of bashing them.

It has been said that the few people here are not going to make or break the company and that is probably right. But I own and operate a company that is probably much larger than Cobra and I can tell you that missing the sell on three or four boats in the first few months certainly can't help.

Just my opinion.

[Tx 201]

[QUOTE=Gary L]It is nice for you all to sit back and second guess the New Owners. I said it once and I will say it again. The New Owners owe you nothing. They do not need to come on here and give you a blow by blow of what they are doing and where they are taking the company. This Web page is for the Cobra Boat Owners and has nothing to do with Cobra USA. QUOTE]

Gary,
I can appreciate your enthusiasm for the product and the hope that all will work out. I have been a Cobra fan since '95 when my brother bought a 188. At that time they had some hull problems, specifically the bottom cratering out. Then came the gel coat issue, principles splitting, and resulting problems from that, plant shut down, rumors it would re-open, then finally it did open again, Ed made a good run at trying to get it going, but then sold to Chip and the result was another shut down. Now we are rumored to be close to new ownership that has shown one set back after another. So, with all the history that this boat has had, and since the new potentials are so well versed in building and selling boats, surely they are aware of all of this. It would SEEM to make sense to try to promote a little good news to the faithful fan base. All the actions so far seem to alienate current owners and employees. Do the OWE us anything? No. Would it be smart to start with the current owners and grow support from there? That would be a good start. Since they are going to be taking a product that the public is the end user, it would make sense to have a good public perception out there. I don't see a good perception prevailing with current owners.

Regarding being quiet during negotiations, we surely don't need to see details, but a word that they are working on it and are looking forward to opening the doors again from time to time would go a long way toward the fan base and it wouldn't hurt their negotiating position. I don't think it is any big secret that Ed is a willing seller, and would be anxious to get this over with as soon as possible. If they were really concerned about law suits, they could buy the assets and molds and call the boats anything they wanted to.

Some of us have been through it time and time again with Cobra and are showing frustration on this board. Yes this is a board for the Cobra boat owners, but our common bond is the love of the boat and we would all like to see them being made again and do well. However, after time and time again of disappointments, the hope of having a viable company fades. And the prospective buyers are not doing anything but pouring water on what glimmering hope there was.

I hope you don't have to go through some of the things that those of us have gone through the last several years and you can throughly enjoy your boat. I have always felt part of the pride in ownership is not only the product itself, but the company that is associated with it. That is what has put Ranger at the top of the food chain and everyone else trying to catch up. They are there, and they will be there and they are constantly upgrading and coming up with new products to try to improve.

Overall, I am left with the impression from the silence and the delays, and by not retaining the current employees for just "another 30 days" , that they really don't care about customers or the employees. I have worked for a company like that before, wasn't much fun being associated with them. So no, they don't owe us anything, but we don't owe them anything either if that is the way you want to look at it. Someone asks me about my boat and as an owner I make a statement like, "Good boat, but I wouldn't buy another one!" pretty powerful statement coming from an actual owner. Takes a lot of marketing to overcome that. It takes 5 times the money to get a new customer than it does to retain an existing one.

Lastly Gary, I am not arguing with you or calling you out at all. You have been very good about presenting one side, I am just presenting another. You are certainly welcome to come to Texas with your boat and we can fish Amistad and Alan Henry together and enjoy the reason we have a boat to begin with, just don't leave me behind with that big 250!

[Al from Canada]

Excellent post Chris....... I for one, agree with you 100%.

[Gary L]

Chris I don't have a 250 I have a 225 Pro XS. I wish Ed would have kept the company but he had his reasons for selling and they were valid. The New Owners are good people and will do well when things are in place and the doors open. All good things and worth waiting for. Yes you love your boats as I do mine and you have been through a lot of different owners and closings and such. You survived all those and you boat wasn't affected at all you still loved it and it ran fine for you. We just have to wait a little while and then the doors will open and stay open for years to come.