Originally Posted by Rusty (Post 152315)

IMHO you are insulting the intelligence of quite a few forum members by coming on here and trying to convince us that Formula didn’t make their business decision based on the publicity that Eric Blizzard has had in the past few years. Good try though! ;)

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 151672)

I think this would be a good time to stop the speculation and attempt to set the record straight on this matter.

I have known the owners of both marinas for more than thirty years. In fact one of the PBM owners worked for Lakeport Landing in the late seventies and early eighties. These are all good people who have worked hard at being successful in the very seasonal marina business.

Some facts:

1. Lakeport Landing's relationship with Formula has been great and goes back 31 years. For several years Lakeport Landing was the largest Formula dealer in the world!! Not a small achievement. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement for years but, when the recession hit, boat dealers everywhere were caught with new unsold inventory and needed help from the manufacturers. Formula's excellent special financing packages became not available because of banks' reluctance to lend money. As the new inventory aged, Lakeport Landing and other Formula dealers called and met with Formula executives but no assistance was offered. Formula essentially gave up its entire dealer network that took years to build and decided to sell directly to the public as SeaDoo speculated.. The New York address in bigpatsfan's previous post is actually Formula itself. Now Formula had current models to sell without a middle man while the poor dealers were stuck with new prior years models. How can any dealer compete when the factory is selling current product directly to the public at a lower price?

2. The notion that the Diamond Island accident had anything to do with Formula giving its franchise to PBM is wrong. If it were so it would not have taken Formula more than 2 1/2 years to do so. While it was not the best publicity, the truth is that the boat involved was not a "go fast". It was a 370 Sun Sport which is known in the industry as a "day boat". The unexpected conditions that night were impossible without radar or GPS. Speed had nothing to do with it.

3. As good as PBM may be, they will never be able to handle the full Formula line. It takes special equipment to lift boats over 30 feet. These boats are heavy. PBM will probably focus its sales on the smaller entry level boats.

4. PBM has limited dockage and relies mainly on rack storage which is less expensive than dockage but far less convenient for the boat owner.

5. Floor Plan will be difficult for PBM to inventory new boats and then sell them in a short period of time.

So, lets all of us wish both marinas the best. All three entities have made a business decision that hopefully will work out for all.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153508)

You, Mr. Breakwater, have the credibility problem. You clearly do not even have a basic understanding of the different models that Formula builds. Among those models are bow riders, cruisers, yachts and the SS lines. The "go fast" Formulas are known as FasTechs which are narrow beam boats with racing style seats, equipment and the like. FaTechs are built for optimum speed and performance and have competed well in off shore American Power Boat Association (APBA) sanctioned events.

The SS line are true "day boats" as they are an open cockpit wide beam design for the comfort and entertainment for more than five people. The 370 version is a wide beam at 10'6", not what would be considered a desirable racing specification. I have owned both Formula FasTechs and SSs and, believe me, there is no comparison between the two especially in performance. They are very different purpose built boats that only look somewhat similar.

As for the conditions that terrible night, judge not until you have been on the big lake on a moonless rainy night. After more than 35 years of boating on Winni I can tell you it can be absolutely frightening to say the least. In fact after the Diamond Island accident I spent nearly a thousand dollars on a marine GPS system. So Mr. Breakwater, I have been out there in those conditions, have you??

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153516)

Codeman671, thanks. All very good and well informed points.

I noted that you were out on the lake that night but were you out there at 2:30am when this accident occurred?? At that time the conditions were at their worst i.e. rain, heavy fog and no moon. I have been told that the cloud cover and heavy fog severely interfered with GPS reception that morning. A little known fact is that the operator of the 370SS was very familiar with that area of the lake as her family owned summer property on Sleepers Island since she was a small child. She had made the trip between Lakeport and Sleepers many times but apparently got disorientated that morning. The 370SS was a brand new boat that had not been in the water for 36 hours before it was demolished. It is my opinion that navigation equipment is a necessity at night and, believe it or not, sometimes during the day. That very expensive 370SS was regretfully not so equipped. Truly a day boat.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153552)

Codeman671; No, I repeat, no electronics were installed on that 370SS. I saw that boat before its launch.

Finally, if you can't see then you should have purchased electronics on your 41 foot cruiser.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153588)

Codeman671; No agenda at all other that I know the parties involved and feel that there has been way too much speculation on the truth. For example, I have read repeatedly in this forum all kinds of statements made by people who really know nothing about the events of that night, the boat involved or the PBM dealership deal but still offer ill conceived opinion that sadly over time becomes facts in other peoples's minds. Is that what a forum like this is supposed to be?? A place for unfounded rumor to flourish into what becomes juicy Desperate House Wives like fantasy. I think not, and that is clearly unfair to those closest to this tragedy.

For those of us that have had the unfortunate experience of the print media writing about something that has been going on in our lives, you know they are rarely accurate or leave out important points. The local rag i.e. The Laconia Citizen has not reported this story accurately or fairly. Bea Lewis can't seem to get her facts straight and tends to offer her opinion or speculation rather than being a credible news reporter. Credible reporters do not make news - they report it factually. It is becoming easy to understand why the Citizen is losing readers to the Laconia Sun and it is not just cost.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153600)

Rusty, you are indeed a wise man.

All kidding aside, despite your sarcasm I do know what I have been talking about. I am what is known as an insider but not a relative or empolyee. As a business professional, I deal only in verifiable facts, not conjecture unlike some of you.

Reviewing some of your earlier posts it seems you still do not have a shred of evidence as to how the PBM deal got done, do you?? A tip, re-read my earlier posts.

All the best.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153600)

I am what is known as an insider but not a relative or empolyee. As a business professional, I deal only in verifiable facts, not conjecture unlike some of you.

All the best.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153604)

Rusty; Regarding #1: No, and neither were you. The PBM decision was an friendly agreement reached after many meetings between Formula and LLM higher management. If this were not so LLM would not still be a Formula boat. How you love drama.

Regarding #2: Also no thankfully but, then again, you were not there either, were you?? I do know however what the weather people and Marine Patrol told us the conditions were that morning. Do you choose to ignore those sources as wello??

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153552)

Codeman671; No, I repeat, no electronics were installed on that 370SS. I saw that boat before its launch.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153702)

So are you now calling both the Lieutenant and me liars??

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 153588)

Codeman671; No agenda at all other that I know the parties involved and feel that there has been way too much speculation on the truth. For example, I have read repeatedly in this forum all kinds of statements made by people who really know nothing about the events of that night, the boat involved or the PBM dealership deal but still offer ill conceived opinion that sadly over time becomes facts in other people's minds. Is that what a forum like this is supposed to be?? A place for unfounded rumor to flourish into what becomes juicy Desperate House Wives like fantasy. I think not, and that is clearly unfair to those closest to this tragedy.

Originally Posted by Bentley Boy (Post 152310)

After months of discussion and face to face meetings, Formula and Lakeport Landing Marina have announced that their relationship will remain essentially intact and that Lakeport Landing will become a "Non Stocking" dealer. This is a standard industry term which simply means that Lakeport Landing will not be stocking new 2011/2012, etc. boats. Lakeport Landing will be able to order for customers boats from Formula and will have access to all other Formula products and services. This is obviously the result of a great relationship that has lasted for more than thirty years and had nothing to do with the very unfortunate Diamond Island accident.

This is a great opportunity for the Paugus Bay Marina, Lakeport Landing and Formula itself to keep the various Formula models as one of the preeminent quality boat lines on Winnipesaukee. Please wish all concerned your best.

Originally Posted by sa meredith (Post 154857)

While I certainly cannot dispute what you are saying, as I have no proof, your comments here make little on no sense. I've been in the new auto business for 23 years, and assuming things in boating work in a similar fashion with regard to factory and dealers, how can what you say be possible?
If you are correct, am I to understand that:
A customer can go over to PBM, take several hours of Cory's time. Get all the info they want with regard to price an product. Test drive a boat and look at boats that PBM is floor planning, and therefore servicing the note. And then...hope across the puddle to Lakeport and place their order after PBM has done all the work and handled the finacial burden of educating the customer? PBM has no protection? Sorry...no buying it. Unless PBM gets a piece of the action, regarless of which place places the order. I can't see it working any other way, if what you have stated is true.