SOLD Molds for 24' inboard runabout and center console

[VB-NY]

24' Molds for sale - A classic looking 24' inboard powered runabout. Molds were built in 2002 by Northend Composites (now Backcove Yachts) in Rockland Maine. This Doug Zurn design is a great handling inboard boat that rides well and can be powered by with gas V8 or diesel power. Selfbailing with onepiece deck and inner liner. Molds for a center console with horse shoe seating area also included. Seventeen boats have been pulled and the molds are in nice shape. May need some minor gelcoat repair prior to construction. Molds can be moved on one flatbed tractor trailer and are not oversized width. Currently stored inside but will be shrinkwrapped and moved outside in next 30days. I have plenty of pictures of completed boats so call or email for info.
Molds located in Wellesley Island NY. 75,000.00 No terms.

<Note: SOLD. Details removed.>

[Squam Inboards]

$75,000!! Are you trying to recoup every penny on this sale or do you think it should bring in more because its a Zurn boat? I really like this design but I can't see myself paying $75K.

[Timm]

I don't know how many molds are involved, but tooling up a hull mold, a couple of deck molds, maybe stringers and then some small parts today would probably cost a couple hundred thousand dollars. Whether they are worth $75,000 I can't say, but to reproduce them would be pretty expensive.

[VB-NY]

Appreciate the comments Timm. Marine tooling can be expensive. Consider the design, plug building and finally tooling construction. I can only wish the molds cost 75,000 as naively stated by Squam. These molds were made by Northend Composites and before getting into boat building themselves were one of the best in the business.

[Squam Inboards]

It was not naive, but thanks for the response. I study under a former head of Sabre Yachts which I'm sure you know used to own North End. Currently we are building 20 molds from a plug built by Janseneering which is partially what North End dissolved into before becoming Backcove. In his opinion, which no offense but I value more than yours, an unsuccessful mold should sell for cents on the dollar and I tend to agree. Who cares how much money was pumped into these things, the fact is you apparently can't create a successful business with them so how can they be worth that much? I think the only case of a design being bought and rebuilt and marketed is the Shelter Island. No offense here, I just don't agree with the asking price.

[Red Tide]

Squarm - I think your comment is a bit rude here. I don't know the boat at hand in this post, but if you believe what you say

an unsuccessful mold should sell for cents on the dollar and I tend to agree. Who cares how much money was pumped into these things, the fact is you apparently can't create a successful business with them so how can they be worth that much?

then why would you be interested in paying even cents on the dollar for it? It would only be a liability to you unless it does have merit as a good boat, and if that's the case, I think other factors such as marketing push, dealers, financial strength to build, etc. can make a big difference as to what ends up on the water and what doesn't. I do fear your comment will be seen as offensive to the original poster (kind of like saying to anyone selling anything, "it must be junk if it's for sale".

But I also find your comment interesting

I think the only case of a design being bought and rebuilt and marketed is the Shelter Island.

I'm not sure if this is the place, but it would be interesting to challenge this - there must have been many other molds bought over the years and used for production by another company... Time for some research for me to see if I can dig up some examples.

[Pelicanruck]

Red tide is 100% correct. More boats than i can count or care to converse over. Tooling changes hands, parts get splashed. I also have to much respect for the guys in our industry trying to make a living to comment online about where their product line originated. If your not interested, your not interested. But your opinion as a guy whose studying under a guy who used to work for....... non-productive comments are better suited for a different forum, especially when inaccurate.

Sorry for the hijack. It just erked me enough to comment. I'm sure this is not what your thread was for. Zurn draws a pretty boat and I'm a fan of your 24', best of luck.

[VB-NY]

thanks for the comment pelicanruck.

[Mono]

I apologize, but I'm also compelled to comment:

Squam, perhaps you more accurately study under a 'former employee' of Sabre as the only 'former head' is the founder of the company, Roger Hewson? That company is currently headed by the same folks that took over from Mr. Hewson in the '90s. Additionally, Sabre and North End share the same ownership group - neither entity owns the other.

Futhermore, North End didn't 'dissolve' into anything-they are one of the largest boatbuilding operations in the state of Maine. North End stopped its outside tooling business in several years ago, and sold the tooling equipent off to firms like Janseneering, etc.

Relative the the price of the tooling: like most other things, the market for these molds will dictate the sale price, but true capitol value also factors in cost of replacement. Any enterprise seriously in the market for molds of this type would be well aware of the cost to commision the design and construction of them would easily run a few multiples of this asking price.

And...Not only are molds commonly re-used under differing brands/builders, but also production companies routinely reuse thier own tooling to mitigate the cost of developing new models. Some of the largest, most profitable boat builders in the US make use of common hulls or modified decks in product development.

So Squam is maybe not naive, but 'less than fully informed' and has decided to remedy this by going to school - makes sense. What doesn't make sense is Squam's apparent need to inform folks with things to sell that he's not interested in what they're selling...do you call every poster on Craigslist and express your disinterest? Anyway, like Squam says: "no offense".

[Timm]

Different folks have different capital available and differing needs for return. I could see a small boatyard wanting to build 6-8 of these a year and maybe making a small profit. Probably have to be something they do as an additional revenue stream, not as a stand alone boat manufacturing business.

As for old molds, I know of a large builder who started his company with cast off molds pulled from peoples back yards. Most of them were just happy to have someone haul them off!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

Apart from all of that its a good looking boat and possibly in the right hands will have a chance of making a comeback, with everybody angling towards the retro route again. Have to admit though , Id give the centre console a miss.
J

[jimm]

Hay, if you cant buy a mold for a price that is close to a retail price of the completed product , Get a life! You are not in the business!

[VB-NY]

These molds are sold.

[Katie Halper]

This thing looks like an old chris craft conny

[Katie Halper]

sorta like dis

http://mbbw.com/WIP/1969%20CC%20Commander%20SS.htm