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| JD Power Rankings Revealed |
 J.D. Power and Associates, a global marketing information services firm specializing in performance improvement and customer satisfaction, has released it's 2008 Boat Competitive Information Study. The survey provides a thorough examination of sales, service and product experience of new boat owners.
Satisfaction on board was measured in seven product categories, including fiberglass bass boats, coastal fishing (17 to 30 feet), express cruisers (24 to 33 feet), small runabouts (16 to 19 feet), large runabouts (20 to 29 feet), pontoons, and ski/wakeboards. We've compiled some highlights from the results based on responses from new boat owners who registered between June 2006 and May 2007. Index scores reflect customer satisfaction in the following sectors: cabin, engine, ride and handling, helm and instrument panel, design and styling, sound system, water sports and fishing. Numbers are based on a 1,000 point scale.
Bass Boat Segment Average Score - 870
In the bass boat segment, Bass Cat ranked highest for the fourth consecutive year with a score of 935. The company maintained its status with the highest overall index score in the study for the third year in a row.
- Bass Cat - 935
- Ranger - 892
- Triton - 872
Coastal Fishing Segment Average Score - 818
Grady-White's score of 886 not only puts it first in this class, but reflects a report showing the fewest technical problems of any manufacturer in the coastal fishing segment.
- Grady-White - 886
- Boston Whaler - 868
- Triton - 856
Express Cruiser Segment Average Score - 801
Regal improved its status among the express cruisers with a score of 871. With its proven exceptional ride and handling, Regal has ranked highest in this segment for the last two years.
- Regal - 871
- Sea Ray - 802
- Chaparral - 797
Small Runabout Segment Average Score - 761
Regal also ranked highly in the small runabout segment with an 880, performing particularly well in six of the eight determining factors. The brand also had fewer reported problems than competing manufacturers.
- Regal - 880
- Sea Ray - 826
- Chaparral - 787
Large Runabout Segment Average Score - 821
Cobalt owners are likely to recommend and repurchase their brand of products because of customer satisfaction at dealerships. With a ranking of 901, Cobalt has scored highest in the large runabout segment for seven consecutive years.
- Cobalt - 901
- Regal - 896
- Four Winns - 833
Pontoon Segment Average Score - 800
The pontoon's new level of sophistication was demonstrated by Manitou and the smooth ride and handling of their products. The manufacturer scored 840 in this segment, ranking it above its competitors.
- Manitou - 840
- Bennington - 831
- Harris FloteBote - 821
Ski/Wakeboard Segment Average Score - 879
Correct Craft and Mastercraft tied for first in the ski/wakeboard segment, both scoring 900. Mastercraft was the only brand to improve in overall satisfaction, while Correct Craft, with its particularly high engine satisfaction, maintained its rank for the sixth year in a row.
- Correct Craft - 900
- MasterCraft - 900
- Malibu - 884
In 2008, 68 percent of new boat owners took their boat in to be serviced. The 80 percent who brought their boat to the dealer reported higher satisfaction than the 20 percent who received non-dealer services. Of the 9,718 new boat owners surveyed, 74 percent experienced a problem with their product, while 26 percent reported no problem at all.
The study suggests that engine technology plays an increasingly important role in purchase decisions, up five percent from 2005. Despite the decline in boating sales over the past few years, manufacturers have displayed steady improvement in the delivery of quality products to ensure the satisfaction of their customers.
The full report can be read here.
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