Affordable Inboard Boats and Water Sports
Aaron Sanford and the Hydrodyners
Aaron Sanford recently commented about how slalom water skiing and bare footing are declining. This caused me to think about the many reasons that our sports may be struggling. As I considered this, I remembered an interview I had earlier this year with HeyDay Inboards.
HeyDay Inboards WT-1
HeyDay Inboards is a new boat manufacturer who currently produce only one boat: the $39,999.95 WT-1. Their big push is that you can finance an easily towable wake surf boat for $299/month. Now, this is not a tournament boat. In fact the 19-foot hull had been designed to throw a wake like a 22-foot boat usually does. However, if HeyDay can produce a boat that can shake up the burgeoning surf industry, how come a company can’t produce a budget tournament boat?
A lot of skiers buy used boats to reduce the cost of entry. Aaron, for example, bought a classic Hydrodyne and put some extensive repair work into it. Others just accept that a used tournament boat could still run $40k – $70k for a late model. In my household, we’re discovering that a used tournament boat is now costing nearly as much as our new one did just five or six years ago.
HeyDay Inboards Wake Tractor
It all leads to the question of whether the cost of entry to get a new – or even used – tournament boat is one reason for the decline in slalom, three-event, or barefoot skiing. On the flip side of this question is a conversation I had with a salesman at my local Mastercraft dealership a while back. I asked about people financing their purchases, and his response was that many of his customers just pay cash.
Your Input
I’d love to get your thoughts on the role of the boat in the growth or decline of towed water sports. Is it a factor or not? I’d also love to hear what you think about this HeyDay Inboards WT-1.
Links
HeyDay Inboards