I've read over the past couple of days about an ongoing boat test by a boating magazine. I am not going to name the magazine or the boat brand and model that they are currently testing even though what I am writing about really doesn't cast a bad light on either one of them but just to be on the safe side……here we go.
The boat is being marketed as “The World's Largest _________” but when I looked at the pictures some questions came to mind that sort of tie in with another post I wrote. How big is too big? Can you have too much boat? and more importantly should a boat manufacturer be able to tout that their boat is the “largest”, “biggest”, “widest”, “roomiest”, etc. just because they have added on an additional part to increase the length or beam?
Shouldn't a more accurate indicator of how ‘big” a boat is by attributed to how much living space it has? Should an extended swim platform or an extra long bow pulpit count? Does it even matter?
Personally I think it does. I think manufacturers do a disservice not only to their brand but also to their customers by adding on these parts just for marketing purposes. Everyone wants to wear the crown and seems to be willing to do whatever they can to lay claim to a title.
In this current economic climate aren't we well past the “I've got to have the biggest, newest, shiniest, fastest, most expensive” new gizmo? Haven't most of learned the hard economic reality of either living within or slightly below our means?
How much boat is too much? How much is just enough? Is bigger really better?
Capt. Patrick