Need Some Michigan Feed Back !!!

[sterk149]

Our Dealership in Michigan is looking at adding Legend Boats To our line-up. I recently had their rep into the store with a 211 Alpha and took it for a test ride, It is a very impressive boat it handles rough water great and sites nice and flat in the water. The boats fit & fininsh was the best I have ever seen ( everything was done to the greatest of deatail). My question is to the guys from Michigan - What do you think of these boats and will it sell here?? Thanks

[McCarter]

Its hard to say whether or not they would sell good here.  I have not been in a Legend but have heard nothing but good things concerning the quality of the boat and how well they handle "our" water.

Ranger seems to have a pretty good strangle hold on what little a market boat sales have become in the past 8 years up here.  Stratos sell very well here as well. 

Other companies that make stellar boats have struggled.  Bass Cat, Champion, Skeeter, Triton to name a few.

In this economy, it is impossible to tell.

But i do like the looks of the Legends.  If my bait company ever makes it  big, i will buy one for me and one for my buddy John Cheetam

McCarter himself

[thedude]

awesome boats. BigJC has a decent one.

[t-bone]

Great now the John thing has hopped threads - stop it McCarter... I'm sticking with last names from now on.

I rode in Anthony Bicy's legend in a BFL tournament. It was a gusty day with some big waves. It handled the swells and waves pretty good.

The live well divider broke down and merged our fish, but it was probably an easy fix. I noticed that the seats seams were starting to come apart.

The trailer is pretty blinged out with those huge rims. I thought that was just Anthony's customization but there was another in the parking lot. That might turn traditionalists a little off.

I think the biggest thing that will need to be changed is peoples perceptions that Legend is a southern speed boat and not for the northern big waters. I know I was thinking that but was pleasantly surprised.

[TritonTR20]

I knew a guy that had one a few years ago. He really liked it, but it did not have much storage space. That might have change by now.

[Mike S.]

Those are sweet looking boats.  What kind of price tag do they carry?  Trailers are pretty kick behind too.

[SethV]

The only thing I would worry about with a smaller boat company is what happens when the boat gets torn up?  I have run Bass Cat and Ranger - both companies have been phenominal taking care of anything I manage to destroy - and you will destroy stuff on the water up here - regardless of brand.  Thats why I can't picture myself in anything other than Ranger.

There are some boats that I don't belive are put together well enough in the first place to handle the great lakes.  I have no idea how well Legend is built - but they look nice.  If they get a proven track record of durability and service after the sale, they would be great for your dealership.

Seth

[thedude]

they were originally designed by the guys from champion. my only experience with the factory has been through John C - but i know they went out of their way to take of him.

[VinceR]

I will offer an opinion froma a slightly different perspective. I do not own a Legend. I am, however, the original owner of a Cobra that has just completed it's 11th season on Michigan waters. This includes a fairly liberal dose of St. Clair, the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, Lake Erie, and (to a lesser degree) Saginaw Bay. This says something to the quality of the boat.

You may be aware that Legend is essentially what Cobra (now defunct) has "evolved" into, and are built in the same city (as is Bass Cat, and formerly, Champion). Many of the original Cobra and Champion employees are now employed by Legend, including factory and design personnel. They (along with several other brands) are closely based on a John Storie design. That said, what I have seen in my "close" visual inspection of several Legend models is that evolution has done what it is supposed to do. Most, if not all, of the things that I would have liked to see improved have been done.

The Legend hull was (slightly) modified to make for a drier (and higher) ride. This also improved the speed. Modifications were made to the bilge/battery area to make everything more accessible. The cap/console was updated to include a modular design.

Cobras already had very good fit, and finish. This seems to have improved with Legend. The "Blinged" trailer that everyone has seen is optional. The standard trailer is your typical square tube design, with laser cutouts, matching paint, and 14" mag wheels.

So, to answer you original question. I think that Legends are a well-built boat that "should" sell here in Michigan. I say should because I fear that they will face the same issues that Cobra faced. One being that they are a relatively new company that very few people know about, here in Michigan. The natural concern is "Will they be around if/when I need warranty attention? Two, being a relative unknown, there are very few on the water for people to become familiar with. Three, looking around, you will see that Michigan anglers are (understandably) loyal to only a very few brands (Ranger, Triton, Skeeter, Stratos, Nitro, and to a limited degree, Bass Cat and Champion).

Legend appears to be heading in the right direction. They are building a loyal following through good customer service and the features that anglers want. One of the keys to success (IMHO), here in Michigan, will be exposure. People have to see for themselves that this is a quality boat that is an attractive (spelled quality and price competetive) alternative to what is already available. I mean, they don't get much better than Bass Cat (again, my opinion), and look at how hard it's been for Bass Cat dealers to make a go of it here.

Truth is, if I were buying a boat today, Bass Cat and Legend are the two that are at the very top of my list (love them North Arkansas boat builders).

[fish hound]

Legends are sweet looking boats and from the one I've seen the fit and finish is excellent, but as far as design, they're not a ChampioN.  John Story signed a non-compete clause when he left Champ and the first Cobra/legend was a copy of the 482 Ranger with some mods. 
    http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread/366410-the-champion-world-according-to-pat-goff


Matt

[VinceR]

Legends are sweet looking boats and from the one I've seen the fit and finish is excellent, but as far as design, they're not a ChampioN.  John Story signed a non-compete clause when he left Champ and the first Cobra/legend was a copy of the 482 Ranger with some mods.  
   http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread/366410-the-champion-world-according-to-pat-goff


Matt

You are correct, however, the "no-compete" clause only prevented him form using the "V-wedge" design that was used in his early Champ hulls. It did not prevent him from incorporating certain "design elements" into subsequent hulls. Elements such as the extended transom and adding reverse chines (or strakes) to the hull for handling, and the curved  or "dropped bow" design to improve visibility on plane off.

The boats that I was reffering to when I stated that "They (along with several other brands) are closely based on a John Storie design" are Cobra/Viper/Venom, Hawk, Fisher/ProCraft (Pro Series), and Legend (LE Series). All of these are based on the Ranger hull that he "splashed" for the original Viper model. The design elements that I listed were incorporated into his original "splash" of the Ranger hull, and carried through all of the brands that I listed above.