Eights to cost over $50,000

[KiwiCanuck]

How Hudsons are made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tckwLt5aze0

Probably more "How Hudsons were made. There's a lot more CNC in installing the riggers, fins, and so on than when this video was shot...

[Coach P]

Thought I would revisit this topic since, as I predicted the cost of boats has gone through the roof, despite weakening market demand -- thanks to Quantitative Easing.

The thing that makes this topic interesting...and it is recognized above - is that I think we are at a point where teams could consider making their own boats, like it was done many decades ago. The very fact that we have new players in the boat manufacturing process I think demonstrates this. I am pretty sure we are going to see a team - probably a club and not a college - do something in the near term. That could be very cool.

Eton College used to build all their own boats until very recently (less than 10 years ago?) and also built for external customers under the name 'Eton Racing Boats'. I don't know the story behind it although maybe someone else here might?

[caustic]

Thought I would revisit this topic since, as I predicted the cost of boats has gone through the roof, despite weakening market demand -- thanks to Quantitative Easing.

The thing that makes this topic interesting...and it is recognized above - is that I think we are at a point where teams could consider making their own boats, like it was done many decades ago. The very fact that we have new players in the boat manufacturing process I think demonstrates this. I am pretty sure we are going to see a team - probably a club and not a college - do something in the near term. That could be very cool.

We do have a lot of new players coming into the market, which I think is great overall. Added competition will spur more innovation in the market, but we also have new players because I think the market has expanded a *lot*, and existing boat builders just couldn't keep up with the demand. Part of the price increase is, I think, due to just having not enough supply. If you look at the used market, I remember 10 years ago it wasn't unusual to see a lot of postings on Row2K for boats less than 5 years old. These days, you'd be hard pressed to find many ads selling boats younger than 10 years old. Just an anecdote, but I think a good one.

Title IX is still going strong, and with the demographic shift of universities in the US towards more women attending than men, we're seeing a lot of new purchasing for women's teams that wasn't there even 10 years ago, particularly in the DII and DIII levels. Junior programs have expanded a LOT, thanks probably to all the graduating rowers having kids and now wanting their kids to get into rowing as well.

But, even with these factors, I don't think we'll see club programs working on building their own boats. If my experience with club programs is any indicator, most clubs call it a good year when they break even - not many folks are making a ton of money off of running a club. The startup costs for a boatbuilding program in the US where one would manufacture 8s is a highly significant investment. You'd need to 1)have a good, or even decent design, 2)the machining capability nearby to make a mould and/or small parts 3)the shop space to build it, and 4)the revenue base to cover all those costs and maintain enough left over to continue investing in the production.

That's a lot to ask for from a club.