Wondering what percentage of yacht offerings ever get built

I read headlines like XXXXXXX adds XXXXX to it's offerings or XXXXX presents new design XXXX.

A couple that jump out to me and these are boat companies I respect. Burger has 6 new offerings on their site, that they've had for some time. 112'-214', new styling, look nice, but they've yet to build any of them. I just saw the news on Bering's 130'. That makes at least 12 boats in their line. I wonder how many of those models they've actually built. Moonen wins the prize though as I believe they're building perhaps an average of one boat a year right now, maybe a little more, but they have 21 boats in their current line plus custom. To my way of thinking if they've never built it before it's custom, just they've done a design in advance.

The vast majority of yacht builders, build one or two boats a year. However, by comparison, Westport builds a substantial number of boats each year and has a line of 4 models. I think they're wise to display a variety of boats and designs they can build and are willing to build. It does though become a challenge to sort through or remain informed especially for those not familiar, as they get the impression that these boats have actually been built. People think because it's on a website or they see it mentioned that it actually exists in boat form and not just on paper. Perhaps no one on this site does, but theoretically we're better informed than others.

Is it false, misleading, or fine? I think perhaps it's ok, but misleading as well. But then that serves as a warning to buyers to really ask questions, such as how many boats did you deliver in 2016 and how many of this model have you built. Of course if you go by websites Northern Marine is alive and well, with 7 boats in their line (in their last 6 or 7 years they built well under one boat a year), and with a plant in Anacortes.

In another world, I often heard from merchandisers, "We must have this in the line or the line will look incomplete" on an item that they were saying they would only produce the absolute minimum and not recut or produce any more. I always found it humorous that something that wasn't even going to show up for all practical purposes was so essential.

I understand boat builders need to show what they can and will build if you want it. I also understand why they want to look larger than they are. However, I'd rather see more honesty in their marketing approach. Perhaps it wouldn't work for others, but if one said, "we only build two boats a year so your boat gets our full attention and these are some of the models we've designed and could start quickly."

That plus they count each boat four times, promoting "interest being shown" or "order forthcoming", then "order/sale", then completion, then delivery. In some industries they would call themselves "boutique manufacturers" and people would love it and the rarity of a boat from a company that only builds one or two a year and not from Azimut/Benetti, Sunseeker, Ferretti or Sanlorenzo.

Probably the key is if you go further and actually talk to them, how honest will they be with you. Some will be 100% open, honest, and straightforward and others will continue to push "the story" until suddenly the doors are locked with your partially built and largely paid for boat inside.

Very true, but many aren't even meeting those numbers. Many only have 1 or 2 in progress at a given time. Some are delivering a boat every two years or so. Then you get into the ones that don't have their own yards so might have two contracted out to two different yards.

I agree to the advantage of having a completed design but it is just that, only a design. I don't get upset about designs that are consistent with boats built. You've built a 50 and an 80 and show a 65, that's fine. I do have a bit of an issue with showing 120's, 115's, 130's, 150's if you've never built a boat over 90' or less as I do with calling yourself a yard when you're not and not disclosing where and by whom the boat will be built.

I've also seen very good boat builders take a job for something they didn't have the experience to do.

Also, you say "completely engineered and designed" and some may be, but there are many shown that are nothing but good drawings.

There's no answer of right and wrong ultimately and the burden of due diligence falls upon the buyer. Unfortunately, I've seen some incredible businessmen do absolutely no due diligence in selecting a builder for a boat. Some have ended up with large losses, some having to buy the company to get a boat finished. In those cases the builders professed to be something they weren't and the buyer did no checking.

They label them clearly as concept cars and don't show them as being for sale, so completely different.

Yes, it's an internet issue. Given a little programming and a business can present itself well above anything it is.

I'm not sure the Nordhavn 120 turned out to be great but Nordhavn has done enough volume and new introductions that trusting them to build it was reasonable plus you knew they'd still be around. Contrast to their knockoff, Northern.