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Tarriffs: effect on the marine industry?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForums, Apr 3, 2025.

  1. YachtForums, Apr 3, 2025
    #1
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    One of our members dropped me a note asking if we could pose this question without it turning political. What effects do you think the tariffs will have on the marine industry, i.e., boat prices, electronics, equipment, etc.
  2. maldwin, Apr 3, 2025
    #2
    maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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    I just received an email from Albury saying the price increase on Yamaha engines would be in the $5,000/$7,500 range (not sure what HP) and that they have a supply in the US of pre tariff motors.
  3. Norseman, Apr 3, 2025
    #3
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Wow…:eek:
    Mercury is still made in the US?
    They have some smaller models made by Tohatsu in Japan, or did a few years, the tariffs may force production of the small ones to the US(?)

    As far as big boats made in Holland and Germany, if flagged in the Cayman Islands, it won’t make a difference to new owners then. Or….?
  4. Hatterized, Apr 4, 2025 at 7:33 AM
    #4
    Hatterized

    Hatterized Member

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    IMO.....fuel/diesel costs lower, and a few marine related items up, think many boaters and future boaters will enjoy the reduced fuel costs which will exceed the minimal added costs due to the tariffs....:eek::cool:
  5. Pascal, Apr 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Hopefully we ll see more parts made here in the US. I just got two Onan raw water pumps rebuilt…. We can’t even make gears in the US, they come out of India!!

    Attached Files:

  6. Capt J, Apr 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
    #6
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    All of that stuff since Covid is garbage, raw water pumps last 1-2 years these days on generators it seems.
  7. Pascal, Apr 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Yep. Same with voltage regulators.
  8. 993RSR, Apr 6, 2025 at 5:59 AM
    #8
    993RSR

    993RSR Senior Member

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    All this stuff is manufactured in other countries because the labor costs are super cheap. If you build these parts, cloths, etc... with US labor costs will they cost more that the imported item with tariffs?
    No cheap labor here.
    $170. per hour for a Cummins tech in Annapolis. Plus travel, hookers...
  9. ranger58sb, Apr 6, 2025 at 7:20 AM
    #9
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    Can't isn't the right word.

    Don't. Maybe won't. For various reasons, usually market-driven.

    I have no reason to assume a gear (or whatever) made elsewhere can't be as good as one made here. I have no reason to believe a gear (or whatever) made here is as good as one made elsewhere.

    I might have reason to believe a gear (or whatever) made by (fill in the blank with your favorite company name that is known to produce really great stuff) could be superior to a gear (or whatever) made by a company nobody ever heard of. Without regard to either location. OTOH, start-ups have been known to make good stuff sometimes, too.

    -Chris
  10. Norseman, Apr 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
    #10
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    I worked in India, the labor cost there is about 1/10th of the US.
    Prices may go up and wages may go down.:(
  11. Capt J, Apr 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
    #11
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yeah, but you're also paying $170 hr to change these crappy short lived parts. IF they were made here, they'd probably last 3x as long!
  12. Pascal, Apr 6, 2025 at 10:02 PM
    #12
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Couple of years ago, we waited 3 months for a 16V2000 crankshaft… it arrived in a made in India crate, having been flown from India to Germany for inspection then to Detroit and finally to miami …. I don’t believe all that air freight is much cheaper than the labor cost difference.