Scuttlebutt Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 13)

www.scuttlebutt.com March 2008 • Page 13 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SATISFACTION SURVEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Pleasurecraft Engine Group (PCM) ranks highest in the inboard EFI four-stroke engine segment, performing particularly well in engine reliability. PCM is followed in the segment by Marine Power. While inboard EFI engines have the highest quality (49 PP100) and satisfaction ratings of all four engine segments, fuel economy continues to be a major weakness for the engine type. “Fuel economy is clearly the Achilles’ heel of inboard EFI engines when you compare segment scores to those of the other engine categories,” said Todd Markusic, senior director of the powersports practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Despite this shortcoming, inboard EFI engines have remarkable quality and earn extremely high satisfaction scores. Those brands that can find a way to improve the fuel economy of their engines would clearly have a major competitive advantage.” Industry Findings – The study finds that marine engine customer satisfaction has declined slightly across all four segments examined in the 2008 study. However, engine quality has remained stable or improved slightly in three segments. “We will certainly be keeping an eye on how the new emission law being implemented in California this July impacts marine engine customer satisfaction and quality,” said Markusic. “In order to meet these requirements, manufacturers will have to implement new technologies and enhance some of their products. We have seen industries—such as the commercial truck market—struggle to meet new emission standards when their engines were redesigned. It will be interesting to see how marine engine manufacturers respond to this challenge.” The 2008 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study is based on responses from 9,718 owners who registered a new boat between June 2006 and May 2007. Eleven brands of outboard, sterndrive and gas inboard marine engines are included in the study, which was fielded between September and November 2007. Customer Satisfaction Index Rankings. All charts are based on 1,000-point scale. Inboard EFI Four-Strokes PCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 913 Marine Power . . . . . . . . 887 EFI IB segment avg . . . 886 Indmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 879 Outboard EFI Four-Strokes Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 898 Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 895 Suzuki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 OB EFI 4-strokes avg . . 888 Mercury . . . . . . . . . . . . . 872 Outboard DI Two-Strokes Mercury . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892 Evinrude . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 OB DI 2-strokes avg . . . 889 Yamaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882 Sterndrive EFIs Volvo Penta . . . . . . . . . . 856 Sterndrive EFI avg . . . 853 MerCruiser . . . . . . . . . . 851 Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a marketing information services firm operating in business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on boat ratings visit www.jdpower.com /boats/ratings/overall-boat -ratings. • Affordable to Buy Boating Magazine’s 2007 • Economical to Own • Fun to Drive • Shallow Draft Goes where other boats can’t! BOAT OF THE YEAR AR230 High Output • No Prop Safer for kids & swimmers! • Innovative Design $ $ 278/month on approved credit 38,999 AR230 • Flat-Out the Best Selling Boat in it’s Class SX210 starting at AR210 starting at 212SS starting at 212X starting at $ 30,299 $ $ 31,799 $ $ 35,999 $ $ 38,999 $ 227/month on approved credit 227/month on approved credit 257/month on approved credit 278/month on approved credit In House Financing NO PAYMENTS ‘TIL SUMMER! *payments based on 6.9% APR, 180 months, 20% down plus title, license, on approved credit. FX SHO FX SHO Cruiser VX Deluxe $ $ 129/month on approved credit 11,999 $ $ 149/month on approved credit 12,799 $ $ 99/month on approved credit 7,999 BEST SELECTION STATEWIDE • BEST SERVICE • BEST REPUTATION 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU POWER & SPORT, INC. MINNESOTA'S LARGEST YAMAHA DEALER ROCHESTER: HWY 52N & 55th St Exit • 507-287-3333 RED WING: South of the metro, on the beautiful Mississippi River • 651-388-7000 www.rivervalleypowerandsport.com http://www.scuttlebutt.com http://www.jdpower.com/boats/ratings/overall-boat-ratings http://www.jdpower.com/boats/ratings/overall-boat-ratings http://www.rivervalleypowerandsport.com http://www.rivervalleypowerandsport.com

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Scuttlebutt Magazine - March 2008 Marine Directory Showcase On Shore - March Classifieds Advertisers' Index

Scuttlebutt Magazine - March 2008

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