A few years ago, we published a very popular, thought-provoking advertisement. It was of a beautiful runway model walking the catwalk. The ad took a crack at the apparent popularity of a certain domestically-produced black boat. We claimed that “boat purchasing is just a fashion show,” or – what goes around comes around. Boat fads come and go like walk-ons with great potential.
Programs clamored to buy the boat that had just beaten them, like it contained some secret sauce. Often times, these were crews that were really quite fast, so these boats won a lot of races. But some also finished last. Did the boat help these crews? That’s harder to say, but at least it was a boat that was built locally, so you could rely on great customer service, prompt delivery, and support throughout the year. It made sense.
Now, we are seeing a different fashion show – top crews are importing the yellow boat from Germany. Just like the black boat a decade or so ago, the shell has become increasingly popular with top (and even some smaller) programs. However, there’s something different this time around.
Overwhelmingly and consistently, we’ve heard coaches say that they want top notch service. They want someone to overnight them a fin; to help them rig a boat correctly; to talk them through a repair; or to deliver a late-ordered boat in time for the championship races. And particularly since 2008, we’ve heard coaches tell us that they’re forced to trim travel schedules, cut equipment budgets, or hold off on buying boats all together for another year.
Buying a European shell contradicts all of that. Here’s a quick comparison – apples to apples – of what you get when you buy domestic versus international:
| Pocock Racing Shells | Empacher | |
| Price | $36,900 plus $0 - $1200 for delivery, depending on location | $50,000 - $57,000 depending on exchange rate, plus $2,200 for sectional (required), plus upwards of $4,500 for delivery and insurance |
| Order Lead Time | 6 - 8 weeks to build | Up to a year, depending on when container shipments are scheduled |
| Customer Service | Phone, online, and email support; on-site regatta support | None |
| Spare Parts | Order online or by phone for next day delivery | None |
| Warranty | Lifetime | None |
Everyone wants to put their athletes in the best possible equipment. We whole-heartedly agree with that. Ask yourself – is the trade off worth it? The Empacher is absolutely a well made shell – it’s German quality on display. But is it more durable than a domestic boat? No way. Maybe that’s why so many Empachers sit on the rack for 10 months out of the year. And ultimately, are your crews going to go so much faster that the additional cost and decreased support is worth it? That’s up to you to decide.
At Pocock, we pride ourselves in having the sport’s happiest customers, and for selling our boats at a fair and honest price. Our boats are built to be rowed all year round, and they’re still just as stiff and fast when the spring racing season rolls around – year after year. Who knows which boat will be the next “must row.” Regardless, we can guarantee that we’ll still have happy customers and we’ll still sell honest boats – that’s no fad.
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