2 hours ago, Cole2001 said:

Any dealer non dealer can service a malibu. They all use the same basic parts for the most part, especially the older ones. It's just warranty that sucks. Experienced this when wizard lake marine lost Malibu

towers / brackets / racks / electronics / vinyl / hardware etc etc etc are all captive manufacturer specific items now.  Shoot, Malibu even marinizes its own engines on the 2020+ boats.  So I'm not sure it's accurate that the boat can be 100% serviced without access to malibu's parts catalog.  Obvs shadetree hacks like myself can change the fluids, but when it comes to replacing a busted heat exchanger or something like that... that's gonna be a malibu specific part.

On a serious note Malibu made $ on these boats once. What's better than once? TWICE! Well kinda but IMO they don't have a choice

Malibu should work out a deal with M&T to buy back these boats at MAJOR discount and Quickly, then sell back again protecting the market pricing. I don't see how Malibu can let these get dumped without killing other dealers leading to prices and margins getting cut further when financing expenses and margin across the board are getting slim for all parties..

Depending on how long this last these boats could be caught up in limbo for a long time sitting outside as well getting weathered, water, mold etc as I'm sure Tommys is probably not allocating labor anymore to keep up on LOT duties now since they kinda don't own them anymore. you know like leaving covers half off or not on and just assuming drain plugs are out while other cavities fill and mold.

On another note it's NOT going to be easy in this market to just go and pick up a bunch of dealers that want to take on expensive boats that don’t already have a lot full of other brand expensive boats.. 

Maybe go the Tesla route...

28 minutes ago, The Hulk said:

I would guess/ imagine they used more local banks in California to finance those CA dealerships acquisitions? Possible local banks near the other locations? Maybe even more loans other than M&T possibly?

Just doesn't make sense how the staggering loan increase got approved....banks have disclosure rules on companies! Well they typically do....

Silicon Valley Bank? 

There are banks that specialize in high risk lending, especially in the Silicon Valley area. That likely explains the >13% interest. And quite honestly, if they were financed in 21-22, even early 23, it’s possible that everyone thought it was still gangbusters…. Though I really have concerns about underwriters that didn’t see the writing on the wall regarding economic slowdown. 

Taco Marine semi rigid rub rail 1.5" I believe is the closest match.  The center piece does stick out a little more than the factory one.  I have been looking around for rub rail that matches closer to factory for a while now.

Last year I went with Domed numbers but just used the "newer" font.  The one with all lower case... looks great.