No Yamaha Media Event for 2018 Models! :-(

[Volffas]

This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. If I wanted sun, I wouldn't have the bimini up.

 

[Julian]

Clearly the title of this thread was inaccurate..... No media event for jetboaters.Net! Makes me wonder why we were left out this year? We even asked a member to remove their photos of the 21 foot center console at Yamaha's request.

Sorry we couldnt bring you any behind the scenes information.....

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Clearly the title of this thread was inaccurate..... No media event for jetboaters.Net! Makes me wonder why we were left out this year? We even asked a member to remove their photos of the 21 foot center console at Yamaha's request.

Sorry we couldnt bring you any behind the scenes information.....

It was in my backyard......no travel expense..... just good press.

 

[Ziess21]

This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. If I wanted sun, I wouldn't have the bimini up.

View attachment 63315

I can see how it would seem that way but.... in person I actually kinda like it. Plus that dumb solar panel hoop is gone.

 

[Eric Ballard]

Is there a contact a Yamaha, someone trusted to find out if we where left out on purpose?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I can see how they wanted to take the troublesome folding the Bimini down to get full sun but.........its just not the same.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Is there a contact a Yamaha someone trust to find out if we where left out on purpose?

We will never know...

 

[veedubtek]

Its there. $64k https://yamahaboats.com/24-ft-boats/242-limited-s/

Edit: And here $68k https://yamahaboats.com/24-ft-boats/242-limited-s-e-series/

Right, but the non-S version is what I mean. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer no tower.

 

[Volffas]

Right, but the non-S version is what I mean. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer no tower.

You're right. I don't see one of those.

 

[GTBRMC]

Clearly the title of this thread was inaccurate..... No media event for jetboaters.Net! Makes me wonder why we were left out this year? We even asked a member to remove their photos of the 21 foot center console at Yamaha's request.

Sorry we couldnt bring you any behind the scenes information.....

I sure hope Mother Yamaha is not "punishing" JetBoaters.net for allowing uncensored, free exchange on a wide variety of topics by a large group of Yamaha (and other jetboats manufacturers') enthusiasts. Not every discussion will be positive. And that's OK. Some will be pointedly critical. And that is also OK. Where else can Yamaha get better direct, unfiltered feedback and insight into their jetboats and jetboat owners' experiences (at zero $$$ cost to Yamaha)?

What is not OK is if Yamaha is actually putting pressure on JBN to censor and/or suppress dissenting voices. Enthusiasts who raise issues and make noise are one of a product company's most valuable customer types. Such customers give the "tough-to-hear but invaluable" direct feedback that most consumers will not. Most of the time, dissatisfied customers simply walk away and take their $$$ elsewhere, without out ever saying why - usually without saying anything at all.

Yamaha must know how much more profitable repeat customers are than other customer types. They also must know that enthusiast repeat customers recruit other like-minded enthusiasts that become highly profitable repeat customers. Mother Yamaha, I sure hope that you are not taking an adversarial, potentially punitive posture toward JBN and your hardcore jetboats enthusiasts here. That would be very, very unwise.

It is not too late to step up and do the right thing... How much would that cost vs the marginal profit loss if even a few dozen of us abandon the brand forever? Have your accountants grind on that. Then have them fight it out with your squeamish legal counsel. Then do the right thing!

Note, I just sold my 2008 SX-230. However, I still have my 1998 Yamaha RX-V595a A/V receiver. And my 2012 Yamaha RX-A3010 Aventage A/V receiver. And my 2017 Yamaha RX-A3060 Aventage A/V receiver. I have been a Yamaha evangelist for years. And I am watching your recent behavior very closely (as are, be assured, many others).

 

[swatski]

Makes me wonder why we were left out this year?

Because they lost their soul?

arrogance of power? It usually does not bode well. This is a very crowded segment and so far their edge has all been about "reliability" and resale value. You know, these Yamaha jet boats are bulletproof. That's how they got me.
And also how they lost me.

--

 

[swatski]

I sure hope Mother Yamaha is not "punishing" JetBoaters.net for allowing uncensored, free exchange on a wide variety of topics by a large group of Yamaha (and other jetboats manufacturers') enthusiasts. Not every discussion will be positive. And that's OK. Some will be pointedly critical. And that is also OK. Where else can Yamaha get better direct, unfiltered feedback and insight into their jetboats and jetboat owners' experiences (at zero $$$ cost to Yamaha)?

What is not OK is if Yamaha is actually putting pressure on JBN to censor and/or suppress dissenting voices. Enthusiasts who raise issues and make noise are one of a product company's most valuable customer types. Such customers give the "tough-to-hear but invaluable" direct feedback that most consumers will not. Most of the time, dissatisfied customers simply walk away and take their $$$ elsewhere, without out ever saying why - usually without saying anything at all.

Yamaha must know how much more profitable repeat customers are than other customer types. They also must know that enthusiast repeat customers recruit other like-minded enthusiasts that become highly profitable repeat customers. Mother Yamaha, I sure hope that you are not taking an adversarial, potentially punitive posture toward JBN and your hardcore jetboats enthusiasts here. That would be very, very unwise.

It is not too late to step up and do the right thing... How much would that cost vs the marginal profit loss if even a few dozen of us abandon the brand forever? Have your accountants grind on that. Then have them fight it out with your squeamish legal counsel. Then do the right thing!

Note, I just sold my 2008 SX-230. However, I still have my 1998 Yamaha RX-V595a A/V receiver. And my 2012 Yamaha RX-A3010 Aventage A/V receiver. And my 2017 Yamaha RX-A3060 Aventage A/V receiver. I have been a Yamaha evangelist for years. And I am watching your recent behavior very closely (as are, be assured, many others).

Great post. I think many of the issues are specific to the jet boat division of the Yamaha company, certainly not the way their outboards are sold.

--

 

[swatski]

Yamaha must know how much more profitable repeat customers are than other customer types. They also must know that enthusiast repeat customers recruit other like-minded enthusiasts that become highly profitable repeat customers. Mother Yamaha, I sure hope that you are not taking an adversarial, potentially punitive posture toward JBN and your hardcore jetboats enthusiasts here. That would be very, very unwise.

Not only that.

Just think about it, think about the Bimini Fling alone and the potential there to grow their brand!

Bimini Fling under @Bruce and @Julian grew from a little five-family-outing-thingy into something now almost legendary - more akin to the Jeep or 4Runner Jamborees!!!

With members putting their well being and finances on the line to (essentially) showcase their products!!! It has brought thousands of viewers and wannabes into the Yamaha JB fold! And what do they do with that???? If their customer department had any vision whatsoever (and/or a few more brain cells at their disposal) they would be waiting on both sides of the Bimini crossing to assist the boaters doing the crossing! That is money. That is how people get hooked on a brand.

Most recreational product companies would kill for the kind of publicity and one-of-a-kind free advertising this forum has brought to them.

And what does Yamaha (under poor guidance of few presumably very very young and inexperienced leaders and an out of touch legal department /risk management team) do? - blame the forum?

Good luck growing your business with that kind of attitude.

--

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Not only that.

Just think about it, think about the Bimini Fling alone and the potential there to grow their brand!

Bimini Fling under @Bruce and @Julian grew from a little five-family-outing-thingy into something now almost legendary - more akin to the Jeep or 4Runner Jamborees!!!

With members putting their well being and finances on the line to (essentially) showcase their products!!! It has brought thousands of viewers and wannabes into the Yamaha JB fold! And what do they do with that???? If their customer department had any vision whatsoever (and/or a few more brain cells at their disposal) they would be waiting on both sides of the Bimini crossing to assist the boaters doing the crossing! That is money. That is how people get hooked on a brand.

Most recreational product companies would kill for the kind of publicity and one-of-a-kind free advertising this forum has brought to them.

And what does Yamaha (under poor guidance of few presumably very very young and inexperienced leaders and an out of touch legal department /risk management team) do? - blame the forum?

Good luck growing your business with that kind of attitude.

--

And........look who followed @Bruce 's (and Bimini trip forefathers) lead and has published multiple videos from the pristine waters of Bimini!

 

[Tonkatoy]

Clearly the title of this thread was inaccurate..... No media event for jetboaters.Net! Makes me wonder why we were left out this year? We even asked a member to remove their photos of the 21 foot center console at Yamaha's request.

Sorry we couldnt bring you any behind the scenes information.....

Actually it's kinda cool.
We are like an outlaw jetboater club.
Jetboaters.net are the 1%s
Yet we are the majority...
Wait, that doesn't make sense...

But on a serious note, there isn't a valid reason... this site plays totally fair. It's the best advertising Yamaha has. I can't see why...

People don't read magazines anymore. They go to forums for a dose of reality before making a big purchase. I know I did.

Sorry to hear that you guys were left out. That was a mistake on their part. This site is growing bigger everyday. I don't see how they could underestimate that. Things will change as time goes on for sure.

This is the place people come for the real scoop.
Not a boating magazine that reviews a boat like a prerehearsed commercial.

 

[bobbie]

Not to brag...(or maybe a little). Here's our wake today. Two people in our boat...surfer over 12 ft back...not the 18 inches in the 2018 surfpointe videos!

 

[Julian]

Plus that dumb solar panel hoop is gone.

That "dumb" frame is perfect for mounting a marine radio antenna on! Looks like nowhere to put that now.....

 

[Julian]

Is there a contact a Yamaha, someone trusted to find out if we where left out on purpose?

As Murf said, we'll likely never be told why we were left out.....someone at Yamaha probaby still reads magazines and doesn't understand the power of the internet.....perhaps they think that we only have 9000 members reading these posts and forget that our non-member visitor rate is massive! Oh well....their loss.

Perhaps we should attend the Scarab, Glastron and Chaparral Media events?

 

[msavold]

Aside from my jet boat, my other passion is flying as a private pilot for recreation (and you thought boating was expensive!). I used to get Boating as a freebie promo for going to the local (Baltimore) boat show. Pretty quickly realized it was all an "advertorial". The connection: J Mac MacClellan was the long-time editor of Flying magazine until 2010 after Bonnier took over the magazine (2009). He was very vocal of why he left - looking for the link but if I remember correctly, Bonnier wanted something like 3 or 4 months' advance notice of all stories and potential story lines so that they could allow "interested parties" (cough: advertisers) to review them. Mac says he tried to explain to them that aviation was fast-changing and there was no way to give that much advance notice, and that "interested parties" had no business 'reviewing' upcoming articles. Some silly crap about journalistic integrity, I suppose?

Two guesses who publishes Boating. For some time now I've realized that they not only drank the Kool Aid, they've helped mix it. Last few issues I got I just glanced at, not bothering with most of the copy since it was just a big rehash of the ad on the next page. (Flying Magazine, BTW, is a bit better but I still often see a gushing article on the latest plane or modification followed by a two page spread ad for the same thing... I skip those articles.) Last boat show I went to, I selected one of the other magazines on offer.

Yamaha, clearly you just don't get it - nor do you get how pissed this community will be at being slighted. I'd somehow get it if the event was limited to dealers but the moment those shills from Boating are invited while @Julian, @Bruce and the others are told "uh, there's no meeting this year", you cross the line. You see, it's not Boating that you have to court - wave a check and clearly they'll be happy. It's - get this - your user base. As in US. Because we - believe it or not - are your most ardent evangelists. We're also the ones, however, that are the first to notice when corners are cut. Or when ideas seem dumb (cough - 'patented' Surfpointe). Instead of shunning this community, have a look at what @JetBoatPilot has done in the past - sound out JBN! Embrace the ones who have collectively put somewhere north of a MILLION hours on your boats. get our marketing guys an @TheRealYamaha membership to JBN! It's free. Yeah, we're likely to be the ones that find out that timing chains can go sproing, anchor locker drains were installed by the visually challenged on your assembly line, and towers can develop a self-folding mode. So the solution to those problems is clearly to shun (if not shoot) the messenger?

As a community, JBN lusts after this time in August - it's when we are ALL thinking (whether or not we admit it out loud) "hmmm, I wonder if they're going to come out with that new model that will make me want to trade a literal boatload of cash for a NEW Yamaha. You know the speculation can last weeks, if not months in advance. So, the response is "nope, nothing to see". Oh, ok, then. They're apparently not interested in the quality issues we've come across, not (openly?) interested in our opinion about new features, and certainly not interested in keeping our excitement level up.

When's that Chaparal intro?

 

[msavold]

PS: 9,000 users, 111 hours per user (average - probably light) = 1,000,000.