In 1998 the yard did a pretty good job of doing the job right the first time. The major complaint we heard was that it took too long to get work done. While we all know that in season we have to perform triage-float and go problems and deliveries first-we felt the backlog was remaining too great. We interviewed several candidates to add mechanics to the staff but in the end felt we should keep training people in house from the ground up. One of our strong points is the experience of our men.

Therefore as of October 15th I became acting yard manager, which allowed not only David, but Rick and Sam to devote all their time to the yard again. The backlog of customer work orders has been reduced to 25% of what it was when we instituted this change. I don't know what will happen in the spring, because now I'm not working weekends but will probably have to, so stay tuned. But I can tell you the yard's running a lot better just by effectively putting the equivalent of 2 full time men back into it.

This year we will be adding Chaparral as a 2nd line of boats. This decision was made for the following reasons:

• Chaparral fills holes in our present line, such as having an entry-level bow rider, and more sport deck models
• Chaparral builds from 18-32 feet but has different layouts than the Chris Crafts offering you more choice
• Chaparral offers Mercruiser as well as Volvo Penta. We believe in the superiority of the Volvo marinization of GM blocks and will stock 90% Volvo, but this fulfills an obligation we must meet to remain Mercruiser dealers.
• Chris Craft will be putting it's R&D money into inbaords over the next 3 years so the lines will complement
• It's a high quality line that came available so we grabbed it.

You folks know I'm the last one to badmouth competitors and competitor's boats. Unfortunately, at least one of my competitors doesn't see it that way. Therefore I'm going to break down and address the rumors my next door neighbor feels compelled to say because trying to sell their own brand isn't working well enough for them (I guess):

• Hoffmaster's is not for sale: In the winter of last year I toyed with the idea of finding out how much the marina is worth, and whether to cash mom and dad out and run the marina by contract. I also wanted to know market value in case estate planning was an issue. We contacted a commercial real estate agent and listed the marina for 2 months (December 97-February 98). We had several interested parties but we decided that I could not guarantee my customers that I would always be running the place. Therefore we rescinded our listing. Since then my neighbor has told everyone who would listen that they were buying us and it was a done deal. That's pure BS, and it sold a few boats for them. If and when I toy with this idea the first people to know will be my customers, in fact, those were the first people to learn about it last winter. They won't get rid of me that easily.
• Chris Craft ain't what it used to be: Every production boat can have problems, including Sea Rays. Chris Craft builds you a high quality boat that has the same level of build of a Sea Ray for less money. Chaparral provides a more conventional way (but a very good way) of building a high quality boat for even less money. And both lines are (and will be sold) at a fair markup to protect against depreciation, unlike some other brands.
• Hoffmaster's is dumping Chris Craft for Chaparral: Nope. Why in the hell would I do that?
• Chris Craft is in big trouble: Chris Craft is a quality boat builder trying to decide where it goaes next. It's parent, OMC, was purchased about a year ago, and I think it likely to be purchased again in the next 12 months. That doesn't mean much where Chris Craft is concerned, just as the huge judgement slapped on Brunswick Corporation and it's accompanying 33%+ drop in stock valuehasn't been all that detrimental to Sea Ray, it's daughter.
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Hoffmaster's Marina
1214 Swan Point Rd.
Woodbridge, Va. 22192

703.494.7161
Fax 703.494.8786
Open 8-4 M-F, 10-4 Sat, 12-4 Sun