Okay guys, this is a real company. I was contacted several months ago by the owner of the company to just give him some feedback on what he was planning and maybe head off some negative reaction. Seemed like a good guy, interested in quality and therefore respectful of the TMS experience we all share.
Among other things, I questioned his choice of names and cautioned that people would instinctively draw a connection to the Toyota boats, which truthfully IMHO would be a poor choice. He explained that he chose the name before he knew anything about our boats, and since the number of Epics is small and waning, that over time people would forget and/or just let his boats speak for themselves.
So check his recipe: "The quality of these boats will be extraordinary, the first version (the Ramp 23V), will be made for the hardcore wake crowd. With every accessory imaginable, lots of room, easy to clean, lots of storage and coolers, and many creature comforts gear directly at the rider. "
What I can tell you is that this start-up has been in the works for quite some time and in the limited amount of information he shared, seems to be a serious effort. Based on what I've said here, it'd be cool if you guys could just check them out as if they were any other new boat company (not the easiest task, ya know.) They're doing it on their own, unlike the EOS/POS dudes.
Not sure if the owner was just investing some time in me to make sure when we discovered the new line, that I'd write this email to keep the Epicmariners from overreacting...or if he really did want my input based on what I like about the Toyota boats (which have a reputation he really respects). Here's an excerpt of some stuff i sent him:
One of the complaints I have with ours is lack of snap-in
carpeting. The hull top is bonded to the bottom half,
sanwiching both the liner and the friggin carpet. Our vinyl
looks awesome, best around, but the carpet is showing wear.
Had Toyota done the textured glass floor with snap-in
berber, we'd be styling. Would probably cut down on mildew
issues, too.
A great feature on the Epics is the beam-width trunk that
opens to the swim step. A great place to store a pair of
boards, a ski and some ropes or a Big Bump, or a Fluid
Concepts 1000 pounder.
Carpet everything. Use the molded sound absorber under the
removable floor panels. Upgrade the muffler to keep things
quiet even if it costs a few ponies. Make the steering
light. Do dripless packing as standard equipment (will
prevent us from screwing things up). Do the removable picnic
table thing - chicks dig the crap out of that for some
reason.
Leave options open for the flip-up helm seat thing in case
bow rise gets marginal. In fact, I'd probably use the thing
flipped up on crowded days even without bow rise just
because it gives better visibility.
Consider offering souped up options like Hellroaring
Isolator dual battery installations, and pre-plumbing HEAVY
gauge power wire to the place most likely to house amps
(seems most towboat dudes are pimping their systems way
beyond what any boat manufacturer would supply. You COULD
offer a tower box with or without speaks but fitted well to
your tower and gelcoated to match the trim of a particular
scheme. With your logo.
Offer a trampoline top for your tower - you can tow with it,
and they look pimp.
Consider those bitchen turbo-lube hubs, even if they haven't
come out with a disk version yet.
Longshot, strategic idea here: keep your eyes open for a
diesel or turbo diesel that's about the right size - fuel
economy and oodles of torque, and most of these towboat
dudes are used to thinking of diesels (in their tow
vehicles) as the serious choice for power and longevity -
the right powerplant choice."
Blah, blah, blah, right? That's probly why he picked me. Knew I'd talk your ear off.
