| Subject: Re: Trapper 300 Prices |
Author:
Brian Henry
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Date Posted: 11/03/05 18:51:19
In reply to:
James Green
's message, "Re: Trapper 300 Prices" on 11/03/05 13:15:08
James, thank you for your extensive reply. Interesting that the HR26 has not been too popular in the UK; I do not live there and therefore did not know that. As you point out, it would not be very competitive, even if someone may be less interested in racing they usually want to take part in club events. Having written that, there were plenty of smaller, successful Westerly yachts that were out and out cruisers (I’m thinking particularly of the Centaur).
HR targeted Germany for the HR26 and achieved some considerable success even though the model was a departure from the larger range that had built a successful reputation based on construction and sea-kindly qualities. In fact, so successful that the many German HR owners in my Italian marina form a noticeable and snobby clique, in which my HR26 neighbour is only just, with a certain sniffy disdain, included. His model was, in fact, the first HR26 sold into Germany and he told me at some length, how Hallberg-Rassy had great difficulty to get that particular model accepted there at first.
To return to your main point, the perceived value of the Trapper range and the 300 in particular. You probably put your finger on the core reason, that Trapper Yachts did not survive too long to promote the marque. Also, perhaps the T300 suffers from sharing a generic name when the majority of Trappers are 500/501 versions. As a retired marketing manager for a multi-national company I believe any numerical nomenclature to be a bad principle and never practiced it professionally. Westerly had the right idea to call all their models by a distinctive name after the corporate one. Yes, I know that my example of Hallberg-Rassy belies the principle but I believe they built their legendary reputation despite their naming policy, based on the custom of the time of reflecting the length, because of sharing so much similarity between the models, other than the length.
I did read somewhere that Russel Anstey started the 400 (28) and 500 naming to refer to the number of berths that could be comfortably installed (minus the “00”, of course) in that model. Presumably, the 300 followed that principle.
I am not sure that your exhortation, admirable as it is, for owners to publicise the yacht and its qualities will adequately influence the market, even over time. It would need more than that to get the message out there, such as more exposure in the yachting press and probably some competitive successes. What could help enormously, and is essential in these modern times, would be for the Trapper web site to reflect a more professional aspect with more dynamic news, for that is where any publicity would have most effect.
Thanks for a most interesting and thoughtful thread.
Regards, Brian.
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