FORT LAUDERDALE - Familiar names dominate the 2003 list of J.D. Customer
Satisfaction Award winners announced this morning at the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show.


Winners in the engine categories we

2-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Evinrude, followed by Yamaha and Mercury.

4-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Yamaha, for the second consecutive year, followed by
Honda and Mercury.

INBOARDS - PCM (Pleasurecraft Marine), followed by Indmar and MerCrusier.


After receiving honorable mentions a few years ago, and a fairly close
second place last year, FICHT is now #1 in customer satisfaction survey.

Billgran wrote:
FORT LAUDERDALE - Familiar names dominate the 2003 list of J.D. Customer
Satisfaction Award winners announced this morning at the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show.


Winners in the engine categories we

2-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Evinrude, followed by Yamaha and Mercury.

4-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Yamaha, for the second consecutive year, followed by
Honda and Mercury.

INBOARDS - PCM (Pleasurecraft Marine), followed by Indmar and MerCrusier.


After receiving honorable mentions a few years ago, and a fairly close
second place last year, FICHT is now #1 in customer satisfaction survey.




Gee now there's the worst most dishonest bit of deceptive vested
interest spam you've ever delivered Bill:-) Given that only people who
have been on another planet would buy a Ficht or whatever you're calling
it this week, it's not hard to say the percentage of satisfaction is
high, what 3 out of 5?? Last time the 2 who's engines failed were left
swinging by you & your dealer spruiking team.

You will say & do most anything to try & make out that Ficht can ever
work, but don't waste any more of your time or boaters money, it
can't!!! Lean mixtures at any sort of power will lead to unreliable
engines because of abnormal combustion leading to detonation when the
mixture is returned to "normal"; just as it has with Ficht from the very
beginning.

I suppose the best evidence is that even your masters, that send you
dealers out to spruik more falsehoods, can't get the story straight.
It's no longer "Ficht" that's just the latest new name so you might
trick a few more punters into thinking it's all different now, just as
you do with VRO, but sorry same story a defective design is just that &
for you to spam this NG again having cost many contributors money &
boating enjoyment with your BS is right up there with your mate Harry
the liar.

K

Harry's lie for the day :

Harry is the only business owner in the US that encourages his
employees to unionize to protect them from Himself.

Eisboch

Actually, two of my professional employees are in a union. I'm a union
member myself, though I am no longer very active in the trades of its
jurisdiction. I pay what you might call "placekeeper" dues.
--

Harry Krause


Honestly this lying simpleton has claimed to be an employer of
"professionals" no less!!! What on social security for the mentally ill??

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Yamaha Sweeps Outboard Engine Awards


New Boat Owners Report Fewest Problems
With Four-Stroke EFI Engines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2002

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.-Yamaha ranks highest in both two- and four-stroke
outboard engine categories, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002
Marine Engine Competitive Information StudySM released today.

The study is based on responses of nearly 12,000 consumers who purchased a
new boat during the 2001 calendar year. Boat owners were asked about their
on-the-water experience with their new outboard, sterndrive or inboard boat
engines. Study results were calculated using an engine performance index,
which includes eight engine attributes: ease of starting when engine is
cold; ease of starting when engine is hot; quietness of the engine at
cruising speed; ability of boat to accelerate rapidly; cruising speed of
boat; engine fumes; cruise time/range between fuel stops; and the standard
warranty coverage of the engine.

Yamaha achieves the highest index score among two-stroke outboard engines,
with high marks for reliability, ease of starting, and ability to accelerate
rapidly, as well as warranty coverage and claim handling. Evinrude, with
high marks for engine cruising speed, and Mercury, with strong performance
in fuel economy and low engine fumes, follow Yamaha in the two-stroke engine
segment rankings.

In the four-stroke engine segment, Yamaha has strong performance in nearly
every key engine attribute measured, particularly in the ability to
accelerate rapidly and for cruising speed. Honda and Evinrude follow Yamaha
in the four-stroke engine rankings. Honda receives high marks for quietness
at cruising speed and low engine fumes.

Since there are only two sterndrive engine manufacturers and three inboard
engine manufacturers, no index scores were calculated or awards given in
these segments. However, Volvo Penta performs particularly well in the
sterndrive segment. Volvo is noted for ease of starting, rapid acceleration,
cruising speed, fuel economy and warranty coverage. All three of the
ski/wakeboard engine manufacturers-PCM, Indmar and Mercruiser-fare well in
the inboard segment. PCM, the engine used in Correct Craft ski boats,
performs particularly well in ease of starting, rapid acceleration and
warranty coverage.

Of the three major engine categories measured, consumers are most pleased
with inboards, followed by sterndrives and outboards. Owners of
ski/wakeboard boats equipped with inboard motors are not only significantly
more satisfied with their engines, but also report less than half the number
of problems than did owners of sterndrive- and outboard-powered boats.

One issue boat owners repeatedly raised in the study is that the engine
doesn't have enough power for the size of the boat or for their overall
boating needs.

"The study clearly indicates that consumers who select their own engine are
significantly more satisfied with their propulsion than those who opt for
the base boat-engine package," said Eric Sorensen, director of the marine
practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "The importance of installing an
engine with sufficient power cannot be overstated because it impacts so many
elements of the boating experience. An underpowered boat will be a
disappointment for the owner every time it's used and reflects poorly on
both the engine and boat brands."

The study indicates that engine warranty coverage, which includes the way
warranty claims are handled, rates lower than any other engine-related
attribute.

"Handling warranty claims is one of the most important attributes in the
minds of boat owners," Sorensen said. "People who buy boats also buy
automobiles, and they're used to a much higher standard in both service and
warranty-related performance. If marine engine manufactures want to build or
even maintain customer loyalty, this is one key area to pay attention to.
Given the importance to the owner, there are many manufacturers that need to
make a concerted effort to improve in this area."

Regarding quality, one-third of outboard-powered boat owners report
engine-related problems. Owners of new boats with four-stroke electronic
fuel injection (EFI) outboard engines report the fewest number of engine
problems, while owners of boats with two-stroke carburated outboard engines
report the most problems, according to the study.

Consumers who purchased a new boat equipped with a two-stroke outboard
engine report twice as many problems as those who purchased a boat equipped
with a four-stroke outboard engine. In general, the study finds that for
both two- and four-stroke engines, the larger the engine, the fewer the
reported problems.

"Among the five technologies used in outboard engines, the quality level of
four-stroke EFI and carburated engines is unparalleled," Sorensen said. "In
additional to quality, four-stroke engines are cleaner and quieter than
two-stroke engines and are very fuel efficient. The fact that they weigh and
cost more, and don't accelerate as rapidly as two-strokes is not much of a
deterrent for many boat owners."

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a
global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors
including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer
satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on
responses from millions of consumers annually. Media e-mail contact:
or .

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in
this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and
Associates. www.jdpa.com



Jack

"Billgran" wrote in message
news
FORT LAUDERDALE - Familiar names dominate the 2003 list of J.D. Customer
Satisfaction Award winners announced this morning at the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show.


Winners in the engine categories we

2-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Evinrude, followed by Yamaha and Mercury.

4-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Yamaha, for the second consecutive year, followed by
Honda and Mercury.

INBOARDS - PCM (Pleasurecraft Marine), followed by Indmar and MerCrusier.


After receiving honorable mentions a few years ago, and a fairly close
second place last year, FICHT is now #1 in customer satisfaction survey.

..D. Power and Associates Reports:
Technology Plays Major Role in Marine Engine
Purchase Decisions by Consumers

Evinrude and Yamaha Rank Highest in Customer Satisfaction
Among Outboard Engines and Pleasurecraft Engine Group
Ranks Highest Among Inboard Engines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2003


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.-Less than one-third of boat owners indicate that
they thoroughly understand the benefits of different marine engine
technologies available on the market today and that engine technology plays
a major role in their engine purchase decision, according to the J.D. Power
and Associates 2003 Marine Engine Competitive Information StudySM released
today.

Among the more than 10,000 boat owners who responded to the survey, only 30
percent report that they thoroughly understand the benefits of engine
technologies such as direct injection, electronic fuel injection, and two-
and four-stroke. More than 20 percent of boaters indicate that they do not
have a sound understanding of engine technologies. While only about
one-quarter of first-time boat buyers indicate that their marine engine
purchase decision was impacted by technology, that number more than doubles
for buyers who have previously owned a marine engine.

"Technology, particularly two-stroke direct injection (DI) and four-stroke
electronic fuel injection (EFI), is having a major impact on the engines
consumers shop for and ultimately purchase for their new boat," said Eric
Sorensen, director of the marine practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "The
industry still has some work to do in educating consumers on the pros and
cons of each of the technologies. First-time boat buyers definitely should
be made more aware of the benefits of high-technology engines and the
drawbacks of carbureted engines."

The study finds that engine technology affects the engine purchase decisions
of coastal fishing, pontoon and fiberglass bass boat owners to a higher
degree and to runabout and express cruiser boat owners to a lesser degree.

Among the five technologies used in outboard engines, owners of new boats
with four-stroke EFI outboard engines report the fewest number of engine
problems, while owners of boats with two-stroke carburated outboard engines
report the most problems.

"The four-stroke electronic fuel injection engines set the benchmark when it
comes to quality," Sorensen said. "They are very reliable, run clean and
quiet, and are very fuel efficient. The trade-off is that they're bigger and
heavier, cost more and don't accelerate as rapidly as two-strokes."

Among the three major engine categories measured, consumers are most pleased
with inboards, followed by outboards and sterndrives. Owners of
ski/wakeboard boats equipped with inboard motors are not only significantly
more satisfied with their engines, but also report less than one-half the
number of problems than do owners of sterndrive and outboard-powered boats.

One issue boat owners repeatedly raise is that the engine doesn't have
enough power for the size of the boat or for their overall boating needs.
Under powering a boat negatively impacts some of the most important
attributes, such as acceleration and cruise and top-end speed.

"Boat dealers are increasingly listening to consumers, trying to understand
where and how they plan to use their new boat so they can find the proper
boat/engine fit for their needs," said Sorensen. "But there still is some
work to be done. The engine impacts so many elements of the boating
experience that it is absolutely vital that boat dealers make sure their
customers are getting the right boat/engine package."

The study is based on responses from consumers who purchased a new 2002 or
2003 model-year boat between January 2002 and February 2003. Boat owners
were asked about their on-the-water experience with their new outboard,
sterndrive or inboard boat engines. Study results were calculated using an
engine performance index, which includes eight engine factors: ease of
starting when engine is cold; ease of starting when engine is hot; quietness
of the engine at cruising speed; ability of boat to accelerate rapidly;
cruising speed of boat; engine fumes; cruise time/range between fuel stops;
and the standard warranty coverage of the engine.

Evinrude ranks highest among two-stroke outboard engines, with high marks
for cruise time/range between fuel stops and lack of engine fumes. Yamaha
follows Evinrude in the two-stroke engine segment rankings. Yamaha receives
high marks for quietness at cruising speed, ease of starting when hot and
standard warranty coverage.

Yamaha ranks highest in the four-stroke engine segment for the second
consecutive year. Yamaha has strong performance for ease of starting when
cold and cruising speed. Honda, which follows Yamaha in the four-stroke
outboard rankings, receives high marks for cruise time/range between fuel
stops and standard warranty coverage.

Pleasurecraft Engine Group (PCM) ranks highest among inboard engines,
receiving high marks for all key engine attributes measured. Indmar, which
follows PCM in the rankings, performs well in for cruise time/range between
fuel stops and standard warranty coverage.

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an
ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in
key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting,
training and customer satisfaction. Media e-mail contact:
or

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in
this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and
Associates.

Jack

"Jack Rye" .# wrote in message
news:lguob.37962$Rd4.2160@fed1read07...
J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Yamaha Sweeps Outboard Engine Awards


New Boat Owners Report Fewest Problems
With Four-Stroke EFI Engines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2002

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.-Yamaha ranks highest in both two- and four-stroke
outboard engine categories, according to the J.D. Power and Associates
2002
Marine Engine Competitive Information StudySM released today.

The study is based on responses of nearly 12,000 consumers who purchased a
new boat during the 2001 calendar year. Boat owners were asked about their
on-the-water experience with their new outboard, sterndrive or inboard
boat
engines. Study results were calculated using an engine performance index,
which includes eight engine attributes: ease of starting when engine is
cold; ease of starting when engine is hot; quietness of the engine at
cruising speed; ability of boat to accelerate rapidly; cruising speed of
boat; engine fumes; cruise time/range between fuel stops; and the standard
warranty coverage of the engine.

Yamaha achieves the highest index score among two-stroke outboard engines,
with high marks for reliability, ease of starting, and ability to
accelerate
rapidly, as well as warranty coverage and claim handling. Evinrude, with
high marks for engine cruising speed, and Mercury, with strong performance
in fuel economy and low engine fumes, follow Yamaha in the two-stroke
engine
segment rankings.

In the four-stroke engine segment, Yamaha has strong performance in nearly
every key engine attribute measured, particularly in the ability to
accelerate rapidly and for cruising speed. Honda and Evinrude follow
Yamaha
in the four-stroke engine rankings. Honda receives high marks for
quietness
at cruising speed and low engine fumes.

Since there are only two sterndrive engine manufacturers and three inboard
engine manufacturers, no index scores were calculated or awards given in
these segments. However, Volvo Penta performs particularly well in the
sterndrive segment. Volvo is noted for ease of starting, rapid
acceleration,
cruising speed, fuel economy and warranty coverage. All three of the
ski/wakeboard engine manufacturers-PCM, Indmar and Mercruiser-fare well in
the inboard segment. PCM, the engine used in Correct Craft ski boats,
performs particularly well in ease of starting, rapid acceleration and
warranty coverage.

Of the three major engine categories measured, consumers are most pleased
with inboards, followed by sterndrives and outboards. Owners of
ski/wakeboard boats equipped with inboard motors are not only
significantly
more satisfied with their engines, but also report less than half the
number
of problems than did owners of sterndrive- and outboard-powered boats.

One issue boat owners repeatedly raised in the study is that the engine
doesn't have enough power for the size of the boat or for their overall
boating needs.

"The study clearly indicates that consumers who select their own engine
are
significantly more satisfied with their propulsion than those who opt for
the base boat-engine package," said Eric Sorensen, director of the marine
practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "The importance of installing an
engine with sufficient power cannot be overstated because it impacts so
many
elements of the boating experience. An underpowered boat will be a
disappointment for the owner every time it's used and reflects poorly on
both the engine and boat brands."

The study indicates that engine warranty coverage, which includes the way
warranty claims are handled, rates lower than any other engine-related
attribute.

"Handling warranty claims is one of the most important attributes in the
minds of boat owners," Sorensen said. "People who buy boats also buy
automobiles, and they're used to a much higher standard in both service
and
warranty-related performance. If marine engine manufactures want to build
or
even maintain customer loyalty, this is one key area to pay attention to.
Given the importance to the owner, there are many manufacturers that need
to
make a concerted effort to improve in this area."

Regarding quality, one-third of outboard-powered boat owners report
engine-related problems. Owners of new boats with four-stroke electronic
fuel injection (EFI) outboard engines report the fewest number of engine
problems, while owners of boats with two-stroke carburated outboard
engines
report the most problems, according to the study.

Consumers who purchased a new boat equipped with a two-stroke outboard
engine report twice as many problems as those who purchased a boat
equipped
with a four-stroke outboard engine. In general, the study finds that for
both two- and four-stroke engines, the larger the engine, the fewer the
reported problems.

"Among the five technologies used in outboard engines, the quality level
of
four-stroke EFI and carburated engines is unparalleled," Sorensen said.
"In
additional to quality, four-stroke engines are cleaner and quieter than
two-stroke engines and are very fuel efficient. The fact that they weigh
and
cost more, and don't accelerate as rapidly as two-strokes is not much of a
deterrent for many boat owners."

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a
global marketing information services firm operating in key business
sectors
including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer
satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based
on
responses from millions of consumers annually. Media e-mail contact:
or .

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in
this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and
Associates. www.jdpa.com



Jack

"Billgran" wrote in message
news
FORT LAUDERDALE - Familiar names dominate the 2003 list of J.D. Customer
Satisfaction Award winners announced this morning at the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show.


Winners in the engine categories we

2-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Evinrude, followed by Yamaha and Mercury.

4-STROKE OUTBOARDS - Yamaha, for the second consecutive year, followed
by
Honda and Mercury.

INBOARDS - PCM (Pleasurecraft Marine), followed by Indmar and
MerCrusier.


After receiving honorable mentions a few years ago, and a fairly close
second place last year, FICHT is now #1 in customer satisfaction survey.

K Smith wrote:

You will say & do most anything ...

This is one of the many times when you would have benefited by keeping
very quiet ...

As one of those here who notice that every single time you post
something you make a complete fool of yourself let me share a quote I
heard this morning that applies your posts:

"Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting
the results to be different."

The results of your posts don't change, K.

Rick

The only thing JD Powers actually reveals is which particular company
contracted for the survey this year (and therefore got to "influence" the
wording of the questions to
predetermine the outcome.)

Example: "If you were stuck on a desert Island with two outboards, and one was
a FICHT that had a full tank of fuel and the other was a non-Ficht that was
missing a prop, which motor would you hang off the back of your driftwood
raft?" Lo and behold, consumers prefer FICHT!

I'm not wading into the FICHT vs the world controversy. I'm not an outboard
guy. But I can tell you that a JD Powers survey is a private product that is
sold to industry by a private company. How many people would pay the bill in
the end unless the survey showed their company just stomping the field?

Say it isn't so. :^) They gotta be honest. See their page at
http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/about/about_ratings.asp It'll tell you
so!

-JimL


Gould 0738 wrote:
The only thing JD Powers actually reveals is which particular company
contracted for the survey this year (and therefore got to "influence" the
wording of the questions to
predetermine the outcome.)

Example: "If you were stuck on a desert Island with two outboards, and one was
a FICHT that had a full tank of fuel and the other was a non-Ficht that was
missing a prop, which motor would you hang off the back of your driftwood
raft?" Lo and behold, consumers prefer FICHT!

I'm not wading into the FICHT vs the world controversy. I'm not an outboard
guy. But I can tell you that a JD Powers survey is a private product that is
sold to industry by a private company. How many people would pay the bill in
the end unless the survey showed their company just stomping the field?

I would believe and trust Consumer Reports. But not JD Powers.

Jack
"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
The only thing JD Powers actually reveals is which particular company
contracted for the survey this year (and therefore got to "influence" the
wording of the questions to
predetermine the outcome.)

Example: "If you were stuck on a desert Island with two outboards, and one
was
a FICHT that had a full tank of fuel and the other was a non-Ficht that
was
missing a prop, which motor would you hang off the back of your driftwood
raft?" Lo and behold, consumers prefer FICHT!

I'm not wading into the FICHT vs the world controversy. I'm not an
outboard
guy. But I can tell you that a JD Powers survey is a private product that
is
sold to industry by a private company. How many people would pay the bill
in
the end unless the survey showed their company just stomping the field?

Say it isn't so. :^) They gotta be honest. See their page at
http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/about/about_ratings.asp It'll tell you
so!

-JimL

Note that they disclaim any responsibility for product ranking. "We're just the
messenger, reporting what the public says in surveys. We don't test, evaluate,
or offer our own opinions on anything."

Makes them very unlike Consumer Reports. Even CR has some problems.
They rely too heavily on historical trends being projected into the future and
do not allow for product improvements or design changes. (Example, one year CR
rated the Toyota Corrolla well above the Chevy Nova.
Chevy Nova had a poor repair history compared to Toyota, was one of the main
reasons. Ahem! That particular year the Chevy and the Toyota were coming down
the exact same assembly line at NUMMI motors in California, and the primary
difference was the piece of chromed plastic on the trunk and the dashboard that
said either "Nova" or "Corrolla".)

Anybody with an IQ 3 above a tree can design survey questions that are going to
get predictable responses.

(Extreme example):

Would you rather eat:

1. A nice, tender, fat, juicy, sizzling steak hot off the grill.

2. A limp bit of warm, wilted lettuce without dressing.

After asking the question 1000 times, we could allow the American Beef
Producers
Association to proclaim: "J.D. Pourless Survey proves America prefers beef for
dinner! Vegans in serious decline!"


(quote for Powers page)
What makes J.D. Power consumer ratings so different?

Since 1968, J.D. Power and Associates has been conducting quality and customer
satisfaction research based on survey responses from millions of consumers
worldwide. We do not rely on "expert opinion." Our product and service rankings
in no way reflect the opinions or preferences of the firm, and we do not
review, judge or test products and services ourselves.

We represent the voice of the customer by translating survey responses into
information that companies worldwide use to improve quality and customer
satisfaction, as well as to help consumers make better decisions. J.D. Power
and Associates has developed and maintains one of the largest, most
comprehensive historical customer satisfaction databases in existence, which
includes feedback on virtually all aspects of the shopping, buying, and product
and service ownership experience.

So, Gould, are you suggesting Yamaha, and Mercury didn't pay for inclusion in
the survey? How about the others? Think they didn't pay to play?

Results of the survey may indeed be inaccurate, but has Bayliner ever placed
well?

Butch