Global Motor Shortage 2021

Bought a brand new 2021 16 foot Smokercraft Big Fish TL, trailer and 25 hp Mercury tiller with power trim and tilt, in mid Feb from local dealer. April delivery.
Beautiful package, great value and great dealer service!
Received a call yesterday from dealer with bad news.
Boat and trailer are delivered and in store.
Because of Covid stalling production, a global shortage of motors has developed and motor will now be available in late June-early July, best case scenario. This apparently applies to all brands. They were very apologetic and I was offered the chance to cancel the deal, if I wished to shop elsewhere. I had already paid in full and appreciated that option.
I'm going to remain patient and wait, being in line and the price I paid looks pretty good right now.
Prices for most fishing boats, half decent used, are already too ridiculous on Kijiji right now.
i imagine prices will get even worse, once this news gets out. If you're looking at used, don't wait to buy!


This post has been edited by JerryK on Mar 26, 2021 - 06:35 pm

Sorry to hear of your problems obtaining a new motor. I tend to agree with you though, be patient if you're happy with the deal that you got from the dealer. There are shortages and interruptions all over the place because of workplace closures and shortages in parts...even extends to the automotive industry. I'm sure you'll be on the water sooner rather than later.

My brother in-law bought a smokercraft last May, he wanted an upgraded trailer which they didn't have in stock so he got a loaner for a few weeks, I saw him a couple weeks ago he's still waiting on the trailer.

My son-in-law wants to purchase a upscale 25'-28' boat. He was told my a dealer in Orillia if he buys now he might get it sometime in 2022, if all goes well. The moulds are fully book till then.
Same way with Sea-Doos, purchased 2 last summer, hopes to get them sometime in 2021, if he's lucky.
Shortage all around.

Cheers,

apparently there has been some hoarding by asian markets on electronic chips.....this created a shortage for the auto industry......I am betting this is part and parcel of the same thing.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-S...-COVID-recovery

The main reason for this is that boat sales went up 13% when the pandemic started and continue to be very strong in the United States..
Not only new boats but used boats as well. With the purchase of older used boats folks purchased new motors to put on them..
Check out Alfred Montaner on you tube, one of his videos points this out and he has a lot of good videos of boats and restoration to them as well he does a show called the Chit Show.. He is known as the king of haulover down in Florida...

We had the same with our trolling motor. We ordered it in Sept of last year and just got it last week.

I was talking to the guy at the fishing shop and he said Lund is booked solid for 2021 boats. They are now taking orders for the 2022 and you can expect your boat this fall at the earliest.

Hope you get your motor sooner than later.

cheers,
X

Wow, that sucks having to wait that long


Inany case, you may wish to consider upgrading your motor to a 40 or 50..I have the same boat and a 25 sounds underpowered to me

mine has a 40 and does 27 mph when loaded and 2v people in the boat just so you know

I was looking to buy a boat for last 2 years and last spring decided to wait because of the covid 19, that price prices will go down , and my own experience I was so wrong, prices went only one way UP, don't think these year will be different, there is a shortage and not only for these year it will take more time, one more think what you can buy with your dollar today you need more to spend $$$ next year

I’m with him. I used to run a 16 Lund SSV with floors and a 30hp 2 stroke. It was fine with the 2 stroke but if I was doing that again with a four stroke I’d upgrade to the 40 without hesitation.

that really sucks. But agree with longshank you are not going to be happy with a 25ph. I had a 16 starcraft DC, I had a 60hp 4 stroke, I could get just over 30mph with 2 guys. You need speed if you are out on the lake and a storm is coming.

Have the same boat, 16 ft Starcraft with a 60 Merc. which is the max rating. Top speed is just over 30 mph with 2 guys and 3 deep cycle batteries etc.
Seems to be that s 25 HP is well under powered.

Good Luck sourcing a 40 -60 hp motor at this moment in time.

Cheeers,

Agree with everyone that a 25 HP motor on a 16' boat is way underpowered.

You very likely would not even be able to get on a plane with 3 people on board.

if the boat is rated for 60 HP I would not go for less than 50HP.

And yes, the market for everything outdoors and watersports related is crazy these days.

PS. I have a 16' Smokercraft with 50 HP Evinrude Etec motor and I sometimes had trouble going on a plane with 3 adult men so I had to install a hydrofoil and the problem for the most part has been solved.

Thanks everyone for the great advice on going for the largest motor possible. This boat is rated for a maximum 30 hp and the dry boat weight is only 480lbs.
I have today upgraded to a 30hp with my dealer and it will not affect the wait time for summer delivery. Don't know if the extra 5hp will make a noticeable difference?
This will be a Buckhorn Lake cottage fishing boat and I have no intention of fishing on busy weekends or when strong storms are forecasted.
Still, going to hate missing Walleye, Muskie and possibly Bass opening day 2021 in the next few weeks.
Best of luck to all!

Sounds like it's time to return to the pre-electronics era for car/motor production
I guess i should hold on tight to my old boat and motor for a while.