This was passed on to me by the MSA and I am passing it along to you all!
http://www.johndee.com/temp/takeafriend.pdf
-John
http://www.johndee.com/temp/takeafriend.pdf
-John
Take a Friend Snowmobiling
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
booondocker
New member
I suppose this is a rhetorical question, but I will ask anyway. I know that outdoors-men numbers (hunting and fishing) have been losing strength for many years affecting license sales and the departments that over-see them, such as the Department of Natural Resources, and the resulting monies these activities bring in.
Does anyone know where snowmobiling stands with regard to the numbers?
Loss of income generated by the shrinking industry?
Does anyone know where snowmobiling stands with regard to the numbers?
Loss of income generated by the shrinking industry?
mjkaliszak
New member
It's not shrinking in my camp ? I would imagine the economy has to be putting a hurting on everything. I have pictures like that, kids grow upand it gets harder to get everyone together, I wish the industry was growing not shrinking. With sleds at an all time high, I can confirm that you must have an unbelievable amount of cash for throw $$$. To support a family and or friend function. Also what happens is when we take newbies, they are a liability. I have been taking the kids friends for years, training them, and paying for them.
Been doing my part, and I guess I like to share 1 of my passions with others.
Been doing my part, and I guess I like to share 1 of my passions with others.
Yamaha is a good example of "the shrinking industry" as you say. YMC refined their sleds & seems unwilling to retool for a new platform probably ROI not there. I think we will see less platform changes from other OEMS as well & they all make great sleds. MI was off 25-35% on Trail permits don't remember the exact number last year. Seems that a buyer can be found for the old used iron so interest is there but high MSRP of new sleds has kept many from purchasing new. If you can not sell the old iron to someone & that market is saturated then we are in trouble. Very difficult for 20 to 30 something familes to afford 2-4 snowmobiles or more & all the ownership costs of operation. I don't know where we are going but exspect less ownership & more renters for casual use. Bring newbies in if you can but many know from get go they can't afford a snowmobile.
cuzzinolaf
Well-known member
Anyone is welcomed to take me snowmobiling if they want. 
mjkaliszak
New member
Anyone is welcomed to take me snowmobiling if they want.
I should try that..... LOL
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
Sadly all our friends are cutting back or getting out of the sport.
look. They said, "We spent less for our two snowmobiles in the 80s!"
Then they asked if they could just ride our sleds at our house.
My sister and BIL, who haven't snowmobiled since the 80s, recently showed an interest in renting sleds and joining us on a snowmobile trip. They asked what a long weekend of snowmobiling might cost today. I added up the approximate cost of a room, rental sleds, gas and meals and got the
look. They said, "We spent less for our two snowmobiles in the 80s!"Then they asked if they could just ride our sleds at our house.
I think for the most part if u are not hard core buying a used 5g toy most can only use 4 times a yr is far from a priority now days.
heck I am on the fence if I need a around the house trail burner.
this could be the first time in 20yrs I don't own a trail sled
I have a new 11 m8 of course but the trail sled prob not.if it is hard for me to justify I cant imagine how hard it would be for the neighbor to get his wife to sign on to the project.
shrinking trail systems.Greene's getting there way more than not on land issues with more government support than ever. EPA having more power than ever. and the American people voting for more of it. writing is on the wall.
heck I am on the fence if I need a around the house trail burner.
this could be the first time in 20yrs I don't own a trail sled
I have a new 11 m8 of course but the trail sled prob not.if it is hard for me to justify I cant imagine how hard it would be for the neighbor to get his wife to sign on to the project.
shrinking trail systems.Greene's getting there way more than not on land issues with more government support than ever. EPA having more power than ever. and the American people voting for more of it. writing is on the wall.
Every bit of what you said is all sad but true, unfortunately. I'm beginning to wonder if my kids will ever get to experience what I have been able to??
You have to ask yourself will your adult kids have any interest to keep the support necessary for snowmobiling? I have 1 out of 4 that has mild interest to rent once a year others have no interest at all too expensive & much rather own a ski boat they can use May - September. To me sure is a shrinking market all my riding buds long gone but I still ride with a few JDers & of couse my best riding bud me.lol
sledboy482
Member
Well, I'll tell you folks, my wife and I are both fully employed. We have two beautiful sleds and an enclosed trailer that are paid for. We make good money and we love to go snowmobiling. But, with this damn economy and now that the election turned out so horrible, we are considering selling. After last year when our sleds sat all year, except for one weekend, it doesn't seem worth the investment. Yes, we could go up north all the time, but that isn't cheap either. Plus, we love to ride local. So, hanging in this year but time will tell.
I think what it boils down to (I could be wrong?) is that 70% of Americans vote with their heart, not with their mind. When you have a choice between a well spoken, charismatic guy and a skeevy used car salesman, its not hard to see why it turned out the way it did, regardless of politics.
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Yea, I took a rookie out last year for 3 days of riding. His rental (Sun, Mon, Tues in the UP), gas, food, room, and misc, added up to over $300 a day. He enjoyed it, but the cost trumped the fun. I'm not complaining about the costs, everybody has to make money. The only way he would have saved some money, was possibly renting a fan cooled instead of a liquid cooled, but for the addtional money, I believe , it was worth the added performance. I too have talked to others about going, but the costs are high. It all boils down too the old saying: "you have to pay to play"
polarismike
Member
I don't think it is all doom and gloom, although I will say that everything, not just sledding is getting more expensive. I have a friend finally getting into sledding with his own sled this year after using my "rental" for several years. He was an example of "take a friend snowmobiling" It can be intimidating for people who don't know anything about snowmobiles and have never ridden before. That is why it is important to make their first ride a good one. Pick an area with good snow and grooming, a nice place to stay, and good places to eat. First impressions are everything. If they have fun they WILL do it again. As the years go on you learn to take the good with the bad. There are alot of hobbies more expensive than snowmobiling, it's just a matter of what you choose to spend money on.