Whoa. Hang on.
EVERY successful product company has it product group run by.... wait for it...
MARKETING.
Every one of them.
I'm an engineer that has worked in marketing and product planning for decades. In the marine business and out. EVERY great product company knows that a successful track record of product comes from knowing what the market wants (marketing), and using know how (engineering) to build it in a cost effective way (development).
It it always starts in anticipating what the market wants. Always.
For modern sailboats (that mean boats designed this CENTURY), the trick is understanding how the market has changed with the average age of the NEW BOAT BUYER getting older. Say 55. That simply has to be accounted for. The opinions of owners of older boats not in the market for a new boat do not factor at all. Its easy from someone to say that a boat is crap if it does not have a traveler, if you are NOT the person that has to answer if it does not sell.
EVERY successful product company has it product group run by.... wait for it...
MARKETING.
Every one of them.
I'm an engineer that has worked in marketing and product planning for decades. In the marine business and out. EVERY great product company knows that a successful track record of product comes from knowing what the market wants (marketing), and using know how (engineering) to build it in a cost effective way (development).
It it always starts in anticipating what the market wants. Always.
For modern sailboats (that mean boats designed this CENTURY), the trick is understanding how the market has changed with the average age of the NEW BOAT BUYER getting older. Say 55. That simply has to be accounted for. The opinions of owners of older boats not in the market for a new boat do not factor at all. Its easy from someone to say that a boat is crap if it does not have a traveler, if you are NOT the person that has to answer if it does not sell.