*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Question to the Members from McKee Craft? Old Thread - 2004
Notices
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: It was nice to meet your wife...by the way you are out of peanut butter.
Question to the Members from McKee Craft? Old Thread - 2004
My name is Key McKee, and I am Executive Vice President of McKee Craft Boats.
My question/statement is this: I have been a "closet lurker" of this fantastic site for almost 2 years now. Initially I felt the intention of this site was for the open exchange of information among boat owners and people who want to purchase a boat. Now it seems there are dealers and a few builders posting, again this seems to be good in that YOU the customers still have the equal voice you started out with, plus the input of some industry professionals.
Many of the threads have influenced my decisions while designing new product or making changes for model year. So realize you all are being heard! I am sure that many other builders are reading THT as well. I have chosen up to this point NOT to post, however based upon some of the members sounding like industry professionals, I am considering posting and asking YOU the members and the staff of THT would this be appropriate and welcome?
I pasted two posts below that seemed to ask for this very thing. However I don't want to push my way into to a place I may not be welcome. So rather than enter in disguise I ask the staff and members if this is OK to post as a builder?
Now this is self-serving to a small degree, I've quietly read comments about McKee Craft that were less than accurate or watched a good thread turn upside down when someone with good intentions mis-stated something. I have also read post that were hearsay and entirely untrue. The cool thing about this statement was this: The poster was trying to help and was telling something as he/she had heard it. But I don't recall anyone ever being malicious. They were simply passing along their opinion of something they heard, that they thought would help. I think its great that all of you have kept 99.9% of the threads professionally informative.
I would like the opportunity to clarify a few items in regards to McKee Craft in the past, and doing so by adding to the thread in question. Is this acceptable? I ask that because there are a few serious issues I would like to address, and if the board works the way I think it does, then this would move the "old" post back to the front. (In my personal hobbies where I post on these types of boards it is sometimes considered bad etiquette to "bump" an older post). Is it acceptable to do so on THT?
What I intend to do is add to the board by offering my experience to other issues and questions, within the confines of good business ethics. (Example: I will not comment on another builder, dealer or negatively comment on any construction method except any results I have obtained thru my personal testing. I will not personally attack or flame anyone on this board.) I will resign from THT in the event someone chooses to publicly attempt to resolve an issue with my company.
If you are having a problem with your McKee Craft that I feel others will benefit from the answer I will address it here, but not to the point that a single issue on a single boat creates negative feeling about my company. I have a warranty resolution team that is here to serve you. If you aren’t satisfied with the outcome I would encourage you to contact me and I will give it my personal attention. I have chosen not to post my e-mail address, like all of you I am swamped with spam and almost more messages than I can handle. I have no personal secretary, as I prefer to answer my calls (NO VOICEMAIL!) and write my own letters. A receptionist will answer and find me, or take a number the old fashioned way and I will call you back.
Keep in mind your vision of a boat factory may not be reality. We are a small family owned business my dad (Lanness McKee) started in 1966. We build about 500-600 boats a year with no aspirations to do more than that. We haven’t figured out how to control the quality beyond that, and we prefer to remain small enough we can personally talk with any of our owners. Anyway we have 50 employees, with everyone on management wearing several hats. No personal assistants or secretaries, we all work. Every member of management has or does get involved in hands on boat building. We don’t live in mansions or drive exotic cars. We are just like most of you. I personally read a menu from the right and don’t opt for the expensive luxury package when making personal buying decisions.
Sorry for the length of this but I want you all to understand my motives and me. I am 41 and been in this business my whole life, I am the Chief Designer of every McKee Craft since 1986, we all work together on the design process but ultimately I am responsible for the outcome. My education in boat design was thru osmosis and some horrible failures no one ever saw…lol. I have gathered information from some of the best minds in the industry on hydrodynamics and lamination engineering. I recognize the strengths of everyone on the design team when making the final decision as well as your comments either here or in person.
All of us use the products and in various ways, Fun Fishing, Competition (SKA), and me with my wife and 2 kids. With me it involves all of the above and skiing, camping and teaching my 14-year-old daughter to operate everything from a 185 to the Freedom 28. From all this I learn and add what I’ve learned into subsequent designs.
My duties at McKee Craft are: Production Manager, Government Sales Manager, and Chief of Product Development (PD&E). And YES, boat design is the coolest job in the world. That myth is true. Of course the downside is when you are working a show and you get that first critic…lol. But as you all can guess the only “perfect boat” is the one YOU design. So I take it as constructive and try and find a way to use the critique as a way to improve the design. I fish, hunt, and since my wife and I chose to buy an older house, I am forced to add home improvement as a “hobby”…
My responses will be on my personal time and on my home PC. Primarily because I want to be away from the office and the job so I can enjoy this as a hobby rather than part of the job, and second I already work 10-14 hours a day and like most of you, time manages me. My posts will be objective and truthful, and as I know it from my own experience, not second hand. I can be highly technical if needed, but I prefer to keep it in lay terms so everyone can enjoy. I know this was way more than any of you needed to know but I felt if I was to join in as a “pro” you are all entitled to know my qualifications and intentions. If I am slow to respond at times remember I do quite a bit of traveling and some projects require unreasonable hours. Also some of you I am sure have met me as I have been to many shows.
You’ll remember meeting me at a show, I’m the guy in the booth with one hand. So these responses moving forward will be short as my typing is slow…lol. Please let me know if me as a builder is this acceptable to you? If so feel free to ask any questions, and I look forward to getting to know you and your community.
Lanness “Key” McKee Jr.
Executive Vice President
Lanness K. McKee & Co., Inc (aka: McKee Craft)
Pasted Messages Referenced Above:
falcon Posted 2004-01-21 9:28 AM (#151703 - in reply to #151684) Subject: What boat to buy
A great idea has surfaced. I hope that boat builders and other professionals use this forum as an opportunity to discuss issues and offer clarifications. I myself have learned a great deal from just this thread alone. I am particularly pleased when my manufacturer addresses any issues that are set forth.
cgrand Posted 2004-01-21 8:53 AM (#151701 - in reply to #151684) Subject: What boat to buy
quote:
I typical do not respond to these posts
why not, if i may ask?
i think we would all (yourself included) greatly benefit from your input, on a wide range of topics
I do beleive that it would be great to have input from lets say the horses mouth. Most people here try their best to give a response from their personal experiance. And sometimes it is based on their frustration from a dealer or the maker of their particular product. I think it would be benifical to both the builder and the buyer to get a accurate response from someone who Knows the ins and outs and the details of that particular boat or piece of equipment. It can only be good for everyone! ! Welcome to THT
What's your opinion on motor's. Your insight about outboard vendors, their support, their compatibility with you boats would be an eyeopener for many of us here.
I obviously have one of your boats and if money were no object, I would have more or at least bigger. I think the more professionals we have on here the better. What little I know, I learned from this forum. I have though made a firm decision to keep my day job.
I was pleased to note today that Sea Pro got involved in a problem that manifested itself. I believe that all boat builders try and put out a good product these days. Speaking for myself, I am pleased that you have chosen this forum and I look forward to learning even more. I only see your input as a credit to the industry. Thanks too for making the boat I enjoy so much.
Here Here! Very well written and welcome. I for one would welcome your input and appreciate your candor. Thank you.
Now a boat question. What's up with all of the euro-transom designs on new boats accross the spectrum? Just curious. Is this what boat designers think or know that the public wants? Of course I have one but in retrospect I wish that I had more room in the back (I have a CC) and had a bracket vs my euro-transom. Thanks.
Wow, welcome. Your even tone certainly won't fit in here, 'cause I heard that Mckee's rule and everything else sux.
Just curious, are you familiar with Seacrest Marine (Washington, NC)?
Went out of business in the late 70's.
Similar construction as Mckee's, except with ABS skins.
Welcome Key. Great introduction! My son owned a 14 Waypoint and I'd love to have a Freedom 24. You guys build a great boat in my opinion, and have really jumped into the offshore fishing with the Freedoms.
__________________
2005 McKee 23 TE/FS with 200 Zukes
50 Ton Masters with Towing Endorsement.
Wow, thanks for the warm welcome, I can already see this is going to be as informative as I had hoped! I will start tonight with answering the posted questions in the order they were asked. It's only been an hour since I posted!!
Question to the Members from McKee Craft? Old Thread - 2004 
