genmar news in east tenn

[MIKER2702]

not bass boat related or stratos related for that matter but
mastercraft announced it would be building hydra-sport
boats at its vonore plant. im not sure thats big news but it
could be 50-100 jobs. time frame said late spring to start.
the bid was said to have been 1 million to acquire the brand.

[billybass]

Any news of getting people back to work is good news! Thanks for the info.

[ep72]

+1

[Jason Phillips]

Along with that, you will probably see the Stratos brand moving to Flippin', AR to be built at the Ranger plant. And, althought no one wants to see it or hear it, probably means the Champion brand is in for a rough ride. Either way, I'm going to say Murfreesboro is done.

Stratos, Champion, and Hydra-Sport were all built in Murfreesboro. The Ranger plant has plenty of capacity to produce the Stratos brand which outsells Champion by a significant amount (or has the last several years).

[ep72]

Stratos boats....built in AR....doesnt even sound right. I dont like it.

Once again Stratos will play second fiddle while the "R" boats are marketed as the golden child.

[kenger22]

Don't think anyone will ever knock Ranger off that top pedestal, too much behind the history of the boat and it's an icon a lot like the nfl. anyone who knows nothing about boats or little about bass boats knows Ranger.

[Todd Morgan]

There's a lot of ranger guys holding worthless IOU's for bonus money right now......

[F150owner]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1niceStratos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Along with that, you will probably see the Stratos brand moving to Flippin', AR to be built at the Ranger plant. And, althought no one wants to see it or hear it, probably means the Champion brand is in for a rough ride. Either way, I'm going to say Murfreesboro is done.

Stratos, Champion, and Hydra-Sport were all built in Murfreesboro. The Ranger plant has plenty of capacity to produce the Stratos brand which outsells Champion by a significant amount (or has the last several years).</TD></TR></TABLE>

My opinion is that <U>if</U> the Ranger factory does produce Stratos boats, the quality will be better than what is/was produced in M'boro. Why would I say such a thing? Ranger has some neat technology in their Flippen plant that adds to making a high quality product, as well as having long term, experienced employees and engineers. I don't think they will "cheapen" the boats.

The Ranger plant has the capacity for multiple brands and there is no doubt that they make a very high quality product now. I believe folks will see a better Stratos brand arising out of this and I feel confident they will keep the legacy of the boats.

I also hope Champion makes the trip to Flippen vs. ending its existence as a brand. Will Stratos play 2nd fiddle? It is unknown; however, they have been a step-child for several years now.

No one likes to see folks being shut out of jobs as jobs are precious but this is expected given the change in ownership, costs of maintaining multiple plants, and economies of scale. If this is the case, I hope current Stratos employees are offered a chance to at least move with the brand.

[billybass]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Duane Harper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I hope current Stratos employees are offered a chance to at least move with the brand. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That would be outstanding! I understand a lot of folks wouldn't want to leave TN, but anytime your employer offers you an out from losing your job, I think you really need to consider it.

[ep72]

Hope your right Duane, you usually are. I'll keep an open mind.

[rangerboatguy]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Morgan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's a lot of ranger guys holding worthless IOU's for bonus money right now......</TD></TR></TABLE>


I got my Cup money...

[Jason Phillips]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Duane Harper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

My opinion is that <U>if</U> the Ranger factory does produce Stratos boats, the quality will be better than what is/was produced in M'boro. Why would I say such a thing? Ranger has some neat technology in their Flippen plant that adds to making a high quality product, as well as having long term, experienced employees and engineers. I don't think they will "cheapen" the boats.

The Ranger plant has the capacity for multiple brands and there is no doubt that they make a very high quality product now. I believe folks will see a better Stratos brand arising out of this and I feel confident they will keep the legacy of the boats.

I also hope Champion makes the trip to Flippen vs. ending its existence as a brand. Will Stratos play 2nd fiddle? It is unknown; however, they have been a step-child for several years now.

No one likes to see folks being shut out of jobs as jobs are precious but this is expected given the change in ownership, costs of maintaining multiple plants, and economies of scale. If this is the case, I hope current Stratos employees are offered a chance to at least move with the brand. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree also Duane. The only bad thing I see about Stratos moving to AR is that it would be a lot harder for me to pick a boat up at the plant. I've gone to Murfreesboro to pick up my new boat before and also toured it many times.

[BBCJUNKIE]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd Morgan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's a lot of ranger guys holding worthless IOU's for bonus money right now......</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like someone isn't happy about the Ranger / Stratos deal Everybody that I know from up here has gotten their Ranger Cup money and certificates

[MD 20i]

if thats the case. i got a buddy that has a certificate for a 198vx im sure he would let go at a very good price. considering they told him they wouls contact him when he could get his boat and that they were not accepting certs right now

[BBCJUNKIE]

That is odd - I know two guys that just ordered certificate boats. One guy ordered a new 188VX from a Stren Central Certificate that he won last fall. The other guy just ordered a 208VX from a Bass World Sports Classic certificate.

[Mid South Corey]

BBC JUNKIE is correct. We have helped 4 different people order NEW 2010 boats in the past 60 days with those certificates. If someone was told that they could not get a boat for a certificate for a Ranger Boat, they need to call a different dealer.

[RyanB]

I am assuming that I won't see any payouts from the 2X program.

[RyanB]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RyanB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am assuming that I won't see any payouts from the 2X program. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I feel like an a** making this comment when people are losing their jobs.....Prayers for the workers and their families.

[Lea]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jason Phillips &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I agree also Duane. The only bad thing I see about Stratos moving to AR is that it would be a lot harder for me to pick a boat up at the plant. I've gone to Murfreesboro to pick up my new boat before and also toured it many times. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Jason, The only bad thing??? Don't you care about the folks who are losing their jobs?

Ryan...kudos for your last post!!!!

[F150owner]

Lea, I think Jason agreed with the point I and others made in total. He then, jokingly, noted that he'd had to drive a lot further to tour the plant. It may not have come out like that on BBC and may have sounded insensitive but I know Jason and that's not the case.

Jason is going to be out of pocket for a few days and may not have a chance to respond, but I talked to him yesterday on the phone about all this.

I think we're all going to see how this shakes out. Champion made it through a bankruptcy in the past, it will come through again.