Alumacraft going to Mexico

[angleiron]

Wonder how many more will follow?

https://www.mbtmag.com/video/video/2...028C3638690E5T

[Javelin389]

I've wondered why something like this hasn't happened sooner. Auto manufacturers have gone, so why not boats?

[dean c]

“BRP officials as saying the decision was “very difficult” but was made to address “current marine industry realities.”



It’s been obvious for a few months the industry is slowing down. If they’re having to take this measure, they had to be struggling before it started slowing down. Most boat makers just had their best 3 years ever.

[spinningreel]

All they make now are just a handful of deep v models.

They no longer offer any mod v styles bass boats or even regular Jon boats. BRP has ran that company into the ground just like evinrude.

[Mark Perry]

All they make now are just a handful of deep v models.

They no longer offer any mod v styles bass boats or even regular Jon boats. BRP has ran that company into the ground just like evinrude.

If BRP acquired them in 2018 maybe they were struggling then which is why they were available for acquisition?

[WarEagle24]

Blame it on the weather.

BRP reportedly attributed the segment's declining sales to “a lower volume of boats sold, extended supply chain issues and unfavorable weather in the Great Lakes region."

[Arcaugh1]

Mark, Alumacraft never struggled until BRP bought them, they were family owned until a death, which made the family sell to a equity group, which after 6 years sold to BRP in 2018. Alumacraft was a cash cow, debt free and overall 2nd in Aluminum fishing boat market share, and the leader in riveted Jon boat sales. They bought them with the thought of gaining market share with Evinrude to increase that share in motors, which never happened obviously, as well as to keep up with Polaris who at the time had just purchased Bennington pontoons. Evinrude was 4th on the list of engines they sold on the back of transoms prior to the purchase. They sold more Suzuki and Honda was on their heels. They brought in all execs for the the can-am side to run the "boat group" and got rid of those of us like me with years of boat experience whether it be manufacturing or sales. They shut down the Ark. welded mod-v and jon plant where I was for 3 years as the Southern National sales manager and Product delv. manager, prior I was a Regional rep for them, spent 10 years with them and loved every minute until late 2019 when BRP started to make these decisions, It is so sad to see what they are doing to this once great American company with the decisions they make, same ones as with Evinrude. same thing will happen with Manitou pontoons that they own as well. They are placing all their hope on this "rotax" engine and truly believe this is the future. to tell you how out of touch they are, I spent months and months on a new welded bass boat (one that they needed as a refresher but also to gain new dealers) went to a meeting to present this with others on my team and was told after to my face by one of the Boat group exec. that (this is him talking) "I don't know bass fishing, I don't understand this boat and why it would help so it will be a No" I knew right then this company was screwed. They just laid off 80 some employees in Minn. last week. I had to watch 90 great co-workers and friends loose their job in Ark in 2020, I was kept on for a few months longer to help move the machines and such to Minn, as they attempted to manufacture the all welds up there, it only lasted less than a year, my welders in Ar. had over 150 years combined boat building experience and was told by these same execs. that "welding is welding" as I had concerns that they would not get the experience in welders in MN that we have here in AR. a Year and a half later they shut down the welded product all together and moved all that equipment back to the AR facility to sit in a bare building. they may try and bring some models back with this move but I just wish they would sell them off and just keep their focus on Can-am stuff, its really all they care about anyway. I can elaborate more if you wish but again this is so sad for this great group of workers and a once great company.

[yatesville88fan]

Mark, Alumacraft never struggled until BRP bought them, they were family owned until a death, which made the family sell to a equity group, which after 6 years sold to BRP in 2018. Alumacraft was a cash cow, debt free and overall 2nd in Aluminum fishing boat market share, and the leader in riveted Jon boat sales. They bought them with the thought of gaining market share with Evinrude to increase that share in motors, which never happened obviously, as well as to keep up with Polaris who at the time had just purchased Bennington pontoons. Evinrude was 4th on the list of engines they sold on the back of transoms prior to the purchase. They sold more Suzuki and Honda was on their heels. They brought in all execs for the the can-am side to run the "boat group" and got rid of those of us like me with years of boat experience whether it be manufacturing or sales. They shut down the Ark. welded mod-v and jon plant where I was for 3 years as the Southern National sales manager and Product delv. manager, prior I was a Regional rep for them, spent 10 years with them and loved every minute until late 2019 when BRP started to make these decisions, It is so sad to see what they are doing to this once great American company with the decisions they make, same ones as with Evinrude. same thing will happen with Manitou pontoons that they own as well. They are placing all their hope on this "rotax" engine and truly believe this is the future. to tell you how out of touch they are, I spent months and months on a new welded bass boat (one that they needed as a refresher but also to gain new dealers) went to a meeting to present this with others on my team and was told after to my face by one of the Boat group exec. that (this is him talking) "I don't know bass fishing, I don't understand this boat and why it would help so it will be a No" I knew right then this company was screwed. They just laid off 80 some employees in Minn. last week. I had to watch 90 great co-workers and friends loose their job in Ark in 2020, I was kept on for a few months longer to help move the machines and such to Minn, as they attempted to manufacture the all welds up there, it only lasted less than a year, my welders in Ar. had over 150 years combined boat building experience and was told by these same execs. that "welding is welding" as I had concerns that they would not get the experience in welders in MN that we have here in AR. a Year and a half later they shut down the welded product all together and moved all that equipment back to the AR facility to sit in a bare building. they may try and bring some models back with this move but I just wish they would sell them off and just keep their focus on Can-am stuff, its really all they care about anyway. I can elaborate more if you wish but again this is so sad for this great group of workers and a once great company.

Good info and Sad for sure.

[tcesni]

Blame it on the weather.

BRP reportedly attributed the segment's declining sales to “a lower volume of boats sold, extended supply chain issues and unfavorable weather in the Great Lakes region."

That is such a lame company quote. How do you open a new plant if you have supply chain issues? In addition to lower cost labor, I wonder if production in Mexico circumvents the tariffs we have on imported sheet aluminum.

[BP in ME]

Good info and Sad for sure.

+1

He doesn't post often, you just have to bring up the right topic.

[WStorey]

Flukemaster used to run Alumacrafts. Seemed like solid boats but yeah seems like BRP has run them into the ground..

[wishitwasbigger]

pretty sure that bayliner has been building boats in Mexico for years? Not that the bayliner name is brought up here very often.

[n2ratfishin]

Sad!

[Gthunter5]

seen this happen a bunch in the industrial equipment world. PE buys them, loads them up with debt to get their cash back right away, spins them back off to whomever. Harvard execs come in with no knowledge but just antother stop on their resume leading a company, company gets divested, spun sold, etc exec moves on to next thing they can tear up.
employees get left holding the bag

they never understand its a people business and thats what keeps them going and profitable. when the lawyers and accountants start running things the customer service level drops completely and customers start to go elsewhere

[Arcaugh1]

That is such a lame company quote. How do you open a new plant if you have supply chain issues? In addition to lower cost labor, I wonder if production in Mexico circumvents the tariffs we have on imported sheet aluminum.

That's the BRP way!!

[TDobb]

With that news, I bet a large contingent of Alumacraft owners here in Minnesota will consider a Lund when it comes to their next boat purchase. There was a sense of family amongst many of my friends with Alumacraft boats, being a Minnesota built boat. I have ridden in plenty of Alumacraft boats and they have always impressed me. The loyalty of many owners vaporized when BRP bought them, and this will be another hit to the reputation for sure. If they survive the current recreational purchase halt, I will be surprised. We are primed to see many manufacturers go belly up in the next 24 months.

In the last 12 months I have seen sales lots for every type of recreational vehicle go from empty and everything selling as soon as it came off a truck at a mark-up, to chock full and slashing prices. Seeing billboards advertising $35,000 off a new boat purchase as I roll down the freeway and inventory sitting stagnant. Inflation, wages not keeping up with inflation, and higher interest rates all add up to much less money to spend having fun.

[Arcaugh1]

+1

He doesn't post often, you just have to bring up the right topic.

Haha, cause I have work to do! I have been a member of the BBC since the early days just have switched up my profile name. and this topic is close to me as I poured my heart into this company and have a passion for what I did and still do in the industry.

[Boat4Life]

Haha, cause I have work to do! I have been a member of the BBC since the early days just have switched up my profile name. and this topic is close to me as I poured my heart into this company and have a passion for what I did and still do in the industry.

Thanks for your post and personal insight Arcaugh1

[AKRISONER]

The comment about “welders being welders” when as far as I was concerned the hull was the entire reason to purchase an alumna raft in the first place. The entire idea was you got Lund quality without the Lund name pricing.

our 2014 trophy strapped with a Yamaha is essentially a different boat than the crap they have been making the last few years.

[Rebel1]

I've wondered why something like this hasn't happened sooner. Auto manufacturers have gone, so why not boats?

Don't give Johnny M any ideas.