Sea Ray Homecoming, The Coolest CSR Gathering Ever...

MonacoMike

MonacoMike

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2009
14,721
Indiana lakes and Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
Engines
85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
Foe those of you that have joined since 2013, we had an awesome SR Homecoming event in 2012 we all hoped would turn into an annual event. Sadly the market brutalized the marine manufacturers, including SR, and it never happened again. It is hard to believe that was 6 years ago. If you want to visit the fun we all had check out the links below, you can read through when it was an idea that Frank and Rusty were working on with SR, to the big show. You can view the video Jason posted of the event as well.

If you were there share your favorite memories.

If you were not there you will see where some of the deep camaraderie on CSR comes from.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/sea-ray-homecoming-cruiser-sport-boat-expo-here-we-go.52590/

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/live-from-knoxville-2012-biggest-csr-gathering-ever.54840/

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/sea-ray-homecoming-video.55038/

http://s628.photobucket.com/user/mistercomputerman/library/2012 Knoxville?sort=3&page=1

The video will play on YouTube but it it no longer embedded in CSR

MM
 
Last edited:
You just HAD to bring this back up, Didn't you? LOL. I'm still bitter that I had to back out at last minute because of work related issues. Actually now that I think of it, work related issues is why I don't have my boat anymore. This shall change I hope soon.
 
sdarc said:
You just HAD to bring this back up, Didn't you? LOL. I'm still bitter that I had to back out at last minute because of work related issues. Actually now that I think of it, work related issues is why I don't have my boat anymore. This shall change I hope soon.
Click to expand...

So thrilled we made it, and so sad others did not even get one more chance.

MM
 
I looked at the list of names in Rusty's first post and quite a few of them rarely, if ever, post here anymore. But I still remember their faces. I met some really nice people that weekend, and got to take my one and only ride on a 370 Venture.
 
ZZ13 said:
I looked at the list of names in Rusty's first post and quite a few of them rarely, if ever, post here anymore. But I still remember their faces. I met some really nice people that weekend, and got to take my one and only ride on a 370 Venture.
Click to expand...

I know. Some folks I have been curious about what they are up to?

moparlvr4406 was last seen: Apr 12, 2018
jason78 was last seen: Aug 8, 2017

Anyone know what happened to Jason78? He was a very active member.

Not sure why Shaun is not on here much.
Lucky's was last seen: Sep 27, 2016

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
Have been for 10 years, it was on there last week. Must be time to re-up.

MM
Click to expand...
Yeah, I thought so. Good job! Anyone who spends as much time on here as you, should be moderator. You got my vote! Actually, I think a few of our most active members don't even own SeaRays anymore.
 
Bridog said:
Yeah, I thought so. Good job! Anyone who spends as much time on here as you, should be moderator. You got my vote! Actually, I think a few of our most active members don't even own SeaRays anymore.
Click to expand...

Just finished Platinum. Not sure when the logo shows.

MM
 
The Sea Ray HomecomIng was a fantastic event. There were numerous activities packed into a very short time period - welcome reception, parade of boats on the river, plant tours, talking with various SR employees, boats of all sizes available for test rides. If I remember correctly that was the week the 370 Venture and the 51 Sundancer were introduced as part of the SR lineup.

In my opinion, the most impressive person at the event was the man responsible for putting it all together, Sea Ray’s #1 Ambassador, Captain Rusty Higgins. He was everywhere - making sure everyone enjoyed the welcome reception, greeting you at the guard shack at the plant and working his magic at the helm of the 51 Sundancer.

Sea Ray would be wise to consider holding more Homecomings in the future. These types of events do nothing but build brand loyalty.
 
Buckeye Boater said:
The Sea Ray HomecomIng was a fantastic event. There were numerous activities packed into a very short time period - welcome reception, parade of boats on the river, plant tours, talking with various SR employees, boats of all sizes available for test rides. If I remember correctly that was the week the 370 Venture and the 51 Sundancer were introduced as part of the SR lineup.

In my opinion, the most impressive person at the event was the man responsible for putting it all together, Sea Ray’s #1 Ambassador, Captain Rusty Higgins. He was everywhere - making sure everyone enjoyed the welcome reception, greeting you at the guard shack at the plant and working his magic at the helm of the 51 Sundancer.

Sea Ray would be wise to consider holding more Homecomings in the future. These types of events do nothing but build brand loyalty.
Click to expand...

There were so many off the chart cool things about the Homecoming, but one irreplaceable piece was the plant location on an island in the river. Jason's video has some of it but even that fails to display the magnitude of that setting being the catalyst of a perfect day. Sadly it has been sold as I understand it.

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
Foe those of you that have joined since 2013, we had an awesome SR Homecoming event in 2012 we all hoped would turn into an annual event. Sadly the market brutalized the marine manufacturers, including SR, and it never happened again. It is hard to believe that was 6 years ago. If you want to visit the fun we all had check out the links below, you can read through when it was an idea that Frank and Rusty were working on with SR, to the big show. You can view the video Jason posted of the event as well.

If you were there share your favorite memories....................

MM
Click to expand...

I have a lot of great memories from Homecoming, but this is one of my favorites:

To give credit where credit is due, Rusty and I had a conversation in April, 2012, before the Homecoming in September, where we kicked around a Yacht Expo type of event for the Sport Boat and Cruiser owners. If any of you have been on the other end of a call with "The Captain" when he gets excited, you can relate..... Before I knew it, he says: "Hold on a minute" and in 10 seconds he came back on the call and said: "We are on with Rob Noyes, The Vice President of Marketing......explain this Homecoming idea to him". Rob politely listened, then why he was the Vice President of Marketing became crystal clear. In about 5 minutes, Rob said "I love it!" then essentially "fleshed" out the entire event from start to finish.

1. This needs to be scheduled on the Friday of our dealer school when we will have all the boats in the water and all the personnel we need in Knoxville. It is in September, so we have time.

2. All the new boats, including the new 370 Venture, the 510DA and the 470DA, and all the new and carryover cruisers and sport boats will be in the water.......we will bring in the guys who ran the boats for the dealers all week on Friday for you CSR guys so we can run boats all day Friday.

3. The docks are next door to the Knoxville factory so we can run tours for small groups all day.

4. Your people know Rusty, so he can arrive a day early and meet the attendees at the guard house so they see a familiar face when they arrive.

5. We have a relationship with a great local BBQ chef so we can do a BBQ lunch for the group.

I was surprised at a VP of Marketing even taking the call, but was awed by how quickly and thoroughly he grasped the value of hosting the event in Knoxville. Up until this point, Sea Ray had not invested in digital marketing (except for the usual corporate website, searay.com, and this was their first visible acceptance the value of the digital world to marketing high end consumer items. The fact that CSR had about 40,000 members at the time didn't hurt.

Unfortunately, Rob didn't fit Brunswick's "management de'Jour" view of what marketing should be, and he was released.

We now have a great relationship with Sea Ray's Marketing folks and they understand the value of Homecoming. Unfortunately, current conditions make hosting another event like this one complicated and loaded with logistical challenges, so even though Sea Ray would like to host another event, I don't look for it to be anytime soon..........

But, Rob Noyes deserves much of the credit for the success of the 2012 Homecoming
 
chuck1 said:
Oh Wingless where have you been..... lol.
Great info as always Frank about Rob.
Click to expand...

CSR has become very quiet lately, he probably has software that scans CSR for live updates when the word "Wingless" is used. Then he uses one of his aliases... LOL

MM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,173
Messages
1,427,932
Members
61,086
Latest member
MrWebster
Back
Top