Sea Ray Knoxville "Forks of the River" plant to close

Not to be one and not to offend any other brand or owner, but Sea Ray owners are different. Yes we all understand capitalism very well. The shock to us as owners is Brunswick made the announcement touted "Global..." mentioned starting different styles "entry level..." cut backs and so on. Capitalism would be, we have researched, we will be retooling our plant to start poduction of our new lines that are designed with our customer's changing needs and taste at the fore front of our new production models. Then they would float out boats with customers lined up waiting. Their production cost would be balanced to meet the price sought for their product. As it is, they are closing their plant long since paid for and leaving for what...? That is what has made us as owners (no matter how old our boat is, and mine is old and I am still proud to say "I own a Sea Ray") question what's going on.
 
Re: Forks of the River plant to close

Dave S said:
Ryan

In the last ten years I have purchased 2 brand new Sea Rays and as a result I am always interested in what is going on with company.

And there are quite of few of us on CSR that come from a big business background (including me). We understand that this is a business decision. I also understand exactly where you are coming from. I had to make a lot of decisions like this when I worked in Corporate America. However the public is never given the whole story rather just what the company puts in a press release. So a lot of second guessing will be going on (including from yours truly). And a lot of folks here have met the people who work in the plant as well as the executives that were let go. So it's natural to feel bad about that.

Dave
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I agree you never get the whole story. It is also unfortunate when hard working people lose their jobs, often at no fault of their own.

At the same time Brunswick is ever changing and working to stay on top of industry trends.

I was at the boat show in Ft Lauderdale last year looking at mid sized cruisers for my next boat. I wanted to compare more than just SeaRays. For the most part, I felt SeaRay had the best boats in the 35-40' range. They were a bit more expensive than many, but cheaper than some other brands. Azimut comes to mind.

My dealer tells me that what they hear from SeaRay is that they are working to compete more overseas, hence the more European look to their cruisers and Sports Yachts. SeaRay unveils the new 350DA in Ft Lauderdale in a couple of weeks and I hear it's more in line with their recent updates.
 
CV-23 said:
Here's the bottom line.....when I made $20,000 in 1988 and my CV-23 was $23,000, it was just a tad over one years salary. I don't make $85,000 now so I won't be buying a new 230 SunDeck anytime soon! I guess those making over $250,000 will be buying the new 280 or 310 in 2013. It's the ecomomy stupid! I like used and there will be fewer used boats every year since less are being built. At 1.5 miles per gallon, gas is my biggest expense and I have no boat payment, Mike.
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I looked at a loaded 280DA and almost fell over when I seen the price, yes the new 280 is a nicer boat then what I have, but I'll keep the 260 for a couple more years. You are right on the used market though, the less they make the less there will be available but there are plenty of decent builders out there so I dont see any shortage.

These days most people couldnt afford a slipped boat if they got the boat for free with the price of a slip, fuel and maintenance so its no wonder the market is dead.
 
I like the idea that Sea Ray should become employee owned. This has the smell of AMF and Harley-Davidson. Brunswick should stick to Bowling alleys.
 
I've just spent 2 hours reading this thread and all the links and on BOC, the Bayliners owner Club. It is a sad day for both brands, many hard working people out of work. Both forums seem to have the same opinions, disbelieve.

Ken
 
avguy said:
An article in today's paper.....some of the employees may move to the Vonore plant.....

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/11/some-sea-ray-workers-will-likely-move-to-vonore/
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Good news! I know some of the employees from the River View Plant transferred to the Vonore plant when it close a couple years ago. The River View plant was just up the river from the Forks of the River Plant. If you took a test drive in the sports boats at the Homecoming most of them turn around by the old River View plant and where the boat is sunk in the river. They used to make the larger sport boats (270+ SD,SLT, SS) and small cruisers (240DA to the I think 300DA) there.
 
Here is a news story that has more information about both Bayliner and Sea Ray:

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/522215-brunswick-signals-shift-with-bayliner-strategy

Bayliner Boats will stop building and selling cruisers in the United States as part of an effort to keep pace with fluctuating global trends and consumer demand, according to Brunswick.

Bayliner will instead pursue new categories in the United States and Europe, including a new jetboat line and an “affordable boating” line called “Element,” according to Brunswick.

The brand plans to enter the jetboat segment in 2013, Brunswick Corp. spokesman Daniel Kubera told Soundings Trade Only.
There were no further details regarding Element, touted as Bayliner’s newest concept in affordable boating.

Bayliner cruisers will be produced only in Brunswick’s newly constructed Brazil plant by the end of 2012 and will be exclusively sold in that region. Bayliner’s cruiser line consists of six models from 24 to 33 feet.

"Brazil and its expanding boat market offer us attractive opportunities for growth," Kubera told Trade Only. "Additionally, Bayliner is establishing a strong presence [there] for its models in several categories, including cruisers."

The move comes as Statistical Surveys Inc., a Michigan company that tracks boat sales, released its most recent data showing that August sales of fiberglass cruisers in the 31- to 40-foot segment declined 28.8 percent year over year and tracked a 6.7 percent dip for the year.

The Knoxville, Tenn., plant at which Bayliner and Sea Ray cruisers have been built will be closed within the next month and a half, before 2013, where 225 full-time workers are employed.
“Will all those people lose a job? We don’t know at this point,” Kubera said. “Some of the production is going to go down the road to Vonore, Tenn., and Palm Coast, Fla., so there’s a possibility that some would have the opportunity to transfer to one of the other facilities if they were so inclined.”

There are two models, Sea Ray’s 330 Sundancer and 370 Sundancer, that were being produced in Knoxville and will be transferred to Palm Coast, Fla., Kubera said.
Four additional models — 240, 260, 280 and 310 Sundancers — that also were being produced at the Knoxville plant will now be produced in Vonore, Kubera said.

When asked about Bayliner dealer feedback regarding the news, Kubera said dealers got the news along with everyone else. “With major developments in the company, we inform public and dealers at the same time,” he said.

Read more about the Brunswick Boat Group’s repositioning in the November issue of Soundings Trade Only.
— Reagan Haynes
 
Plenty of new US Tax Dollars in Brazil now thanks to Barry. Brunswick is not stupid, Mike.
 
Bugsy24 said:
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
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I quoted the wrong post. Dave S post number 71 was what I was trying to quote, just not tech savy, guess its a good thing I am not luaching a boat either. I read the Bayliner owners reactions and they are about the same as ours. They did bring up the idea of the Chinese getting into the market, hum... I am not tech savy enough to post links, but go to YouTube type in, Chinese Ferry Sinks Directly After Launch. Not too sure how the market share will work out for them. Some days are just made for a laugh what else you gonna do. Mike
 
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There are just more 30'-40' boats out there now than there is demand. Brunswick has chosen to chase the smaller boat market because that's what people can afford in a new boat, and that's what's selling. Ten to 15 years ago, there was more "disposable" income floating in the market, loans were easier to get, and bigger boats were selling. Fuel prices don't help, either. It's not only supply and demand of boats, but also supply and demand of money.

Don
 
Dave S said:
Bayliner will instead pursue new categories in the United States and Europe, including a new jetboat line and an “affordable boating” line called “Element,” according to Brunswick.
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I thought "affordable boating" was the whole point of Bayliner. How can you make a cheap boat even cheaper?
 
chuck1 said:
Good news! I know some of the employees from the River View Plant transferred to the Vonore plant when it close a couple years ago. The River View plant was just up the river from the Forks of the River Plant. If you took a test drive in the sports boats at the Homecoming most of them turn around by the old River View plant and where the boat is sunk in the river. They used to make the larger sport boats (270+ SD,SLT, SS) and small cruisers (240DA to the I think 300DA) there.
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Chuck.....back when Kim & I had all the issues with the stress fractures on our 240 SD the Vonore plant is where they replaced the entire deck of the boat for us. I give Sea Ray a lot of credit for their employment practices as they treated us like gold down there.
 
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