Lund vs. Crestliner-Follow Up-Interesting Article

[lots of luck]

Well a few months ago I posted the Lund vs. Crestliner post and it ended up to be very beneificial with lots of insight, info, and commentary from FM'ers. While doing a little more research I found this interesting article on the web.

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. The new parent company of the Crestliner boat factory in Little Falls has laid off 60 workers, about 15 percent of the plant's employees.

Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, Illinois, said the layoffs were necessary because of excessive inventories.

Brunswick spokesman Dan Kubera says Crestliner inventories were higher than Brunswick wanted.

Brunswick bought Crestliner from Genmar Holdings of Minneapolis last year, along with Lowe Boats and Lund Boats.

Brunswick recently laid off 145 workers at the Lund Boats factory in New York Mills, citing excessive inventories and slow sales attributed to rainy weather.

Rainy weather? Is anyone buying this?

How about escalating prices. When a 75 h.p., 17' tiller boat at Crystal Pierz costs more than a family sedan, I would think that may have a slight impact on sales. At least for the guys on a budget or that do not want to finance for 10 years.

[Guest]

That is why I bought a Tracker

Fully loaded with trolling motor, fishfinder, trailer, batteries and a 60hp remote motor for a decent price. Plus I love the BIG casting decks

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How about escalating prices. When a 75 h.p., 17' tiller boat at Crystal Pierz costs more than a family sedan, I would think that may have a slight impact on sales. At least for the guys on a budget or that do not want to finance for 10 years.

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[lots of luck]

Web, I think you missed my post under the camping section regarding Father Hennepin State Park. Check it out. I personally saw your shiny new tracker. That was one windy weekend.

[FOOT]

If memory serves, and it's gets worse each year, Brunswick does not have a good track record with taking over other companies. I believe they bought Harley Davidson several years ago and immediately cheapened them. They also did this with Bayliner and they never did recover.

I've been a Lund loyalist for many a year but don't really think I'll buy another one. At the very least I'll go over the specifications with a fine tooth comb.

[Guest]

I replied to that early this morning

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Web, I think you missed my post under the camping section regarding Father Hennepin State Park. Check it out. I personally saw your shiny new tracker. That was one windy weekend.

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[fishlakeman]

Something sounds fishy here. I talked to the Vice President of Sales for Lund boats for a long time this past spring, and he was telling me how state of the art their factory was, where it could be making Pro'V's one day, and Mr. Pikes a couple days later. He said the main importance for that capability was that they have no inventory. They make what they have on order, nothing more. So I think something strange is going on. I sure hope Brunswick doesn't screw up these two great local companies. Support Minnesota and buy a Crestliner or Lund, as they're one hell of a boat anyway.

[mtreno]

or alumacraft is also minnesota - i know for a fact they have no boats in stock and make them to order - thought thats how they all did it.

[marine_man]

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He said the main importance for that capability was that they have no inventory. They make what they have on order, nothing more.

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I think the inventory issue is that dealers carried a lot of inventory this year, mostly to get yamaha and OMC prerig in the boats before they switched over to primarily mercury outboards...

So if a dealer can't move much (gas prices, rainy spring, etc affecting sales) inventory, he's not going to order much from the factory.

State of the art factory? I wouldn't quite say that, unless they've made huge changes... a guy with a piece of steel inside the boat and a guy with an air riveter on the outside riveting each rivet by hand isn't quite what I'd call state of the art... they were getting there by cutting all the wood with a CNC router, and they had 2 robotic welders for door frames, etc... but they still had a long ways to go... Their factory looked more like a blacksmith shop than anything else...

Don't get me wrong... I'll be buying a lund boat when I can afford one... it's just amazing to me how many boats they can pump out of there without having more problems than they do

marine_man

[JohnMickish]

Foot, that was AMF/Brunswick that had H-D for awhile. Had they not purchased it they would be gone now. What they did wasn't pretty but it kept the company from going under.