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| With the sale of Lund, C-Liner, and Lowe to Brunswick, What will happen with the RCL beyond this year? With Genmar now having only glass boats, some feel it will become the RCS. I'm not sure about that. With nearly half the field in Lunds and C-Liners, do you think that all those anglers are just going to switch from aluminum to glass? I don't. Maybe some, but not most. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Will Brunswick create a Pro/AM league also? Bring on Triton and make the TLC? I don't see another boat owners circuit forming, but who knows? Maybe more pro's go the Kilinski route, and end up with two boats? One for the PWT, and one for the RCS? It's going to be an interesting year!
Edited by Shep 3/8/2004 10:04 PM
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Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | I would love to see a Brunswick Tour. Just on Lake Erie alone do you guys have any Idea how many Bayliner's, and Trophy's are on this body of water?? I think a Brunswick Tour would bring Pro-am formats to a more realistic price, and include more than just the rich guys with cash to burn. Let's face it not many working, family guys are throwing what 1400 bucks now around for tourny's |
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Location: Rhinelander | Perhaps the RCL will both allow any brand boat in the events, only restricting the logo exposure onstage. |
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| I brought this over from another post:
As a Crestliner owner this would bother me except that I fish the BFL , too. So one way or the other I will be fishing with FLW outdoors for a while. I have to say I have lousy timing. I signed up for the last three RCL venues about 2 days before this all happened and I would have just left it with the Spring Valley tourney. Since the only reason I'm fishing it is to get one more year in as a co-angler to prepare for moving up to the Pro division next year, sothis year may be pretty much a waste. I sure can't afford a Ranger for next year.
I know on this and other forums folks have said it will stay the same due to contracts for years to come, but coming form the national racing scene I have to say that any stock company will only stay if they feel it is in their best interest to,(stockholders), regardless of contracts.
In auto racing ,at least, companies have felt that the losses from breaking a contract we more acceptable than continuing to honor the contract. I guess time will tell. I can only hope that FLW,(RCL),since it appears to be a very highly respected organization in tourney fishing will
suit Brunswick. Who knows maybe the RCL is one of the reasons the sale went through. I hope so.
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| Steve,
That might be what they plan, but I think it will more likely be something like what the FLW is already doing. Giving priority to Ranger owners to sign up, and then after a certain time, open it up to other makes in order to fill the field if they don't fill with just Rangers.
Either way it goes, in the end, the PWT still reigns as the premier pro walleye curcuit when all is said and done! They judge a mans qualifications based on his abilities, not by the boat he fishes out of. |
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| That would be this year Jack. Prior to this year, you merely needed the money to get in. If you entered enough of them in a year, you were in. The PWT only started limiting the pro side this year.
I don't see the RCL cecoming an all glass series. Now way they're gonna get all those good sticks in aluminum boats to switch over. And witout those guys, no way they get the big sponsor dollars to run the series. |
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| I think we will be seeing the "Ranger Walleye Cup" in the future. There are already a couple "Ranger Cups" out there, and this very well could be another step in that direction. As for pro's crossing over from one maker to another, it's possible, but how many are going to get the same contract with Ranger that they might get from the maker they are already with. It would cost Ranger too much money to match deals with all the Lund and Crestliner pro's in order to get them to jump over and make a Ranger only curcuit successful. Plus, some just don't want to run a Ranger.
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I think the TLC could happen but it would be Tracker with
Lund and Crestliner! That covers alot of people and with
the new Tundra's becoming more popular you will see even more! |
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| Tracker/Tundra is still primarily a Johnnie Morris product, not so much a Mercury product as some people think. Yes they do work together, but Mercury/Brunswick doesn't own them to my knowledge.
Now if Brunswick, and BPS were to team up, there might be something to think about! It would afford BPS a rival for the NTC which Cabela's has, and Brunswick a chance to headline their boats/motors as well. |
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Location: Kaukauna WI | I talked to Sonny at FLW on Monday he informed me that there are contracts in place for next couple years so the RCL will go on. I personally believe that it will be not a smart move on Brunswick to make changes in formats that has sold so many boats over last few years really quick.
Remember all that this is a business to make money for when it was Genmar or now Brunswick. So let all have dust settle and let transaction finish before rumor mill goes wild.
Michael Dutton
Lund Pro Staff and Mercury Pro Staff
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| I wasn't expressing a rumor, only giving my opinion and past experience. I hope you are right MD, but I feel very uncomfortable right now having passed up another motor I needed to enter the RCLs. We all know that if Sonny has anything to do with it things will continue to go smoothly. I have always been impressed with how he runs things and Mr. Dorn is a class act too. I just hope it is them making the decisions. |
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Location: Kaukauna WI | I apologize if I sounded harsh their Mountain Man it was not my intention. What Sonny said to me open my eyes to the running of the FLW and its operation of bonus money! If you have any questions I suggest you call him or Mark Dorn at FLW they both are class acts and will talk too you and answer your questions @ 270 252 1000.
One thing Sonny informed me on was that the FLW has a policy of only 2 motor companies. My sponsor Mercury was in and got out and lost its place in line. Will they have a chance to get back in? Yes. Have they express interest in getting back into the RCL circuit? Yes. Will they have a chance to some day possibly negotiate when contracts are up and being redone? (Yes if I understood Sonny correct) I personal wish it could be today but I not in that chain of information or knowledge base.
Let us all face one major fact. The sport of Angling is growing with Red Fish and Walleye tournaments leading the way. More motors and boats are being sold giving alignment of companies to be working hand and hand. Money rules a lot of evil but it is the one thing all companies strive for their share holders. This keeps business in position to show growth and be sold off for profit.
FLW RCL will happen in 2004 and 2005 to best of my knowledge it is wait and see after that with contracts need to be negotiated and all. Who is in mix I don’t know but I believe their will be some form of FLW Walleye Circuit out there.
In end this deal has not even had time have ink dry and will not be complete I wish all parties involved good luck. The deal is to be finalized at end month so we all will learn more as time pass is.
Michael Dutton
1901 Main Ave
Kaukauna WI 54130
920 766 7372
Any one wish to talk about this give me a call.
Jamie yes things are way they are but as outsiders we don’t have all facts of the sale so a contract in question now would be only foolish to speak off would you not agree. Call me if you wish to talk further on this.
Edited by irishwebs 3/9/2004 5:33 PM
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RCL in the Future