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| BRUNSWICK ACQUIRES TRITON BOATS
LAKE FOREST, Ill., May 31, 2005 -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) announced today that it has acquired Triton Boat Company, L.P., a leading producer of fiberglass bass and saltwater and aluminum fishing boats. Triton will remain based in Ashland City, Tenn. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“With Triton, we continue the important and critical work of filling white space within our product line-up,” explained Dustan E. McCoy, president of the Brunswick Boat Group. “In addition to Triton’s fine saltwater and aluminum products, we now have one of the leading bass boat brands in the industry and can better meet our dealers’ and consumers’ needs for these products.”
Earl Bentz, Triton’s founder, will continue as president of the division. In addition, Bentz will become a Brunswick spokesperson concerning fishing activities, dealer development and alignment, and industry matters. He will also provide advice and assistance in product development for fishing product, reporting to McCoy.
“We are pleased to welcome Earl Bentz back to the Brunswick fold,” said George W. Buckley, chairman and chief executive officer of Brunswick Corporation. “Long a leader and an innovator within the boating community, Earl began his marine career more than 30 years ago as a race boat driver for Brunswick’s Mercury Marine Group. Earl’s dedication to enhancing the fishing experience, his adherence to top quality, and his introduction of new marine technologies are a complement to our ideals and objectives at Brunswick.”
Triton factories will remain in Aberdeen, Miss. and Ashland City. Triton employs approximately 600 people and makes boats ranging from 12 to 35 feet. Triton’s sales were approximately $156 million in 2004.
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill “Genuine Ingenuity”™ in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Northstar marine electronics; Navman marine and GPS-based products; IDS dealer management systems; Sea Ray, Bayliner, Maxum, Hatteras, Meridian, Sealine, Bermuda, Ornvik, Quicksilver, Savage and Uttern pleasure boats; Baja high-performance boats; Albemarle, Arvor, Boston Whaler, Palmetto, Sea Boss, Sea Pro and Trophy offshore fishing boats; Crestliner, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft and Triton freshwater fishing, deck and pontoon boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea marine parts and accessories distributor; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Valley-Dynamo pool, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | WOW......
That rumor had been out there for some time but I never thought it would materialize. Thanks for the heads up Shep. |
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| So long to Yamaha and BRP on the back of Tritons.....
I expect Roch Lambert and Phil Dyskow will issue their statements soon, eh?
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| Sounds like a great combo.Hopefully they throw together some good packages.I like the quality of both the boat and motor. |
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Location: Elgin, Illinois | I'm not sure that in the long term that this is good for us, the fishermen. Your choices are getting slimmer and slimmer. Even if you are a die hard Merc guy... Competition keeps them honest and innovative. All you need to remember are the Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick-Oldsmobiles of the 80-90s to see what "homogenous" means. They were are very similar and very bad... How long will it be before we see the engineering and design teams "consolidated: into an "Aluminum division"... Then you could/will see a "homogenous design" for Lund-Crestliner-Lowe-Triton. Skeeter and G-3 are out of the mix already, owned by Yamaha. Aluminum choices for non-Merc motors are Sylvan/Smokercraft (one in the same), PolarKraft, Alumicraft... (anybody know of others) and a few very small boutique builders. (Tracker is a Merc only transom now) In Glass you have Sylvan/Smokercraft (with one walleye hull), Tuffy, Warrior, and (for now) Ranger (?) (Know of any others with any sizeable production). The Bassboat side is the same... |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Greg,
I disagree. You can still get any motor you want on any of the boats that you mention except for Tracker. Your local supplier will be able to match you up with any motor that they sell.
What I find extremely interesting is the fact that other motor companies are the ones that are refusing to sell directly to Brunswick owned boat manufacturers. When Brunswick first bought Lund, Crestliner and Lowe some people cried foul because they were sure that Brunswick would only allow Mercury motors on those transoms. Thast didn't happen. It was and still is the "other" guys who are making this happen to the consumer.
Again, you'll be able to run any motor you want but it'll cost more because those companies are refusing to sell directly to Brunswick owned companies. Therefore you, the consumer will not benefit from the high volume sales associated with past agreements. Your local store will also have to order the boat with no rigging and will have charge you for their labor to hang the motor of your choice.
One last question for ya' buddy. I never hear people compalin that they can not order a Chevy block in their Ford pickup. Yet some complain that they can not get their Tracker without a Merc. What's the difference?
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| I believe you can still get any motor on any boat made. Maybe not factory rigged, but you can get any motor on any boat. It may cost a bit more, but if you want a Merc on a Skeeter, you can get it. If you want an E-Tec on a Lund, you can get it. It wouldn't look as good, but you could get it! hehehe Why no bashing of Yamaha for owning G3 and Skeeter? It's been civil here, but on other sites, you'd think Brunswick was the evil empire. And I think it's only a matter of time before you see BRP acquire a line or two of their own.
I don't think you'll see Lund, C'liner, Lowe consolidate into one hull design. Why would they? They didn't when Genmar owned them. Part of what makes different people buy Lund versus C'Liner is that very difference in hull design, riveted vs aluminum.
And besides, who'd want a Chevy engine in a Ford truck!? hehehe
Edited by Shep 6/1/2005 7:43 AM
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Location: Chicago IL. | If you put a chevy engine in a ford,, repair shops will be a thing of the past. I dont think any hulls will change in any company. You will still be able to hang any motor you want on the back,like said earlier it will just cost more. But why you would not hang a black one anyway is strange to me . Just haveing fun guys!!!!!!! |
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| And you don't think those boat companies will still compete with each other?? I am disappointed by the narrow thinking of some. Brunswick ownes the boat lines, Mercury does not. BIG difference. These companies will work even harder at being competative. Large companies with strong backgrounds in outdoor recreation products are good for the industry, IMHO, and have been part of the process for years. How many boat comapnies did the old OMC own? Princecraft was OMC only for years was sold and sold again. Family owned, independant and small boat builder comapnies have their place too and maybe being able to get a "factory" rigged boat from, say Smoker Craft, with your engine of choice is a good thing for their sales and owners group. But boat builders changing hands year after year I don't think IS good for the industry. Looks like Bruswick is in this for the long haul and I believe that IS good for the jobs it creates here in the good old USA. As a Pro Staff member of both Mercury and Triton I have only seen good things on the horizon and this the dawn of a new day. |
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| Your right Shep no one would want a chev engine in a ford truck, that Chevy engine belongs in that Chevy Truck.
Good News for sure, nice to see Brunswick making this move! Triton makes an awesome boat.
Good Luck
Tyee |
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