Seastrike Boats purchased from VIP Marine
MIAMI, Fla. – Seastrike Boats LLC announced yesterday that it has purchased Seastrike Boats and all assets – including tooling for all models, equipment, raw materials and inventory, as well as the trademarks Seastrike and Sea Squirt – from VIP Marine, Inc., a manufacturer of fishing boats 16 to 24 feet in length.
The company also said that after successfully running Seastrike Boats for 33 years, Rosanne Gillis has decided to retire and spend time with her family. The new principals are Bill and Tom Thies, chief executive officer and operations manager, respectively, and Ray Klappert, production and quality control manager.
Klappert has over 30 years experience in the boat business and is said to have an extensive background in boat manufacturing, service and sales. Bill and Tom Thies ran a number of beer distributors in Florida until 2001, have strong management backgrounds and have been avid boaters all their lives, the press release said.
In order to assist their transition into the marine industry, the three have retained the services of marine industry veteran Ed Kunuty, who has experience with Mako Boats, Boston Whaler, Edgewater and Everglades Boats and will help with marketing the new company.
Seastrike Boats LLC plans to continue building its most popular existing models as well as expanding the line into larger fishing boats.
“We plan to invest in a new manufacturing facility and new boat designs to expand the business,” Bill Thies said. “We are in this for the long haul and plan to work hard to expand the dealer network and to develop innovative ideas to grow our business.”
Seastrike Boats has retained the services of Richard Lewis Communications as its public relations and advertising agency as the new company begins planning for the future.
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