Sea Ray idles Knoxville plant

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sea Ray will furlough 240 hourly employees at its Knoxville boat plant for three months beginning July 6, according to a report in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Workers were told about the plant shutdown Thursday, the paper said.

The news represents the second local Sea Ray plant shutdown this year. In January, parent company Brunswick announced it would mothball the nearby Riverview plant. Brunswick also laid off 70 workers at the Knoxville plant in March.

Dan Kubera, a spokesman for Brunswick, said the current furlough will affect only the Knoxville Plant and that production will resume Oct. 5. Kubera said salaried employees will remain on the job to provide ongoing support for customers and Sea Ray’s dealer base.

“This action is part of Brunswick’s continuing efforts to deal with a difficult and uncertain marine marketplace,” Kubera told the paper. “Along these lines, we always endeavor to make sure that whatever actions are announced and taken are as thoughtful, equitable and decisive as possible.”

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