Donzi Marine, Pro-Line Boats sold to investors
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — American Marine Holdings has sold Donzi Marine and Pro-Line Boats to private investors, according to a report in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
The identity of the investors and the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the newspaper reports. However, it was revealed that Donzi’s management team will remain in place.
The company currently has a production staff of 15 to 20 compared with 200 at its peak, Josh Stickles, Donzi’s vice president of marketing, told the paper. Stickles said the company is preparing to ramp up production and recall some employees.
“We’ve established a bit of a backlog. We’ve been reducing our field inventory,” Stickles told the Tribune. “When the market returns, customers want new boats that they can’t find in the field.”
Donzi has increased the average size of its boats in recent years from 28 feet to 38 feet, the newspaper reports. The boatmaker also offers a high level of customization, including custom paint jobs or ultra-plush interiors.
That focus won’t change because of the rough economy. According to Stickles, “Our plan here is to continue to stay true to our brand.”
- Can’t get enough boating news? Subscribe to our blog’s RSS feed, follow us on Twitter or look for “Boating Industry” on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
