Boating Industry Intelligence You Can Profit From
Standard & Poor’s analyst Andy Liu is predicting that Brunswick Corp.‘s sales, which were up 15 percent in the first quarter compared with last year, will continue to increase this year and next as the boat and engine builder replenishes inventory levels, the Associated Press reported in a recent article. Liu therefore revised his B-minus corporate credit rating to “positive” from “stable.” However, he also noted the company’s decline in profitability during the past few years and decreased prospects for an industry turnaround, according to the news organization.
Samson, a manufacturer of performance cordage, has recently settled a dispute involving the unauthorized use of its copyrighted material in Singapore. Samson said in a recent statement that it keeps a vigilant watch over the worldwide market to ensure its intellectual property rights are not compromised. Samson’s intellectual property rights relate not only to its proprietary rights pertaining to its products but also to collateral material, which includes catalogues, brochures, advertisements, white papers, technical bulletins, etc., according to the company. Samson said it will not hesitate to take legal action against any third party who does not give due regard and respect to Samson’s intellectual property. Any parties who wish to use material belonging to Samson must obtain the prior written consent from Samson, which may be subject to such terms and conditions as Samson deems fit.
Four Sea Tow franchisees are being recognized this year for 20 or more years of continuous operation and ownership. They include Sea Tow Maryland Central Chesapeake, owned by Capt. Dave DuVall; Sea Tow Palm Beach, owned by Capt. Will Beck; Sea Tow Southern Connecticut, owned by Capt. Neal McQuone, and Sea Tow Central Connecticut, owned by Capt. Tom Kehlenbach. These operators join 29 other Sea Tow locations in the United States that will celebrate continuous operation for 20 years or longer in 2010: Sea Tow Eastern Long Island (original owners: Capt. Joe and Georgia Frohnhoefer), Sea Tow Rhode Island, Sea Tow Central Connecticut, Sea Tow Great South Bay and Sea Tow Freeport, Sea Tow Boston, Sea Tow Moriches-Shinnecock, Sea Tow Lower New York, Sea Tow Central New Jersey, Sea Tow Maryland Central Chesapeake, Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach, Sea Tow Crystal Coast, Sea Tow Palm Beach, Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale, Sea Tow Miami, Sea Tow Huntington, Sea Tow Atlantic City, Sea Tow St. Augustine, Sea Tow Treasure Coast, Sea Tow Central Hudson, Sea Tow Sea Isle/Cape May, Sea Tow Southern Connecticut, Sea Tow Delaware River, Sea Tow Lower Chesapeake Bay, Sea Tow Hampton Roads, Sea Tow Marco Island, Sea Tow Naples, Sea Tow Northern New Jersey, Sea Tow Southern Maryland, Sea Tow Fort Myers, Sea Tow Western Long Island Sound, Sea Tow Port Canaveral, and Sea Tow Sarasota. Although ownership of these franchises has changed hands over the years, and their territories may have been altered or combined, Sea Tow has been serving these locations for more than two decades.
In order to create a more unified brand, Chicago Sea Ray’s boat dealership and service facility on the corner of Routes 12 and 120 in Volo, Ill. has been renamed SkipperBud’s, Skipper Marine Holdings, Inc. reported in a recent statement. The management and the staff remain in place, along with the same brands and commitment to customer service. In conjunction with this change, SkipperBud’s in Volo is celebrating its Grand Opening June 4, 5 and 6. All in-stock product will feature blow out pricing to create room for new product shipments. New, used and repo boats including runabouts, deck boats, pontoons, fishing boats, tow boats and cuddy cabins must all be sold. SkipperBud’s will continue to operate Ultimate Wake Watersports, a watersports pro shop and boat dealership providing tow boats from Moomba and Supra. Ultimate Wake Watersports is offering Grand Opening specials on tubes, skis and board packages.
After entering the North American market earlier this year, JMPUSA has signed on Martin Flory Group to head its public relations. The sea water pump and rubber impeller manufacturer is based in Miami, Fla. JMPUSA’s parent company is South Korea-based JMP Corp.