Sea Ray Boats Laying Off 350 Workers

Just Sold · 03-04-2008, 08:24 PM

From Florida Today -

February 28, 2008

Sea Ray to cut 350 jobs on Merritt Island
BY SCOTT BLAKE
FLORIDA TODAY

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Sea Ray Boats will eliminate 350 jobs by mid-year at its Merritt Island plant due to slumping demand for boats, the company said today.

That will leave Sea Ray with about 850 jobs at its Merritt Island complex, said Dan Kubera, director of media relations and corporation communications for Lake Forest, Ill.-based Brunswick Corp., Sea Ray’s parent company.

Sea Ray will stop production of some boat models on Merritt Island after June, and move production of those models to its plant in Palm Coast and its two plants in Knoxville, Tenn., Kubera said.

As a result, the company plans to add 270 jobs at the Palm Coast and Knoxville plants.

“The Sea Ray and Merritt Island leadership teams will be working diligently to transfer as many employees as possible and practical between the various Sea Ray manufacturing facilities and other Brunswick Boat Group locations,” the company said in a statement.

“For those employees who do not have the opportunity or do not wish to transfer, severance will be provided,” the company said.

Contact Blake at 242-3644
or sblake@floridatoday.com

fatlazyless · 03-04-2008, 08:58 PM

And Mercury has given 2000 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, employees a one week furlough due to lack of demand. With gas now at about 3.10-3.15, where will it be in July? Not good news for the bigger marine engines like V6 outboards that are gas guzzlers. Could this be the start of the return of the 16' alum runabout w/ a 40hp....is it back to 1966...all over again?

Between the price of gas and a Winni speed limit, things are not lookn' too good for new local sales of big block V-6 outboards or performance IO's.

"The economic climate has influenced visitors' tastes as well. Many of Pucci's repeat customers who once rented a motorboat changed tact last summer, and opted to rent a canoe or kayak instead, a change he attributes to high gasoline prices.

The group's new website, www.weirsbeach.org, reflects this change. On the main site, there's a photo of a family enjoying a kayak on a lake, when in previous years the image of a waterskier might have been the choice." (LaDaSun article on Weirs Action Committee, Mar 5, 08, by Adam Drapcho)

Probably, the credit lending business has gone from easy money to tight money, as well.

On the brite side, there's always kayak'n! Kayak'n will make you a better person and gets good gasoline mileage!

03-04-2008, 08:58 PM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	And Mercury has given 2000 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, employees a one week furlough due to lack of demand. With gas now at about 3.10-3.15, where will it be in July? Not good news for the bigger marine engines like V6 outboards that are gas guzzlers. Could this be the start of the return of the 16' alum runabout w/ a 40hp....is it back to 1966...all over again? Between the price of gas and a Winni speed limit, things are not lookn' too good for new local sales of big block V-6 outboards or performance IO's. "The economic climate has influenced visitors' tastes as well. Many of Pucci's repeat customers who once rented a motorboat changed tact last summer, and opted to rent a canoe or kayak instead, a change he attributes to high gasoline prices. The group's new website, www.weirsbeach.org, reflects this change. On the main site, there's a photo of a family enjoying a kayak on a lake, when in previous years the image of a waterskier might have been the choice." (LaDaSun article on Weirs Action Committee, Mar 5, 08, by Adam Drapcho) Probably, the credit lending business has gone from easy money to tight money, as well. On the brite side, there's always kayak'n! Kayak'n will make you a better person and gets good gasoline mileage! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 03-05-2008 at 08:04 PM.