13 replies to this topic

[Kevin Leclair]

Valcourt, Québec, September 14, 2012 – BRP today announced it will exit the sport boat business over the coming months, citing the continued global sales decline in the marine industry, particularly the drop in sales of sport boats since the financial crisis.

“This is a difficult but necessary decision for BRP,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. “We worked hard to grow our sport boat business through a serious sales decline that began in 2007. But now, we must focus our research and development resources and capital investments in areas of our business that offer greater growth potential.”

BRP entered the boat manufacturing business in 1994 and purchased the assets of Celebrity Boats in 1995, at which time it moved its facility to Benton, Illinois.

"We looked for a buyer for our sport boat business, but that effort proved unsuccessful," Boisjoli added. "Consequently, we decided not to resume production of the upcoming model year due to seasonal production planning requirements."

All impacted employees will receive a good transition package.

BRP will continue to provide parts and honour warranties for its customers.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries.

www.brp.com

Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx, Evinrude, Johnson, Can-Am, Rotax and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.

-30-

For information:
Johanne Denault
Manager, Corporate Communications
Tel: 450.532.5173
johanne.denault@brp.com

Note: Also attached is the letter informing dealers of this news, it comes as quite a shock to many of us and we are very saddened to hear of this news today.

 Sea-Doo boats letter_NA_20120914.pdf   18.35KB   74 downloads

[dax_Thornhill]

considering i just bought a 210 se... i am sick in my mouth!!!!! shocking news

[210sp!]

I am so disappointed. After much research and consideration, we opted for a 210SP. This is not good news. We found it hard to find a dealer in our area, this is not going to make it any easier.

[mmp65]

Brutal news. Doesn't diminish how much I love my boat but can't help with resale value. Wow anyone really see this coming?

[botador]

Very hard to swallow. I am quite angry. I just bought a wake 210 in the middle of this summer. Did the dealers see this coming? As much as I liked my boat and the brand, I see both very differently now.

[DeepSeaOne]

Well...hmmm. I suppose if this were a Corvette I'd be jumping for joy that I was the proud owner of the last model year, soon to quadruple in value overnight... but a boat? Uh, not so much.

I suppose this is no surprise. The sport boat market was flooded and thriving 15 yrs ago and BRP was hoping to capture some market share. Good plan except for the economic meltdown.

Guess my only concern would be parts availability and mechanics that know how to work on them. I suppose its tIme to buy any special tools these things need before they become hard to find.

[mcleod]

wow... at least there is some support from aftermarket parts for our 4tec supercharged engine!!

couldnt expect that it can be that worst.

[bowhuntinelk]

so maybe this is a silly question, but does that indicate just boats or do they consider all of their skis "sport boats" as well.

Most of the ski technology is the same as the boat, so if they continue to build the ski, I don't see this as a huge issue from a support standpoint. Value - well that may be a different story.

[UTOPIA 185]

Sucks for sure, but does this make anyone wish they had bought or consider looking at yamaha?

[MT180SP]

According to the letter they will continue producing skis but are exiting the boat market, so I would think it wont affect too much far as customer support.

Just bought a brand new 180SP myself. Sort of perturbing, considering I researched at great lengths before buying my first brand new boat. Looking at the sport boat selection and website would sure make anyone think BRP sport boats were there to stay. But then again, the economy is in a slump, and strange things happen. If and when the economy takes a turn for the better I would not be surprised one year to suddenly see a line of brand new BRP sport boats sitting in front of a dealer again. May take a couple of years, may be 5 years, but if the opportunity to make money presents itself, of course BRP will climb aboard again!

Still love my Challenger and now I am guaranteed not to have a bunch just like it on the lake for a few years!!!!

[Kevin Leclair]

I guess BRP tried their hardest before they went to extreme measures on exiting the sport boat market. Even the new SeaDoo website still includes sport boats, http://www.sea-doo.com/boats/series, so it does not appear to be something that they forecasted far in advance.

The boats featured on the website are still the 2012 models, so it is good to see they are still supporting those dealers who have remaining inventory.

[j1g1c1]

Other than hull problems, there should be no parts issues regarding the power train, since it is the same as the skis. At least they are still in business, look what happened to Sugarsand.

[Farmboy]

I have a 2011 wake 230 and it has been in the shop 5 times due to cluster issues. Boat will not work correctly in the "ski " mode and they have not been able to correct it so far. This news explains why they can't get the right part.

[mmp65]

Wow I realize this is likely a rendering but not impressed...

 

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