BRP’s jet propulsion technology, recently made available to Rec Boat Holdings and Chaparral, might be made available to other companies.
Jason Eckman, product manager for Evinrude and former project manager in the engineering and development of Sea-Doo models, stopped short of saying the company is going to offer the systems to other boatbuilders.
“I would say we have our Phase One partners established. Those are the partners that have already been announced and we’re in discussion with second-phase partners to see who we will expand the business with,” Eckman told Trade Only Today. “I would say we’re in the process of deciding what the second phase is, so that implies that there will be more.”
“One of the things I would add is that since BRP exited this business [as a builder], it seems strange that we’re getting back into this,” Eckman said. “We didn’t have the network to support a large boat business. BRP’s network, with exceptions, mostly was a powersports network. At the same time, Sea-Doo as a boat brand did not have the recognition that it did as a PWC brand. So we had two challenges — network and brand. So it’s really exciting to see the propulsion system, which we know to be the best in the world, paired with strong boat brands and networks.”
Eckman also spoke about the new engine line geared specifically to the pontoon segment. See Trade Only Today on Tuesday for that interview.
— Reagan Haynes
Source: Trade Only Today
