www.iFourWinns.com

I hope for the American manufacturing world that we don't see another closing or relocation to Mexico. If that happens, this will be my last Four Winns.

_________________
2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

I guess we will find out the answer soon as to just what will really happen to four winns.

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

I grew up in Cadillac. Have many good friends that still work for Four Winns as well as many other business that Four Winns being located in Cadillac effects. If for some reason they leave, that town is going to be in some real trouble.

I also hold them as one of my major accounts. Would effect my family as well. Praying the ship holds its course.

January 08, 2010
Genmar Auction Update
The auction for the Genmar assets will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. Central Time Friday January 8, 2010.

http://genmarucc.typepad.com/

Checking out the vendors on Page 11 on the link below, interesting too see Valspar as they appear to be the paint vendor for Four Winns. Valspar is the "house" brand paint for Lowe's in case it doesn't ring a bell.

Here's the link: http://genmarucc.typepad.com/files/int271.pdf

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 220 5.0 GXi/SX

Valspar is a company that has been around since the early 1800s. It just happens to be the brand that Lowe's sells today....there really isn't anything surprising about them being a vendor to Four Winns or Genmar in general....Valspar is currently headquartered in Minneapolis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valspar

Four Winns could have used Valspar paints for many things....I think the trailers may be a likely thing they used Valspar paint for. As far as I can tell Valspar does not market a Marine grade product line.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

I don't know who makes the original trailer paint, but the touchup they sell is PPG.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

From Valspar site:


Paint is PPG as Mike said.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Prior to the auction, several qualified bids had been received above and beyond the bid submitted by stalking horse bidder Platinum Equity, Beverly Hills, Calif. If no qualified bid was submitted other than the stalking horse bid, the auction would not have taken place, according to court documents.
Qualified bidders include Gores Group, J & D, Hydra Boats LLC, and The Patriarch, according to Marcia Kull of Volvo Penta of the Americas, Inc., who is a member of the unsecured creditors committee.

In an interview, she reported that Platinum Equity was the highest bidder as of this morning, having submitted a bid for all of the assets. However, the auction continues as those involved work to value the individual assets, some of which have also received bids.

Boating Industry
Friday January 8, 2010

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks.

_________________
Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs

And not surprisingly...

CADILLAC -- There's a winning bid for a company to become the new owner of Cadillac based boat manufacturer Four Winns.

Its parent company, Minneapolis based Genmar Holdings was up for auction, and Friday it was announced that Platinum Equity of Beverly Hills California placed the highest bid.

Four Winns President Jeff Olson says Platinum's plan is to expand operations at the Cadillac plant, which could mean more jobs for the area.

Closing is expected on January 20.

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?list=~%5Cnews%5Clists%5Clocal&id=399165

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

So, Four Winns was bought. This means that warranty, parts, etc are all intact and will remain as usual.

Good to see some deep pockets backing Four Winns now.

Now, onto the 288 replacement. It'll be announced this spring/summer.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

It will be interesting though to see what Platnum ultimately does with all of this. They are not a boat builder. It seems unlikely that they would be in this for the long haul. Will they ultimately sell off parts? Will they make it lean, get it stable, then flip it? Time will tell. Regardless, I think Four Winns seems safe and solid as a brand and this is good news for the folks in Cadillac at least the short term. Let's all hope for continued good things.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

[quote="cougarcruiser"]So, Four Winns was bought. This means that warranty, parts, etc are all intact and will remain as usual.quote]

Not necessarily. Until the details are ironed out, this doesn't mean that warranty will remain as usual. From my understanding (and please correct me if i am wrong), this means the Four Winns we all knew is gone. It no longer exists. The new owners are buying whatever portions they are buying, but are not forced into maintaining warranty status.

Crownline is going through the same issues. They have gone above and beyond the requirements of the legal agreement and are pro-rating some of their warranty items.

The good news is that very few items on a boat (no matter the brand) are actually made by Four Winns. Those are covered under their respective manufacturers.

I assume (hope) this will be a similar situation.

FYI:

The auction for Genmar's assets concluded Friday afternoon, chief restructuring officer Mark Sheffert confirmed to Soundings Trade Only.

There were multiple buyers for the assets, he said.

The auction was managed by Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Capital Inc., which signed an agreement in November with stalking horse bidder Project Boat Holdings, an affiliate of California-based Platinum Equity.

Project Boat Holdings had submitted a bid of $55 million for assets used in the design, manufacture and sale of Ranger, Stratos, Champion, Wellcraft, Four Winns, Glastron and Larson. The assets in the bid also include facilities in Flippin, Ark., Cadillac, Mich., and Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Genmar founder Irwin Jacobs, who last year stepped down as chairman of the company, has said he planned to bid on at least a portion of the assets.

We will continue to update this story throughout Friday evening as details become available.

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"ROCKHOUND"
2005 Vista 298
Georgian Bay, Ontario.