www.iFourWinns.com

Newsflash!

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdo ... 64287.html




I had an opportunity to discuss this with my favorite dealer Vice President, and was well assured that this is a move to assist in a broader re-organization of Genmar.

From what he knew, this would not affect the day to day operations at Four Winns.

Four Winns is healthy, they have a backlog of orders for boats. I know from the tour that they have already gone through their downsizing as a reaction to the economy.

The reason that Customer service is slow is because rather than multiple people being staffed to handle that, they have it resourced to a single person who I'm sure has an abundance of other duties.

Bottom line... This is tough news for Genmar, but far from concerning in terms of the health of Four Winns.

Think about how OMC went through something similar a decade ago and Four Winns came out fine from that experience.

_________________

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

Bad news....interstingly, the Four Winns brand isnt mentioned here, even though we know the family tree.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

The big thing to remember with this news is that Genmar has declared chapter 11, and it's not because of Four Winns. This was also the case when OMC declared bankruptcy back in 2000. This is not the same circumstances as when OMC declared bankruptcy and Four Winns will come out of this stronger than ever just as they did before. For Four Winns it is business as usual. All warranties will be honored, all the parts will still be available and dealers will be paid for all warranties and rebates which is very important for dealers to stay healthy. I have personally talked with our Sales Representative from the factory and they have been busy with many orders in the system throughout the entire spring and summer. Some of the boats that I have recently ordered are actually a few weeks out in production because of all the orders in front of them right now which is very good for Four Winns and it is something that basically no other boat builder can claim right now.

The head of Genmar which is Irwin Jacobs is an extremely intelligent individual and these actions taken are to ultimately make Genmar a stronger company. He will do what is needed to make sure that his company emerges from the current times stronger than any of his competition. I have complete trust in his actions and decisions and hope that things move quickly to get everything back on track with Four Winns parent company, Genmar...

This is just what I currently know, I will try to follow this thread and the posts but we have been so busy this spring that I simply have not been able to spend the time that I would like on this forum and answering emails. Just remember this, that Four Winns builds one of the best built boats on the market and without a doubt has the best value for the dollar. They have by far the best people in the industry working for them and they will come out of this stronger than ever!!!

Ryan -VP Winnisquam Marine

Thanks for the post Ryan!

Did I notice just a tad bit of salesman talk in your last paragraph We all here on this forum agree that FW makes a great product.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Worst case scenario is the the Winn family gets to buy back Four Winns at a deep discount to raise capital for the other struggling Genmar brands. I don't see how that could be a bad thing.

I just wish that Four Winns would employ a marketing department with half a brain. They have the best boats that no one has ever heard of. I guess that's a good thing because it keeps our resale values higher.

_________________


"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Some more ramblings.............



http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2172997

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Last job I worked at, we made the dashes for the FW boats. Might have to see how my former colleagues are doing after this announcement.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I really do hope FW survive. My first boat after an absence of 25 years from boating was a Four Winns ( bought when OMC went into receivership !). My second (current one) is a Four Winns, I love the way it handles, the quality of the hull mouldings, seats etc the price/ quality balance, the quality of the parts used etc but I am always surprised how the standard of how it was put together lets it down. To have assembled it properly wouldn't have cost more than 1% of the total price, correcting mistakes takes a lot more (admittedly only the cost of my time).

I would still probably buy a FW, but with so little extra attention to detail they could be a lot better.

Graham

^^ That being said it should be noted that the main guy from the marina that assisted me in launching the 338 made the comment of how much better than other manufacturers (particularly monteray) with their attention to detail and trim at the time of sale. When the drives were lowered the gauges were totally sync'd. Evidently other boats often need adjustments more often than not. I believed their QA/QC has quite improved recently. I'm having a growing punch list but I believe most of the problems are associated from sitting at the dealer so long..

First, the damn banks wouldn't lend to their customers and then the a$$holes cut their credit lines. Personally, I don't see how any of these boat manufacturers are making it right now. As a veteran of the 2000 OMC bankruptcy, if Four Winns is profitable, look for it to get sold. At least I don't have to sweat out my warranty like I did in 2000/2001.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

My bet is that Genmar sheds off some fat in the organization and keeps the profitable stuff like Four Winns.

Irwin Jacobs is a super smart guy - he's not going to let a brand like FW go.

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

I hope he does intend to stay in the game. OMC immediately bailed on warranty work so if Jacobs does the same, it is over.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Its all about money, Irwin Jacobs maybe a smart guy, but smart guys sell ANYTHING for the right price. Four Winns is no exception. I work in the Manufacturing industry and have been through three sales/buyouts/shedding the fat. Call it what ever you want, corp America is after one thing, MONEY!!!

Us americans are greedy money hungry ......... we all invest in stocks/companys/ect and want huge returns.

While I really like Four Winns boats, I find is hard to believe that there QC/QA is that much different vs any other american manufacture. There is a reason corp. america is in trouble (GM / Chrysler) and they are having a hard time competing with Honda / Toyota, ect...

Enough of me on the soap box. I put on my flame suit..... fire away!

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I agree 100%, FW 's QC is no better than any other builder. All boats have things that get missed in the manufacturing process. And their build quality, while good, should not be held as "the best". Simply put, knowone is perfect.

This bankruptcy will put pressure on the market, and because of this inevitable pressure, I do expect to see many dealer and manufacturer bankruptcies occur during the next few months of this year. The banks are not giving the money, and business's just don't have the capital to keep funding a weak sales year. This filing by Genmar, will definately over time benefit Brunswick, as FW dealers will not be able to get floorplan financing from Genmar, and will gravitate to the next best opportunity, and that is Brunswick brands.
Also, several privately owned builders are in worse shape than Genmar, and those companies, which I will not mention, will be following suit and filing for bankruptcy in the near future.

As far as current FW dealers , service and parts go, here is what Irwin said yesterday afternoon,

Genmar has a tough road ahead, and they have some time to get things figured out. They will survive, but in what capacity is yet to be realized.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy