Less than three weeks into his new job as group president for Four Winns, Glastron and Wellcraft, Roch Lambert is confronting the realities of managing a company that is only recently emerging from bankruptcy. Beyond technical issues, Lambert is also facing complaints from dealers. Several told IBI that the new company is not in touch with them."Four Winns hasn't been communicative at all," says one dealer, asking not to be named. "From what I can gather, I would describe their situation as 'floundering'. If I bought a Genmar company at the bankruptcy sale, I would be prepared to hit the ground running. I just don't understand their silence." This dealer said that the new company seems to be more interested "in internal discussions" than communication with its dealer base. "I'm not even sure they want me anymore," he said. "And frankly, I'm not sure I want them."

The dealer I bought my boat from last summer in northern Arkansas went under.. differrent owner, different name and they don't carry Four Winns anymore. The next closest dealers in Monroe, LA and Memphis, TN either went under or no longer carry Four Winns. So now there are no Four Winns dealers in Arkansas... if I should ever need dealer service I'd have to tow my boat out of state... Mississippi I think is the closest now

Depending on where you are....

Phil Dill boats in Lewisville TX is where I bought mine.

The dealer I bought my boat from last summer in northern Arkansas went under.. differrent owner, different name and they don't carry Four Winns anymore. The next closest dealers in Monroe, LA and Memphis, TN either went under or no longer carry Four Winns. So now there are no Four Winns dealers in Arkansas... if I should ever need dealer service I'd have to tow my boat out of state... Mississippi I think is the closest now

Cap'n how is Hall's Marina by you. They seem to be attentive to Four Winns boat owners, are they?

he said the company is doing the right things for the business, not just trying to make a quick buck. It has no debt and therefore doesn’t face the financial pressures many in the industry are enduring today. And it has “given us some cash to make decisions for the long-term health of the business.” Lambert said Platinum Equity is truly committed to building the business. “If I were a dealer of my brands today, I would have had very significant concerns over the past 24 months,” he explained. “I’ve lived it in my previous life. I understand the dynamic. And competition has been doing what competition does, trying to attract our network away from our brands. All I’ll tell them is that there is a new team in town, our commitment is higher than it has ever been, and we are financially positioned better than anyone else in the industry right now.”
The boats being built by the manufacturer today are 2011 models, according to Lambert. Programs and pricing for the new model year will be unveiled in early June. New configurations will come on line in July. And new platforms and boats currently being designed will go into production some time in the fall.

They've picked up Regal, a family owned company with no debt.

Shame they're inferior boats. Lots of little mistakes in how stuff was laid out, and lesser quality materials throughout.