A Rising Sun of Change
“No new fishing vessel has been (added) during the period,” says the email we get from Japan’s largest seafood company, Maruha Nichiro Corp. A year earlier, they had bought shares in New Zealand outfit, Sanford, which had just chartered a Nordic-looking vessel. Seafood rival, Nissui, had just done the same, buying New Zealand and Nordic. That all happened after the Naval Architect’s Society of Japan said a vessel based on the Icelandic design of Reykjavik’s Navis was its Ship of the Year.
Survey Indicates American Boating Industry Growth
A recent forecast indicated a 2013 growth of 8% in the American boating industry. In light of an improving consumer outlook, more than half (51%) of marine industry survey participants said the best time to increase inventory levels is right now to be fully stocked for the spring selling season, according to results released by GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF). “Overall, our data indicate sales are improving, costs are down and earnings are up at the dealer level,” said Bruce Van Wagoner, president of CDF’s marine group, a leading provider of financing to marine dealers. When asked which trend will have the largest impact on the boating industry this year…
Brunswick Sells Fishing Holdings to Triton Boats
Fishing Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer and marketer of fiberglass fishing boats owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity, announced its acquisition of Triton Boats from Brunswick Corporation. Terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Triton founder Earl Bentz will join Fishing Holdings and resume his role at the helm of Triton Boats. Additionally, several key members of Triton's executive management and sales representative group will remain on board the Triton team and will continue to lead the brand from their Tennessee office. Triton fiberglass boats will be built in Flippin, Ark., where production will begin in fall of 2010. Brunswick will continue to manufacture Triton aluminum boats under a license agreement.
