Bayliner Boats - More cuts at Bayliner Plants

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Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway bringing you Bayliner Boats along with news and views from the boating industry. Bayliner cuts 68 jobs at Wilbur plant.

Bayliner Cuts at Mfg. Plants

Bayliner Marine’s parent company, the Brunswick Corp., cut 68 positions recently from the Wilbur boat manufacturing plant as part of a company wide effort to reduce $300 million from annual expenses. In addition to the layoffs, Bayliner Marine has stopped work on its production lines until July 28.

Bayliner Marine’s head count was about 240 before the layoffs. Brunswick spokesman Dan Kubera said the company laid off about 1,000 hourly and salary workers from its boat and inboard and outboard motor plants nationwide.

Boat retail business has been on a rapid decline

Since 2005, the power boat retail business has been on a rapid decline, Kubera said. Power boat sales for 2007 in the U.S. were at their lowest numbers for the past 40 years recorded, according to a written statement from Brunswick.

“The U.S. marine industry is under a lot of pressure,” Kubera said by telephone from his Lake Forest, Ill., office, noting the combination of rising energy and food prices and the continuing turmoil in the housing market. “Anything that costs a pretty good chunk . . . consumers are being cautious.”

More Bayliner plant closings to come

Brunswick also stated that the company plans to announce four plant closures in addition to eight already announced to have fewer boat plants operating by 2009. Brunswick had 29 boat plants operating in 2007.

“We have chosen to act now to recast and resize our operations with the objective of being profitable within a smaller marine market,” Dustan McCoy, Brunswick’s chief executive officer, stated in the press release. Thanks to Adam Pearson, http://www.nrtoday.com for this. You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@nrtoday.com.

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Rick Ostler, North American Waterway

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