Category Archives: Brunswick

New Sea Ray yacht makes debut

Winter has a few weeks to go, but boat show season is already here.
And Knoxville-based Sea Ray Boats is taking full advantage. The manufacturer this week introduced its new L- class yachts at the Yacht and Brokerage Show in Miami.
The flagship of Sea Ray’s new product line is the L650 Fly, a two-bridge boat that can reach a speed of more than 30 knots and comes with a master suite, two additional staterooms, “spacious entertainment areas,” and “a robust helm station.”
The new yacht is — in the breathless prose that only a news release writer can summon — “a stunning example of design innovation and a paragon of Sea Ray’s Next Wave initiative to deliver a next-level boating experience.”
Or as Sea Ray President Tim Schiek says in the same news release: “The L-Class speaks not only to Sea Ray’s commitment to purposeful innovation, but also to the company’s strong legacy of impeccable craftsmanship, performance and service. It’s a marriage of style and substance— because we firmly believe in the importance of both.”
The news release doesn’t mention a price, but as the saying goes: “If you have to ask ….”
Sea Ray is a division of Brunswick Corp.
Click here for the Sea Ray news release.

Sea Ray goes jet-powered

Knoxville-based boat maker Sea Ray said today it is partnering with German engine manufacturer Weber Motor to produce a pair of new jet-powered boats.

A 21-foot model featuring the latest in jet propulsion technology will be released this fall. A 24-foot model will soon follow, the company said.

Weber will build the engines and jet propulsion.

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Brunswick beats expectations, profit up 44 pct.

Brunswick Corp., parent company of Knoxville-based Sea Ray Boats, today reported a first quarter profit of $39.7 million, or 43 cents a share, easily beating analysts expectations.

The company’s earnings represent a 44 percent improvement from a profit of $27.5 million, or 30 cents a share, in the first quarter last year.

Analysts had expected earnings of 37 cents a share, according to Reuters.

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Will boat show award mean more sales for Sea Ray?

Knoxville-based Sea Ray Boats got a bit of good news from New York recently. The maker of pleasure craft won the Best Boat Display award at the 2012 Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show last weekend. 022509searay1.jpg.jpg

“This award is a testament to Sea Ray’s efforts to bring to life the best sales atmosphere and owner experience possible,” Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray, said in a news release.

Usually I would now say something snarky about industry awards, but the Great Recession was hard on Sea Ray so I will refrain. I hope, however, that the boat show effort translates into increased sales and a better future for the company’s Knoxville area manufacturing plants.

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Brunswick bets on better economy

Boat maker Sea Ray Group has expanded its global retail network with the addition of 22 new dealerships in nine countries, the Knoxville-based company said Friday.

Brunswick Corp. apparently isn’t listening to the doomsayers on cable TV who say the world economy is circling the drain. The retail expansion follows an announcement last month that the company is building a 150,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Brazil to make Sea Ray and Bayliner brand boats.

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China’s rapid growth could be good for Knoxville

China’s rapid economic acceleration could be a good thing for a piece of the Knoxville economy. 022509searay1.jpg.jpg

Brunswick Corp., owner of Sea Ray Boats, which has manufacturing plants in the Knoxville region, expects a 25 percent increase in China sales in 2011.

“We believe the long-term potential in the marine business is larger than anywhere else in the world,” Brunswick CEO Dustan McCoy said in an interview April 2 with Bloomberg. “There is so much wealth here it is unique. Boating culture will take hold very strongly.”

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