Originally Posted by
wicklundrh
Just as an FYI, Alumacraft was recently purchased by BRP (the Canadian owner of Ski-Doo).
To give you some background on WHY I like this company.
In 1998, Dave Benbow (a 24 year worker for Alumacraft) purchased the company. Himself and his family continued to run the company whilst other boat manufacturers where having issues and were sold to private equity firms. Mr. Benbow passed in 2010 and his family continued to operate the company until 2012. At the time, the family was looking for a partner that would continue his legacy in the fishing and boating industry. UNLIKE other companies such as Ranger, Triton, Stratus, Four Winns, Grady White, Scarab (the list goes on and on) that ran in to severe finacial issues during the recession and were sold to holdings companies, Alumacraft was looking for an "investment" company to purchase them and NOT a company to take over due to financial issues. In fact, they were one of the LAST companies to be privately owned and operated in the boating industry. Lund and Crestliner had faced issues themselves and had previously been sold.
In 2012, The Corinthian Capital Group purchased Alumacraft from the Benbow family. From around 2008 to 2016, boat companies were bought, sold, and traded like stock chips from one company to another. Management groups were brought in to help streamline processes and create profitable products. The Corinthian Capital Group however did NOT sell Alumacraft simply because, the company had zero issues to start and they were actually making money (unlike many of the holdings companies that purchased loads of boat companies). All employees and management stayed in tack when the company was sold to them. Something that could not be said for nearly all of the other companies facing finacial issues.
In 2018, BRP purchased Alumacraft from the Corinthian Capital Group. To give you an idea of why this purchase is significant, BRP had been involved in the "boat traiding" business during that timeframe of 2008 to 2016. Their group owned grumman, 4 winns, Grady white, scarab, Ranger, Triton, and Stratus. ALL of those companies were sold by BRP. So, for BRP to sell ALL of these companies and then purchase Alumacraft should say something about the financial impact of the company. Look no further than what has happened to Ranger, Triton, and Stratus (all the same company) since it was sold to (unnamed person...). If you don't know, within days of the sale, several top Ranger officials (many having been with the company for more than 40 years) left the company! Of course, if you know any insider information (I know plenty) then you would also know that ALL of those individuals went to VEXUS. Different story for a different day.
THE REASON I bring all of this up? Currently you are looking at boats that were built under the Corinthian Capital Group reign. You "might" find some pretty good deals very soon as Alumacraft/BRP want to roll out their new boats with their NEW motor partner! Again, for those that don't know, BRP owns Evinrude. My suspicsion is that any boat purchased direct from the company, or sent from the company with a motor will come hung with an Evinrude. Boats order by a dealer with no motor option will then be installed by whatever they service and sell. That is just my thought but it would make sense on BRP's part.
So, if you are currently looking at a 2016 or a 2017, at a dealer that ordered this boat (with motor installed) you might be getting a pretty good price break compared to the same boat under the 2018 badging! Food for thought.