posted 11-23-2008 03:18 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

The boatyard’s closing is part of an accelerated plan to cut costs by $300 million. Three other fiberglass boat plants – in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington – will be permanently closed, Brunswick said."

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And according to Brunswick CEO Dustin McCoy,

quote:

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“Our cost-reduction efforts include consolidating certain boat manufacturing facilities, sales offices
and distribution warehouses,..."

“In addition to the boat plant closures, we will be realigning distribution for our bowling products
business, streamlining some sales operations and eliminating select positions throughout our
company;..."

---

posted 11-23-2008 03:40 PM ET (US)            

Brunswick (first-hand) told a subsidiary Trophy (second-hand) who told their dealer (third-hand) who told a customer (fourth-hand) who told a friend (fifth-hand).

posted 11-23-2008 05:49 PM ET (US)            

Fountain is still in trouble. They, being a publicly traded company, has some capitalization issues that need to be explained to the SEC.

posted 11-24-2008 01:04 AM ET (US)            

"During the quarter, we continued to decrease production throughout our marine operations in an effort to reduce the number of boats held by our dealers," McCoy explained. "This included a month-long furlough, during which we halted production at virtually all of our U.S. fiberglass boat manufacturing plants. While this was the right thing to do, it resulted in sales for our major fiberglass brands being down 50 percent in the quarter. Reduced fixed-cost absorption on lower sales adversely affected operating earnings.

"While we reduced the number of fiberglass boats held by our dealers by 1,400 during the third quarter, there remain 36 weeks of supply of fiberglass boats in the pipeline, down one week from the end of June 2008, but up nine weeks compared with the end of September last year," McCoy said. "As announced earlier this month, we will begin closing or furloughing seven fiberglass boat plants in the fourth quarter to continue to address the pipeline inventory situation."

posted 06-03-2009 10:54 AM ET (US)            

Just because it isAmerican company building in another country, which I dont agree with anyway, and is a whole other issue with regards to why use cheaper out of the country labor, doesn't mean it not right to look at American Company products to continue to support.

posted 06-03-2009 06:39 PM ET (US)         

"...do they build boats in Asia, beside Sampans and Junks?"

posted 06-04-2009 09:17 AM ET (US)         

Another Japanese outboard, tha not many are familiar with, and has no competition from any one is YAMATO, strictly a Stock Outboard racing engine. Stadium outboard racing is very popular in Japan and involves parimutuel betting much like horse racing. These outboard are also imported to the US for racing, and finished off any ideas Mercury had of getting back into stock outboard racing. the only Mercury racing classes that run Mercs are Offshore, and a few classes of OPC.
Its too bad because racing is what built Mercurys name back in the `50s.

Here is some info on Yamato;

posted 06-04-2009 10:32 PM ET (US)            

On the other hand Tohatsu has quite a bit to say about Komagane. The following is from the Tohatsu corporate website in Japan and in Japanese, translated by GOOGLE with a bit of help:

quote:

---

Komagane new plant

Plant TOHATSUMARIN Komagane

[In] 2003, production in the outboard motor TOHATSU MARINE reached 115,785 units. This increase [required] acquisition of industrial land Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture. [On] 2005 January 18... was the dedication of the new plant [that] will be manufacturing our TOHATSU MARINE century.

Prior to this, conventional plant Okaya 2004 December 18, ended 61 years of history. Okaya the factory before the war in 1943, was built as a refuge in the war factories evacuated from Tokyo Itabashi, since, has been a vital role along with our manufacturing plants. However, the core facilities in 1955 and has increased since the renovation, to cope with increased production of marine products in recent years, was already at the limit.

January 2006, [Kaneko Minoru ] took over as president of TOHATSUMARIN...[unclear].

In other words, as our management policy, ...the outboard motor and [fire] pump [are the] two pillars of the expansion and improvement of the profitability of product sales made, ended fiscal 2006 revenue of 15.2 billion yen, a record 1,498 and 10,000 . However, profit margins have improved, but still passed from IEZU once, because of that, about 58 percent the proportion of export sales of outboard motor for 95% of the high volatility of exchange rates and material costs is susceptible to. Outboard motor is technically, is to clear the smog in the future, and continue to [unclear] considered in all world markets, increase productivity and reduce costs for the construction of the new plant is absolutely necessary Komagane was.

Komagane is building a new plant in the building, supply of materials, machining, painting, assembly, operation, and bring to a warehouse, and one line of the shipping process, construct a new production line, has attempted to streamline its production did.

The factory was a factory model of Okaya, Nagano Prefecture, once the new plant is beyond commuting distance of Okaya, it can engage in new plant and skilled workers are looking for new talent.

With the concern about the hollowing out of production in many parts of Japan, the plant Komagane our job in the Ina district of Komagane two times as large.

---

I didn't see "Brunswick" or "Mercury Marine" in that article.

Translated from
http://www.tohatsu.co.jp/anniversary/history05-04.html#entry56

Here is a picture from a French marine company's website who apparently are also in business with Tohatsu selling Tohatsu-branded outboard motors made in Komagane. This gives us a look at the sign on the plant:

http://www.fenwick.fr/corpo/img/actu/Tohatsu_Komagane.jpg

Hmm, I wonder if the gentleman on the right is standing in front of the BRUNSWICK logo? Do you think?

To me it is clear that Komagane is a Tohatsu plant, and they build motors there. Some of the motors are built for Mercury, but they're Tohatsu motors in the main of their design and production. This is consistent with Mercury's past. They've rebranded motors from other Japanese companies and sold them as Mercury motors. Mercury says nothing that contradicts any of this.

posted 06-05-2009 12:49 AM ET (US)            

Here's the killer: in the United States International Trade Commission, the "Tohatsu Marine Corporation" appeared and testified in opposition to the imposition of anti-dumping duties! Now that is some joint venture! It came to Washington to testify against Mercury.

Cf: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/thisweek/wl1_1213.pdf

Here is a list of some of the principals of "Tohatsu Marine Corporation" :

President Mr. Mitsuru Kaneko
Senior Managing Director Mr. Tomatsu Hamananaka
Director of the Komagane Plant Mr. Kazuhiro Masumoto
Director of General Affairs Mr. Tsuneo Tanaka

Tohatsu Marine Corporation ships motors from Komagane to Wisconsin. Here is a bill of lading in which the shipper,

TOHATSU MARINE CORPORATION
4495-9 SHIMODAIRA KOMAGANE NAGANO

sent freight to the consignee

MERCURY MARINE PLANT #12.
W6250, W.PIONEER ROAD FOND DU LAC WI
NOTIFY PARTY

on a vessel CONCORD BRIDGE which departed from the port of Nagoya and sailed to Long Beach, California in February of 2008.

http://www.importgenius.com/shipments/tohatsu-marine-corporation.html