What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

[cptnmcluvin]

I'm thinking about purchasing a Glastron. The dealer did not tell me that Genmar had gone insolvent and Glastron was purchased Platinum Equity. Will Glastron continue to make boats and produce spare parts?

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

I'm thinking about purchasing a Glastron. The dealer did not tell me that Genmar had gone insolvent and Glastron was purchased Platinum Equity. Will Glastron continue to make boats and produce spare parts?

Ayuh,... Hard to say, as I know of Nobody who can reliably predict the future...

Glastron, like every other boat builder uses many Parts from other suppliers, so I wouldn't base a buying decision on that anyways...

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

Platinum seems to be dedicated to keeping the brands they acquired. Keep in mind it isn't just Glastron.

http://www.pbhmarinegroup.com/

They moved Glastron to Cadillac, MI to the Four Winns factory and have been ramping up production.

At this point they are building Four Winns, Glastron and Wellcraft in Cadillac.

New products have been introduced from several of the brands in the last few months. They seem to be positioning the Glastron brand as a budget/value minded product and keeping Four Winns in the mid to upper category.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

Seems to be the wave of the future, at the very least its nice to see the name carry on though!

 

[JoLin]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

They moved Glastron to Cadillac, MI to the Four Winns factory and have been ramping up production.

At this point they are building Four Winns, Glastron and Wellcraft in Cadillac.

New products have been introduced from several of the brands in the last few months. They seem to be positioning the Glastron brand as a budget/value minded product and keeping Four Winns in the mid to upper category.

If they stay focused, they have a nice line-up in those brands. Wellcraft has the offshore fishing boats (CC's and W/A's). The other 2 cover the rest of the pleasure boat market, with Glastron at the low end (pricing is similar to Bayliner's) and Four Winns at the upper. Hopefully they can resist loading up with too many brands of too-similar boats. I think that's part of what sunk Brunswick and Genmar. Too many divisions all selling basically the same stuff.

My .02

 

[bruceb58]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

I think that's part of what sunk Brunswick...

What do you mean by "sunk Brunswick"? Last time I looked, they were still in business! I wouldn't be buying their stock anytime soon though!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

Seems to be the wave of the future, at the very least its nice to see the name carry on though!

Don't take what I said incorrectly. The Glastron, Four Winns and Wellcraft brands all have very diversified/distinct products. In fact as of right now they do not share any hulls between the brands. Each brand has it's own target market and I think that will remain the case for the near term. Who knows what will happen in the future though.

As I noted Platinum seems dedicated to keeping the Glastron brand as well as all the other brands they acquired.

If I were in the market for a new boat, Glastron would be on my list. If they had the product I was looking for, at the price I wanted to pay, I wouldn't hesitate to buy. The company is probably in a better position now than they had been with Genmar for many years.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

What do you mean by "sunk Brunswick"? Last time I looked, they were still in business! I wouldn't be buying their stock anytime soon though!

Nope, in fact, I just sold mine. Rode it from $5 to $21. Missed a little more, but with gas prices risign they way they are, its time to sell. If it ever gets near $10 again, I will put my faith back in Brunswick. They are a strong company and a survivor.

 

[JoLin]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

My bad- not Brunswick. Sorry.

 

[Lou C]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

I agree with the above sentiments, Genmar had too many similar companies, the way it is set up now, they don't overlap and compete against each other, FW at the top, Glastron mid to lower and Wellcraft in the fishing boat spot. If the give more choices with respect to power (offering more outboards, and not just on the small 18 footers, and not just fishing boats) that would be a good start. This problem of too many brands, is all across the boating industry. There are only so many customers for a product that is a discretionary purchase, and you can only use part of the year (at least in most of the country)...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: What is the future of Glastron at Platinum Express?

They are a strong company and a survivor.

They have lost money every quarter except one since the second quarter of 2008.