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posted to rec.boats
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,557
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Another quality boat manufacturer sells out.
HK wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
wrote:
On Nov 4, 7:30 am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
On Nov 3, 4:29?pm, HK wrote:
Just read that Albemarle was bought out by Brunswick. Another
famous
line goes in the crapper. Cabo was sold last year. Sad to see the
independents disappearing, since they build the best boats.
Where have you been, Harry?
Brunswick has owned Albermarle for quite while now. Basically, they
are built by the same group that makes Hatteras. Many of the upper
tier
trademarks built by Brunswick are pretty darn good boats.
I'm sure they were better boats when the companies that built them
were
independent. The newest model Albemarle, for example, is wider and
with
less deadrise than the model it will be replacing. That's corporate
conglomerate think for you...take a line of fishing boats and turn
them
into something less.
People often think that just because something is made by small
independents that it automatically means better craftmanship and
quality, but that just isn't always true. Larger companies have money
to use for R&D and testing, plus the tools to ensure quality control.
Of course you are correct. I personally would hate to pay for a one
off car. After watching American Hotrod, I would seriously
question the quality of some of these smaller builders. I would
assume it is very similar in with small boat builders.
I wouldn't buy a motorcycle from any of the televised "chopper" show
shops, because it is obvious that the builders are not overly
concerned with the vagaries of metallurgy. Small boat building among
the quality builders is an entirely different proposition; the
"flashboat" builders may change everything every year, but the
quality builders do not.
Parker has been building hulls for a long, long time. Most of the
hulls are very similar in design, no matter their length, and so are
the materials, though "thickness" varies. Same with hardware. Same
with assembly. Next year, Parker will introduce a 34-footer with twin
350-hp Yamahas. I suspect the boat will be very competent.
I don't think I have seen a Parker on my little body of water, but
Grady Whites are very common. While I would not consider them a small
boat builder, they are not part of a conglomerate. On the lake, they
have clubs who will haul their boats to the ocean for group fishing
tournaments.
By the same token, there are many conglomerate car mfg'ers including
BMW and Lexus who have managed to build a car to the masses and keep
quality at a very high level.
Gradys are great boats, very similar in construction if not in looks to
Parkers. I'd buy one, but they are just "too fancy" for my style of
feeeeshing. I have no idea why Gradys would be big sellers on Lake
Lanier or any other small inland lake.
i don't think many people who boat exclusively on Lake Lanier would buy
a Grady, but there are many people who boat on Lake Lanier who will
regularly trailer their boats 4 hours to the Georgia or SC coast.
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