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Another quality boat manufacturer sells out.
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. |
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