Except for the job loss, this is hysterical. Florida is not a high-wage
state. I guess the good folks in Tennessee are now competing with the
Chinese.






Genmar exits Florida, citing economic conditions

The high cost of doing business in Florida is driving out one of the
industry’s biggest players. Genmar Holdings today announced plans to
phase out its manufacturing operations in Sarasota in the next six months.

“Unfortunately, negative manufacturing economic conditions in Florida
and the state of Florida’s complete lack of interest in attempting to
save these jobs has left Genmar with no other choice than to move such
operations out of the state of Florida,” said Genmar chairman and CEO
Irwin Jacobs in a statement.

He said Genmar, “has diligently attempted to preserve its manufacturing
presence in the state of Florida, but it is just too costly compared to
the other states where Genmar has existing manufacturing operations.”

Product models larger than 25 feet in length for its various sal****er
boat brands will relocate out of Sarasota and transfer to other Genmar
plants throughout the United States. The change involves three of the
company’s 14 boat brands: Hydra-Sport, Wellcraft and Seaswirl. These
three brands manufacture a total of 58 models; 19 of them will be
affected by the move.

Today, 67 percent of Hydra-Sports’ models are manufactured in
Murfreesboro, Tenn.; 52 percent of Wellcraft’s models are manufactured
in Cadillac, Mich.; and 75 percent of Seaswirl’s models are manufactured
in Little Falls, Minn.

About 225 employees will be affected by this transition. However, Genmar
says its Sarasota employees will earn special incentives during the
six-month transitional period. Also, to the extent possible, Genmar’s
other plants will offer jobs to several Sarasota employees affected by
the shut-down.

Genmar says it will continue to retain “a solid and experienced core
group” of boat designers, tool builders and other product development
personnel, along with its brand sales, customer service and management
in Florida, particularly in light of its proximity to this key boating
market.

“While the above decisions and changes have been very difficult to make,
the opportunities created for the affected Genmar’s brands and its other
facilities are very significant,” said Jacobs.

“We recognize we are entering the beginning of the annual retail boat
show selling season and all of our dealers can be assured that
supporting them with sales, marketing and product are our first
priorities,” Jacobs continued. “The transition referenced above has been
carefully planned for a prudent and seamless transition as it relates to
our dealers, their customers and our entire organization.”

Genmar, with about 4,000 employees and eight manufacturing centers,
builds 14 brands of recreational boats. These include Carver, Champion,
Four Winns, Glastron, Hydra-Sports, Larson, Marquis, Ranger, Scarab,
Seaswirl, Stratos, Triumph, Wellcraft and Windsor Craft.