The new Baja's are comming...
08-06-2008, 08:50 PM
#71
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08-06-2008, 09:14 PM
#72
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So he didnt have the option of leaving the plant open in Bucyrus so we could all keep our jobs? Yes, he did have that option and even mentioned it publicly when he knew from the start that it would all be moved to NC.
08-06-2008, 10:41 PM
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Brunswick has done a lot wrong, but they did NOT close down Baja Ohio...
Remember, it was Brunswick /Mercury Marine that bailed Reggies butt out a few years back; and selling/pawning off Baja to him allowed Reggie to increase the value of his company and not default on loans, etc.
Now destroying a perfectly good Skater 399 mold/hull, now Im still waiting to hear the details on that madness...
Last edited by Tristar Racing; 08-06-2008 at 10:49 PM.
08-06-2008, 11:35 PM
#75
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Editor of Powerboat magazine (Gregg Mansfield) is off to NC tomorrow to get a detailed look at the newest Baja off the line and to interview Reggie. Should be a good read.
08-07-2008, 09:33 AM
#76
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At least the jobs stayed in the US, my companies goal is to transfer 50% of our engineering to China and India in the next 3 to 5 years.
Greed sucks.
Did anyone get an offer to move to NC?
Greed sucks.
Did anyone get an offer to move to NC?
08-07-2008, 10:24 AM
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Keep in mind Fountain has also pulled the Baja line from a number of "Baja" dealerships, because they either dont sell Fountain or they sell a major competing brand to Fountain. Everyone can try to glorify Reggie all they want, I dont buy it. Ill save my comments for a few years down the road when this all plays out.
08-07-2008, 11:07 AM
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I'm not a huge Reggie or Rountain fan, nor really a huge Baja fan either, so this is a pretty "unbiased" opinion.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
08-07-2008, 12:58 PM
#79
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I'm not a huge Reggie or Rountain fan, nor really a huge Baja fan either, so this is a pretty "unbiased" opinion.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
Well stated!
08-07-2008, 07:02 PM
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I'm not a huge Reggie or Rountain fan, nor really a huge Baja fan either, so this is a pretty "unbiased" opinion.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
My understanding is that Fountain owed Mercury/Brunswick considerable liabilities. Meanwhile, Baja was a money loser for them with negative cashflows and little sign of changing. They then agreed to "sell" it to Fountain for basically nothing in exchange for reducing some of Fountains liabilities to them.
Therefore, Fountain was basically told to take Baja, and he's trying to make the best of it.
The fact it was not making money at all currently, means that to continue to produce in Ohio would be foolish, to basically expect a better return with the same operation. The only way to save Baja and try and return it to profitability is to maximize economies of scale. This means one factory, mostly redundant employees, etc.
To continue operating Baja as it had been would have put both under.
Just my opinion looking at the outside of this deal, and I clearly could be very wrong. I hope both can recover and grow, but that is definitely a challenge in this economy.
