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Brunswick Corporation parent co. of Mercury Marine is liquidating capitol and making huge labor cuts. Wall Street rumors swirl that the company is about to go under. Evidenced by the closing of a multitude of Sea Ray Plants and liquidadation of several other Brunswick owned boat company's rumors appear to be true.
Pat Makey CEO of Mercury Bailed last month when he realized Merury was loosing altitude fast and the crash was inevitable. Back to Ireland he cried!
It would appear that Supercharged engines in a $4 to $5 dollar gas economy just wasn't the the hot idea.
After all "Wouldn't you really want to drive a Yamaha).
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Brunswick Corporation parent co. of Mercury Marine is liquidating capitol and making huge labor cuts. Wall Street rumors swirl that the company is about to go under. Evidenced by the closing of a multitude of Sea Ray Plants and liquidadation of several other Brunswick owned boat company's rumors appear to be true.
Pat Makey CEO of Mercury Bailed last month when he realized Merury was loosing altitude fast and the crash was inevitable. Back to Ireland he cried!
It would appear that Supercharged engines in a $4 to $5 dollar gas economy just wasn't the the hot idea.
After all "Wouldn't you really want to drive a Yamaha).
I had not heard this rumor before....thanks for the head's up. The only rumor I heard recently involved some former Merc Marine janitor getting fired for having sex with a Verado cowling. They said the broom jockey was caught in a storage room, he was greased down with Opti Lube and was observed pounding the cowling like there was no tomorrow. Are you this guy?
Location: Hueytown, Al, hopefully Foley Al someday,,
Posts: 1,027
Re: Mercury Marine Closing Doors?
Hey, ever thought of a hybrid outboard for these enviromental tree hugger wackos ? Think about it,, 500 lbs of batteries producing 20HP pushing your 20+' CC around in the ocean ?
__________________ Sea Pro SV1900 Yamaha 115HP 2 Stroke Death & life are set before us,,Choose Life !!
While this post might be BS today, I think that the boating industry in general is in for a serious correction over the next year or two. Too many things converging at once.
High fuel costs, sinking economy, higher boat/ motor prices, marina slip costs... etc., etc., etc............ the toys are always the first thing to go.
My wife wants to know why I can't go to Stop & Shop and buy my tuna...........now that's not funny dear..........!!!!!
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Mercury Marine announced Wednesday that approximately 50 salaried employees had been laid off, including five in Stillwater.
While the 69-year-old company has approximately 7,000 employees worldwide, and about half of those are in the United States, more than 1,000 employees call the Stillwater branch home. Of the 50 released on Wednesday, “only about five were from Stillwater,” said Steve Fleming, director of communications for Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac, Wis.
“In response to reduced demand for product resulting from a struggling U.S. economy and a weak boat-and-engine market, Mercury Marine took the difficult but necessary step today of reducing its salaried workforce by approximately 50 individuals,” said Fleming. “Mercury and its parent company, Brunswick Corp., make such changes only after much deliberation determines them to be absolutely necessary, and will continue to monitor market conditions and to consider best operating methods in an evolving marine industry.”
Fleming said that Mercury Marine goes through staffing changes about every four or five years. However, the most recent changes were made in November 2006, when more than 100 positions were eliminated.
“Like any manufacturing company, we find that it’s not unusual to go through periods where we have to adjust our staffing,” Fleming said.
While the loss of a job is a huge blow to former MerCruiser employees, Fleming said they are taken care of.
“They aren’t just told to leave and good luck,” he said.
Those laid off are offered a “generous severance package” as well as the use of a company hired to find them a new job. While searching for a job, no matter how long it takes, the ex-employees are eligible for unemployment, he said. .
My bad, I got the story wrong......apparently the storage room escapade took place, only the roles were reversed. With that said, who can blame him for saying "Wouldn't you really want to drive a Yamaha" after he has been ridden by a Verado.
I'm starting to feel like Florida Dan with all of these FACTS:
The ChattanooganLayoffs at Mercury Marine
posted April 4, 2008
Mercury Marine laid off fifty salaried employees on Wednesday, further feeding fears that the boating industry’s troubles are far from over. It’s only a three percent reduction in the approximately 7,000 worker force, but another sign that boats are feeling the pinch of an economy that is reeling from high fuel prices, market uncertainties and a general concern over the upcoming presidential election.
Mercury Vice President of human resources Dennis Rooney told the Fond du Lac Reporter the choices were “difficult, but necessary.” Those cuts, Rooney said, were permanent and across the salaried positions board, from office workers to managers and directors.
Officials for Mercury have continually said 2008 was looking like it would be a very tough year for the company – and the entire industry. They’ve not ruled out further cuts if the economic situation doesn’t turn around. Additionally, the company has made other belt-tightening moves, including putting the Mercury corporate jet and hangar in Fond du Lac up for sale and not replacing Mercury Marine President Pat Mackey when he retired in February.
A Brunswick subsidiary, Mercury’s not the only boat unit causing the parent company headaches. Bucyrus, Ohio- based Baja boats will cease operation in the end of May, putting 285 people out of work there. The company has announced plans to sell the Baja line to Fountain Powerboat Industries of Washington, North Carolina.
In the meantime, Brunswick officials deny any plans to “sell, shut down or move Mercury Marine,” saying this week’s layoffs, along with early retirements and a decision not to fill vacant positions are the limit of cutbacks at this point.
There are still other challenges on the Mercury horizon. On June 21, the contract with 1,600 union workers will expire. The union has suspended contract negotiations an workers are set to meet April 12 to vote on a strike authorization.
Information from Brunswick financial information shows a decline of boat sales in 2007 of approximately ten percent. It would seem the company expects that trend to continue in 2008.
As the boating industry seems to be preparing for continuing lean times, we’re also hearing one of the nation’s major chain stores may be evaluating their entire line of outdoor equipment. Sources say that fishing, hunting and other outdoor sports may become seasonal items with Wal-Mart as that company continues attempts to contemporize their stores and product lines. Should that happen, it could definitely impact fishing gear manufacturers
Mercury Marine Closing Doors? 
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