Cruiser Yachts bought Carver Marquis facilities ?

Carpediem44DB

Carpediem44DB

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2015
3,230
Sanfransico Bay area
Boat Info
2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
Engines
Volvo TAMD 74 P
Any of you Wisconsin folks hear news about the Cruiser/Carver deal? There is some chatter on the Carver site but more speculation than actual first hand knowledge and facts. Word has it that Cruisers bought the Carver and Marquis facilities but not the Carver company. Questions about whether or not Carver will still be in business.
Carpe Diem
 
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b_arrington said:
Yep, sure was a good time for Sea Ray to drop their larger boats.
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Why do you say that? It seems Cruisers is thriving in that segment, why couldn't a well-run, product focused, Sea Ray have done the same thing if there seems to be a market for those sized/priced boats?

It seems the death of Sea Ray was a design philosophy that wasn't welcomed by the public or their established owner base, and their move to ultra high end yachts that were extremely low volume and competed head to head with some of the established well-trusted brands already in that market and price point.
 
copb8tx said:
Why do you say that? It seems Cruisers is thriving in that segment, why couldn't a well-run, product focused, Sea Ray have done the same thing if there seems to be a market for those sized/priced boats?

It seems the death of Sea Ray was a design philosophy that wasn't welcomed by the public or their established owner base, and their move to ultra high end yachts that were extremely low volume and competed head to head with some of the established well-trusted brands already in that market and price point.
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Sorry, I guess my sarcasm didn’t come through. Sea Ray owned the market and had great designs. As soon as they left, competitors swooped in and filled the gap in a big way - and now the market is roaring.
 
So the question remains, is Carver and Marquis still going to be making boats? If the market is good enough for Cruisers to be expanding one would think existing yacht builders would be thriving as well, Carver seems to be holding their cards close as there has been no news from them as to the future of the lines.
 
I
Carpediem44DB said:
So the question remains, is Carver and Marquis still going to be making boats? If the market is good enough for Cruisers to be expanding one would think existing yacht builders would be thriving as well, Carver seems to be holding their cards close as there has been no news from them as to the future of the lines.
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I have a very good Friend who has worked at Cruisers for over 30 years. The word on the street is that Carver and Marquis are not making boats anymore. Cruisers has pretty much taken over that facility and are in the process of destroying the Carver molds.

Sad to see another US manufacture stop making the "BIG" boats.
 
Kind of a Bummer having just purchased a Carver but truthfully I don’t foresee needing factory support anyway for a 21 year old boat. Sucks for the folks that recently bought boats though
 
This is interesting to view in light of the information in this post.

"News reports that Marquis Yachts in Pulaski, Wisc., may shut down indefinitely are incorrect, says a source close to the company."

"WHBY.com reported that the builder of the Marquis, Carver and Lexus brands may shut down until a buyer is found. The news reports refer to a press release issued by the state saying that a workforce reduction of more than 300 employees is expected to take place on March 1, 2020 unless a sale is finalized by the end of February. A letter was written by Marquis officials in December saying it had to notify the state of Wisconsin about possible layoffs under the WARN and WBCML Acts, said the source."

"Carver-Marquis Yachts was owned by Irwin L. Jacobs, formerly chairman of Genmar, who died in a murder-suicide with his wife on April 10, 2019."

"In January 2019, the company sold its Larson brands to Polaris."

"Following Jacobs’ death, his boat businesses were placed in a trust under the control of Jacobs’ children, who opted to sell them and other unrelated businesses."

https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/manufacturers/marquis-to-remain-open
 
Didn’t the president of Sea Ray leave when sea Ray was struggling and go to Carver as president .....now they are on the rocks
 
Damn. Had no idea Jacobs went out that way. Very interesting though that Cruisers and Regal seem to be going after the bigger boats and sell them as fast as they can make them. Four Winns went the way of Sea Ray, got rid of the timeless, good looking cruisers and now only has one model, a 35' and a ton of sport boats...
 
According to a prolific poster on the Carver forum that is a close friend of the buyer, They will be retaining the current employees but dis-continuing production of Carver and Marquis yachts. Supposedly he is a standup guy that will ensure that the Carver customer support program will remain intact with the obvious aim at maintaining a reputation of trust in the owner community. Time will tell. The new owner purchased Cruisers in 1994 in order to save the company and preserve the workforce in the area and it has paid off well for Cruisers. Lets just hope his efforts will continue to add quality to the industry.
Carpe Diem
 
andy k said:
I


I have a very good Friend who has worked at Cruisers for over 30 years. The word on the street is that Carver and Marquis are not making boats anymore. Cruisers has pretty much taken over that facility and are in the process of destroying the Carver molds.

Sad to see another US manufacture stop making the "BIG" boats.
Click to expand...
WHY would you destroy molds? WHY? Store them in mom’s basement.
 
firecadet613 said:
Damn. Had no idea Jacobs went out that way. Very interesting though that Cruisers and Regal seem to be going after the bigger boats and sell them as fast as they can make them. Four Winns went the way of Sea Ray, got rid of the timeless, good looking cruisers and now only has one model, a 35' and a ton of sport boats...
Click to expand...
Will say again, SR has lost it. All bow riders, nice lake boats on calm day. Otherwise useless boats.
 
Once the political climate catch's up would you want to be producing big boats?
Glad I am not.
 
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