Polaris Buying Pontoon Maker

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maddogg

Member
Anyone hear any news on this. I saw it on Facebook but can't confirm. I'm kind of skeptical as they bailed on the PWC business a few years ago.
 
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scott_l

Member
people (yes I do as well) complain about the price of new sleds.............wait till they see the price of those pontoons. Ouch!!!!
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
We did a tour of the Lake Geneva shoreline on my rebuilt 1988 Lowe pontoon boat yesterday.
I have a clear understanding of where the money goes when the investors see fit to periodically drain the market.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
I’m not sure why Polaris wants to be in the boat biz but the pontoon party barge has been growing. Bennington has very good products but pricy and Rinker a middle of the road average boat while Hurricane construction is as old as dirt but popular layouts. Unfortunately recessions can take boat companies to the brink of bankruptcy 2008 wrecked the boating industry. This acquisition seems very risky to me for Polaris if the economy takes a downturn. I guess Polaris knows what they are doing but not a purchase I would have made too risky when considering their total product line is based on discretionary spending.
 
SledTL

SledTL

Active member
IMO if they touch the brands other than own them and let them be, things will not go well. I do find it interesting that the boats will have engines from their competitors (BRP, yamaha, etc). Enjoyed working there, but i'm weary about economy tanking again at any moment, and discretionary purchases are the first to go, maybe just my pessimistic side. Was big talk on the news stations here yesterday.
 
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slimcake

Well-known member
I just priced out the top of the line 26 footer and shes a cool 250,000 smackers.... I just gotta throw out that Textron bought Cat for 250 million. Polaris just spent 805 ma ma million dollars in cash to acquire this company. I think that speaks for itself!!
 
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Tracker

Guest
here boys....hot off the press

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bling

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military too

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all kinds of new goodies

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B

brad460

Member
I have noticed majority of the boats on the lakes these days are pontoon boats. 4-5 years ago it was a lot of bow riders- not anymore. I am guessing 70%+ pontoons.

Bennington is the Cadillac of boats, my good friend buys a new one every year with a Yamaha 150.

Anyways, I think this is a very good acquisition as long as the economy stays strong...
 
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Tracker

Guest
Polaris expects the acquisition to boost growth, since pontoon boat sales have experienced 11% compounded annual growth since 2010. The OEM’s sales increased to $1.3 billion in the 1Q18, with it’s largest segment, off-road vehicles/snowmobiles, growing to $833 million, according to an earnings call.

Additionally, 30% of Polaris customers own boats, leading to cross-selling opportunities.
 
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