Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/765201
INDUSTRY NEWS www.BoatingIndustry.com January 2017 | Boating Industry | 13 David Parker congratulates his 35 clients in Boating Industry's 2016 Top 100 Dealers We also congratulate our clients who received: DAVID PARKER Parker Business Planning, Inc. Twenty Groups & Consulting 309 Cherokee Drive Orlando, FL 32801 407-843-8808 david@parkerbusinessplanning.com www.parkerbusinessplanning.com DEALER OF THE YEAR OneWater Marine Holdings BEST SERVICE DEPARTMENT South Shore Marine BEST BOAT SHOW STRATEGY Candlewood East Marina Action Water Sports Angler's Choice Marine Atwood Lake Boats, Inc. Boat Town, Inc. Buckeye Sports Center, Inc. Candlewood East Marina Charlotte Ski Boats Chessie Marine Sales, Inc. Cleveland Boat Center Dockside Marine Dry Dock Marine Center Futrell Marine Hagadone Marine Group Lake Viking Marine Marine Sales Inc. Mark's Marine Inc. Off Shore Marine, Inc. OneWater Marine Holdings Parks Marina, Inc. Rayburns Marine Redline Watersports Regal & Nautique of Orlando Seattle Boat Company Skier's Marine Inc. Slalom Shop Boats and Yachts South Florida Mastercraft South Shore Marine Starboard Marinas / The Harbor Strong's Marine Superior Boat Repair & Sales Texas Marine The Boat House The Boat Shop The Great Outdoors Marine WakeSide Marine Larson closing Minnesota plant, ending Triumph production After more than 100 years in Minnesota, Larson Boat Group will be closing its plant there in 2017. The company will be shutting down pro- duction at its Little Falls, Minn., facility and con- solidating production at its Pulaksi, Wis., plant early next year. As part of the move, the com- pany will also cease production of its Triumph boats. It intends to continue producing its other boat lines, including Larson and Striper. Larson Boats was founded by Paul Larson in Little Falls in 1913. "After months of analysis, financial review and personal agony we must close our Little Falls operation and facility after more than 100 years of boat building accolades and achievements," CEO Rob Parmentier said in a statement. Parmentier said that the move "is due to external, global economic influences includ- ing adverse economic dynamics and shifting changes within the marine market that require us to consolidate our company's operations and footprint with our sister organization in Pulaski, Wis., to continue to be competitive in our ever-changing industry." The plant currently employs 141 people and Parmentier said that the company is of- fering jobs to all affected Little Falls workers at the Pulaski plant. "Although we are shutting down Larson Boat Group in Little Falls, we are actively discussing win-win solutions for our employ- ees," Parmentier said. "We are currently dis- cussing the sale of the property with a large multi-national manufacturer that very much could offer our employees jobs." The new potential owner of the plant is not a boat builder, according to local officials. In 2009, Larson was part of the Genmar bankruptcy. After being briefly owned by Platinum Equity, Larson was acquired by former Genmar Chairman & CEO Irwin L. Jacobs' J&D Acquisitions in 2010. Rob Par- mentier joined the company as CEO in 2013. Malibu licenses technology to Tigé Malibu Boats has licensed its wakesurfing patent portfolio to Tigé Boats. Tigé will use its license to continue equipping its product line with its existing wakesurf offerings, but will not be offering Surf Gate or the Surf Gate brand. "We are pleased that Tigé has recognized the strength of our intellectual property and agreed to sign a license and forego poten- tial litigation," said Malibu Boats CEO Jack Springer. "Respecting intellectual property rights helps encourage strong innovation in our segment and helps grow watersports for all of our loyal customers. "I want to commend Tigé for acting hon- orably and quickly, once we contacted them, to acknowledge the breadth and value of Malibu's extensive intellectual property for wake surfing. This allows both of our com- panies to focus on delivering boats and inno- vations to our customers," he added.