Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/626951
PWC More products offered for recreational PWC riders, motorcyclists BY LIZ KEENER MANAGING EDITOR Walking through the Hydro-Turf factory offers an eye-opening look at the most well-known seat cover and traction mat producer in the personal watercraft market. Crates outside the Anaheim headquarters are full of Hydro-Turf's material, waiting to be formed into seat covers and mats, while inside fewer than 30 employ- ees are hard at work shaping foam and uphol- stering seat covers for their latest customers. Arno Olbricht, president of Hydro-Turf, has managed to keep all man- ufacturing in the U.S. for his company, which serves as both an OEM supplier and an aftermarket player, while also growing the product line. Customers have turned to Hydro-Turf for 25 years, as the company has become a household name on the PWC circuit. But as trends change, so has the company. "We're definitely mov- ing away from a race-ori- ented (PWC) industry and continue to grow the rec- reational market, so we're catering more toward that recreational rider and improving the appearance and products that are on the OEM watercraft," Olbricht told Powersports Business during a factory visit. While Hydro-Turf's products still appeal to PWC racers, everyday PWC owners who are looking to personalize their watercraft or replace old, worn out seats or traction mats are turning to Hydro-Turf more frequently because of its reputation. "The racer is looking for something that's a little more aggressive. The recreational rider is looking for something to enhance the appear- ance of their watercraft, maybe differentiate it, customize it a little bit more on the stock ski," Olbricht explained. H y d r o - T u r f ' s h i g h - c a l i b e r p r o d u c t and craftsmanship are what have drawn in customers — and OEMs — for more than two decades. "Our products fit well. They look good. They're made with quality materials and qual- ity workmanship, and we stand behind our products. And it's been well received and very popular out there," Olbricht said. To appeal to everyone from those who want each panel a different, custom color, to those who just want a new Hydro-Turf seat to match their stock PWC color, Hydro-Turf offers more than two dozen options for its customers. "Some people don't have the vision to pick and choose the color for each panel on their seat, so they like to look at something and say, 'Give me that seat.' So that's why we've expanded our line of stock colorways to make that choice easier for some of the customers," Olbricht said. "It also makes it easier for the dealers to inventory those items as well." However, made-to-order seat covers are also available, allowing customers to choose the material and panel colors for their seats, as well as custom stitching and embroidery. As Hydro-Turf has expanded its PWC brand, it has also reached into other segments of the powersports and marine industries as well. "Hydro-Turf is still very active in the per- sonal watercraft market, but we've expanded into several other markets, including standup paddleboarding and more boating traction, certainly HT Moto with our motorcycle covers and seat pads." HT Moto was launched several years ago, offering Hydro-Turf seat covers and tank pads for on- and off-road motorcycles, as well as ATVs and side-by-sides. The sport bike market has quickly grown to become a large part of HT Moto's business. "We're doing really well in the sport bike market, especially sport bike freestyle, where we're well known for customizing the seats," Olbricht said. "We replace a majority of the foam in the seats. We do cutouts, buildups, and then make custom covers that are specifically for those applications. Riders like Jason Britton have been using our product for years and continue to stick with it." HT Moto already has patterns for a number of sport bikes, dirt bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides, but the company can also make custom covers as long as the staff has seat to measure a pattern for. "We do a lot of older cruis- ers as well, older bikes that we have to custom make patterns for," Olbricht said. "We can cer- tainly do that, along with foam modifications, and we do build- ups, shave downs, gel inserts. So it's all possible, if we have the seat here." PSB Hydro-Turf expands reach to new customers 24 • January 25, 2016 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com Hydro-Turf manufactures its seat covers and traction mats at its Anaheim, Calif., factory. PWC sales showed a 15 percent year-over- year increase in November, according to the latest Info-Link Bellwether Report. The Bellwether report tracks sales of PWC across the country based on new U.S. boat registrations on a rolling 12-month basis. Bellwether states are geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market (varies by market segment and time of year). NMMA: PWC REGISTRATIONS RISE IN Q3 The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports that new registrations of PWC were up 8.5 percent in Q3 com- pared to Q3 2014. On a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis, new registrations of PWC were up 8.8 percent. SEA-DOO GETTING ICE SCULPTURE IN MINNESOTA When the 2016 Progressive Insurance Min- neapolis Boat Show docks at the Minneapo- lis Convention Center Jan. 21-24, it'll be a perfect time to celebrate winter in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Sea-Doo will feature two life-sized PWC ice sculptures, carved in an unbelievably lifelike depiction using some of the most advanced technology available. Visitors to the show will be able to take unique "Boat- ies" next to the Sea-Doo Sparks outside Lobby C. PSB DIGEST Info-Link: November PWC sales continue growth For riders who want to customize their PWC, motorcycle, ATV or side- by-side seat covers, Hydro-Turf offers its products in more than two dozen colors. Sales of PWC continued to flourish late in 2015, with 15 percent growth in November year-over-year.