The Brunswick Boat Group (BBG) announced today that it has acquired Tiara Yacht’s Swansboro boat plant in Swansboro, N.C. Hatteras Yachts, a Brunswick Boat Group unit that makes sportfishing convertibles and motoryachts from 50 to 100 feet, will use the 165,000-square-foot facility to expand its manufacturing capacity. Hatteras is based in nearby New Bern, N.C.
“We have an immediate need for additional manufacturing capacity to support the growth of our Hatteras brand and this facility is ideally suited for that purpose,” explained Dustan E. McCoy, president of the Brunswick Boat Group. “We were especially attracted to the access to deep water that the site provides, the availability of a skilled and trained workforce, and the proximity to our existing Hatteras plant.”
The Hatteras brand continues to experience strong demand for its sportfishing convertible and motoryacht models, according to William C. Naumann, president of the Hatteras Group, which also includes Albemarle Boats in Edenton, N.C.
“Though there will be some transition as we prepare the Swansboro facility for Hatteras production, we will immediately seek ways to utilize this new resource to support our growth. We will begin to familiarize the employees with Hatteras systems and procedures, while we gear up the facility for full production in 2006.”
“Beyond the immediate benefits of this transaction, the site also provides us with more than sufficient acreage and space for expansion should that be warranted as we evaluate our future boat manufacturing footprint requirements,” McCoy added.
Brunswick Boat Group
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., the Brunswick Boat Group is the largest maker of pleasure boats in the world, with 2004 net sales of $2.3 billion. The Boat Group makes Albemarle, Baja, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, HarrisKayot, Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Palmetto, Princecraft, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton and Trophy boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; and Land ‘N’ Sea and Kellogg Marine parts and accessories distributor.
