Who has an update on parking lot activity at the factory??

Still plenty of room to park

Sorry I couldn't resist.

I don't think there's been any change.

I heard Bankrupt as of today, deal must have feel through, what a sad day they make great boats , I hope this isn't true.

Even if they don't reopen - I bet those molds show up somewhere.

It will really be too sad if they can't sell the brand and have someone else start making the boats.

Rich, you may have to find another brand of boat to buy

I guess a lot has changed since this article in the local newspaper dated 2004.

Turnaround buoys local boat builders

By ROBERT GOLD

The rebound in the boat industry has left its mark in Holland.
"We have no complaints," said Tiara Yachts spokesman Rob Everse.

The Holland-based yacht builder hired 100 workers in November and is on pace for sales to improve 30 percent in its current fiscal year, which ends July 31.

With 650 workers in Holland, the company now has its largest staff since it formed in 1974, Everse said.

Everse said an improving economy, combined with adding new models, has helped Tiara improve. Sales at some boat shows last year doubled and tripled, company officials have said.

Tiara Yachts builds luxury boats that sell for $120,000 to $1.172 million.

Holland-based PowerQuest Boats Inc. has seen improved interest at boat shows this winter, said Mandi Brower, the company's marketing manager.

"Things are definitely improving," Brower said, speaking from a St. Louis trade show last week. "I can just tell there is a lot more general public interest."

PowerQuest boats, which range from 22 to 38 feet long, cost between $35,000 and $260,000.

Brower said boat buyers often get new vessels every two or three years. Many customers have held off from upgrading, but now are looking to replace their four-year- old boats, she said.

Mark Winia, director of sales for Michigan Boat House, a new PowerQuest dealer that operates out of the boat maker's facility on 112th Avenue, said the dealership will attend its first boat show Feb. 18 in Grand Rapids.

"They are ready to go right now," Winia said about customers.

Winia, who worked at PowerQuest before Michigan Boat House opened, said customers have changed in the past few years. Gone are many of the impulse buys.

"We see a really informed buyer. It's really treated with an investment. We are dealing with a different buyer," he said.


Click here to return to story:
http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/0...20804061.shtml

With the Holidays fast approaching, I wouldn't count them out just yet. Maybe after the first of the year a plow will show up to clear the parking lot.

Maybe, but it will not be a good sales season for them. Even if they had a boat or two - they won't have any floor space at the shows.

I still keep wondering if the buyers might reopen somewhere else in the country.

Sounds like the buyer may have infact walked. Not good but not the end of the world. Lets face it Powerquest builds one heck of a nice boat for the $$$. It's not a name thats just going to disappear. I'll bet before we know it there will be another buyer in place and things will get back to normal. Unfortunately with the delay the loss of employees is unavoidable, which is sad.

But on another note? Say they don't re-open and the company is parted out (not likely). What happens to the value of PQ boats?? It's still a great boat and other than the hull everything else is merc or other manufacture branded parts. And yes we lose the hull warranty. If you were in the market for a used boat and say you were looking at a 29 baja v.s a 29 PQ, would the fact that PQ is gone have a bearing on which boat you bought? And if so would it simply be a matter of dollars or will the quality be an issue ???

Just a thought???

I count on the manufacturer for exactly "zero" support on a used boat; anything above that is simply gravy.

If you look at most hull warrantees, they are not transferable. Therefore, useless.