BassPro Shutters Stratos Boats, Triton Next?

[Fishing Rhino]

6 hours ago, slonezp said:

A ski boat manufacturer bought them along with Yarcraft. The name escapes me.

 

Back to topic. Johnny can do what Johnny wants with Johnny's money. We as consumers don't have to buy from Johnny if we don't want to. Stratos and Triton have always taken a back seat to Ranger. There are other choices. Piggybacking on what @Fishing Rhino said, maybe overall sales are on the decline. Can you blame people for not purchasing bass boats? A 17ft-18ft glass boat rigged well will set someone back $40k and prices pushing $100k on the high end. It's insane. Young fishermen with young families simply can't afford it. Boats are not cars. They are not a necessity, only a want. I purchased a new boat in 2004 and sold it in 2013 for half of what I paid for it. That same model boat today is $10k more than it was new. There certainly isn't $10k of upgrades or technology added to the boat. I'm willing to bet the current hull design is similar or identical to the 2004 hull. 

@flyfisher Other companies have followed in Johnny's footsteps with "Nationally advertised pricing"  on their entry level models. I guess if it works for Johnny, it's worth a try. I don't care for the business model. I don't like to buy what someone wants to sell me. I like to buy what I like. 

 

Many years ago an old Yankee told me this.  If you want to make a living, do something people need.  If you want to get rich, do something people want.

[volzfan59]

Slonezp, It really depends on where your buying your Nitro/ Tracker. When I sold boats, I heard of some dealers and BPS stores that refused swap anything. It's crazy how many boats I sold to people for that reason alone. I once sold a Grizzly Sportsman to a guy that drove to us, FROM DETROIT, MI!!! All over a motor swap. How many dealers/ stores did this guy pass because they wouldn't swap a 25 h/p for a 40?

 

I'll say this up front, as far as the motor goes it's always cheaper to order your rig. They have to hang a motor on it. Bubba doesn't care if it's a 200 or a 300. At the BPS I work at, we've done motor swaps. You pay the difference in the motors and labor. As for trolling motors, electronics or power poles, they swap/ add them every day. Again, you pay the difference and labor. That would be the same at any dealer/ any brand.

 

While at work today, I spoke to someone in senior management. I am not at liberty to disclose his name or position, but I promise you, he knows. The Stratos part of "Peacock Choppa" post is true, they are going away. My friend has not heard the Triton part. Here's the rub, Stratos was going to be toast regardless if White River bought them or not. The people that previously owned Stratos had already planned on shuttering the brand.

[WRB]

What does Stratos and Triton have in common, Earl Benz started both companies and Johnny Morris may kill them both.

Tom

[rangerjockey]

I doubt Triton is going anywhere. The rumor mill in the area has it that Legend was purchased for the facility and that they Will move Triton there.

 

[Fishing Rhino]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

What does Stratos and Triton have in common, Earl Benz started both companies and Johnny Morris may kill them both.

Tom

Ahhhhhh, the obstetrician and the undertaker.

[slonezp]

The Triton "name" ain't going nowhere look at the photo gallery's and compare.

https://www.tritonboats.com/boat/557.aspx

https://www.trackerboats.com/boat/gallery.cfm?boat=4276

[Ohio Archer]

And the next name is.......Legend. That's the rumor.  Gone the way of the Dodo bird.

[volzfan59]

Again, the Stratos decision was made prior to the BPS/ White River purchase. I guess it could have been reversed, but why? Stratos is not the player in the industry that they once were. Assuming "Peacock Choppa" is being truthful, and I have no reason to doubt that he is, he is literally the first person I've heard in years say " I'm trying to buy a Stratos". When I sold boats, people would mention that they were looking at Ranger, Skeeter and Triton. Sometimes Ledgend, but never a Stratos and few Bass Cats. 

 

Sloanzp, Your right, looks like a Grizzly Sportsman with Triton decals. The name Triton is still active, ain't gone anywhere. If I remember correctly, Triton tin boats were never built by Triton to began with. They bought someone else out and slapped on Triton decals. Much like Ranger tin boats used to be built by Crestliner. 

 

But, to the bigger picture. To the victor goes the spoils. Sucks, I agree, but that's business, like when GM shuttered the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn and Hummer brands. Johnny's money, Johnny's playground. So far he's the one person making it in the outdoor game. Cabela's was loosing money head over heels, Gander couldn't stay open due to tick poor decision-making (we'll see how well Lemonis does with Gander Outdoors) and Sportsman Warehouse stock is dropping. Same with boats. If Ranger, Triton and Stratos were making tons of money, Sterling Capital probably would never have sold out. There is an argument to be made that they didn't really know what to do with what they had, lime ESPN buying B.A.S.S. Time will tell.

[slonezp]

I just left Cabelas. What's left of their non Johnny brand boats are on clearance.

[Further North]

On 11/22/2017 at 6:25 PM, Peacock Choppa said:

I have been trying to buy a new Stratos Boat and have been told no new orders are being taken. Only existing stock is available for sale. I was also told Triton will cease to exist next year. I figured BassPro would pull something like this after they acquired the companies. I feel they are under the impression people will purchase their Nitro brand if the competition is eliminated. Guess what, people buy Triton and Stratos for a reason. The reasons are usually A) They can't afford a Ranger B)They are faster than a Ranger C) They prefer the styling D) They do not want a Nitro due to poor finish quality and low resale value. 

Very bad move Mr. Johnny. For all your great business moves and the good you've done for the sport of bass fishing, this isn't one of them. Just sayin. 

This is great news for Pheonix, Skeeter and the up and coming Falcon brands. I know where my next boat purchase will be going and that's not to the mass produced schlock coming from a giant company that has bean counters making decisions that cost the good citizens of Murfreesboro their jobs.

I am curious what your source is.  I'd love to call them and follow up with some questions....

On 11/22/2017 at 9:29 PM, Peacock Choppa said:

TThe cash crunch of '08 was still being felt at those companies. I forget the name of the private equity group that owned them before Fishing Holdings bought them. Historically, these types of private equities buy with only one purpose in mind. That purpose is to sell the group for a profit. They have little interest in manufacturing above the maintaining status qou. 

...and often not even that.  They have been known - often - to slash personnel and other costs to make the bottom line look attractive to potential buyers who don't know due diligence from their...um...backside...

[Elkins45]

Why aren't there Japanese or South Korean bass boats invading the US market, as happened with the auto market? I know Yamaha is a big name in outboards, but if there's an Asian maker of hulls I'm unaware of them. Seems like there's a place for a KIA or Hyundai equivalent to sell you a nice 17' aluminum boat package for $8-$10K and totally kill the Tracker market share.

 

Bass boats crossing the Pacific in container ships...I wonder.

[Russ E]

On 11/25/2017 at 12:34 PM, slonezp said:

I just left Cabelas. What's left of their non Johnny brand boats are on clearance.

Kansas City Cabelas still has quite a few Lowes.

they also have Nitro and tracker boats.

still looks strange to see new Trackers and Nitros sitting next to Rangers on the same floor.