[QUOTE=Goooh;777299]This thread is whack, I think I see an askhole.
You know, ignorance is so bliss. I just love "street doctors" always telling people what they hear from person to person instead of really knowing.
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION USA COMPLETES PURCHASE OF SKEETER BOAT COMPANY
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announced it has completed its purchase of Skeeter Products, Inc., manufacturer of Skeeter fishing boats, based in Kilgore, Texas. Mike Shibuya, Yamaha's President, said January 31 is the effective date of the purchase.
A leading manufacturer of outboard-powered fiberglass Bass, Walleye and bay fishing boats, Skeeter is known as the pioneer of bass boats, which it first produced in 1948. Skeeter boats are sold through a national network of retail marine dealerships. Skeeter was part of Meridian Sports, Inc., a corporation which also owns other recreation- oriented companies. Yamaha plans to continue with Skeeter's current marketing direction, with only minor changes.
Skeeter President Rusty Kelley said the reaction about Yamaha with Skeeter employees was very enthusiastic and that all were excited about Yamaha coming into the bass boat market. Kelley said, "Yamaha's purchase signaled a positive change for Skeeter in the bass boat market.
"Things just keep getting better at Skeeter. We've had excellent growth the past few years, and now with Yamaha behind us, it will not only help sustain our growth, but add to our leadership reputation. We view Yamaha as the Cadillac of the industry in quality, and that's our segment of the market as well. The Skeeter-Yamaha combination is going to be the bass boat leader.
"Long term, Yamaha gives Skeeter the foundation to do some of the things we've wanted to do that we couldn't do before and take advantage of technology that's now available to us through them.
"Skeeter has an excellent reputation for quality products and is one of the standards in the fishing boat market," said Shibuya. "We are enthusiastic about the purchase, and we think it's a good match for the customer. Over the years, Skeeter has kept up its solid position with anglers by offering the right mix of boats in existing and emerging markets. Its innovations have proven themselves on the water where it counts."
"Acquiring Skeeter gives Yamaha an additional opportunity to provide dealers and their customers with a high quality bass boat and motor combination," said Phil Dyskow, Vice President, Yamaha Marine Group. He noted that Yamaha is committed to staying competitive in the important fiberglass fishing boat market.
"The marine industry has changed since our outboard introduction in 1983," said Dyskow, referring to the trend in factory-rigged boats and motors. Yamaha sees the purchase of Skeeter as an opportunity to continue as a major presence in this popular market.
In addition, Yamaha owns two other boat companies, Century Boats, in Panama City, Fla., and the Cobia Boat Company, based in Vonore, Tenn. The company also recently introduced the Exciter, a 17' twin-engine jet boat, which is produced at the Vonore facility.
Yamaha offers a full line of 108 different outboard models from 2 to 250hp, through a network of authorized marine dealers and is an OEM supplier to more than 60 boat manufacturers. "Our OEM business will continue as we always have, by providing boat builders with the finest outboard motors on the market," he concluded. Dyskow said that the OEM business is a significant portion of Yamaha Marine's overall sales, and that each builder is important to them. -0- 2/1/96
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Color transparencies or black & white photography of a Skeeter Boat with Yamaha Outboard is available. Please call if you would like one for use with this story or for your files./
/CONTACT: Mike Walker of the Walker Agency, 800-248-9687/
CO: Yamaha Motor Corp.; Skeeter Boat Co. ST: California IN: SU:
TT-KL -- LATH030 -- 3878 02/01/96 08:31 EST
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