Wind Down of Rinker Brand
jmillerrinkerboats
Member Posts: 52 admin
A note from our Polaris Boats President, Jake Vogel:
"Today we publicly announced that we will wind down the Polaris Boats Syracuse Facility and the Rinker Boats brand.
I know this news will be a surprise to many of you. As you can imagine, this was a very difficult decision as we had exciting plans to build on the legacy of the Rinker brand which you are a part of. However, due to expected future demand, particularly given the current economic outlook, and the significant investment needed for these efforts we have decided to hold on these investments.
Please rest assured that Polaris Boats is strongly committed to supporting you. We will continue to honor Rinker warranties and we will continue to supply parts. Polaris Boats is a partner with our dealers, and we won't walk away from the people and customers who have helped grow these businesses.
Please know that the Polaris Boats resources, creativity and efforts will be focused on the growth and performance of our Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane brands, to which we remain deeply committed, If you have not explored these brands, we encourage you to do so as there are many great products and innovative features available from these brands.
I would like to express my appreciation to all our Rinker customers. We hope you will continue to be Polaris Boats customers in the future!
Best Regards,
Jake Vogel
President Polaris Boats"
It has truly been our honor to help you have unlimited family fun, explore new waters, and experience pure boating. We believe the adventure lives on.
Official Press Release: https://www.polaris.com/en-us/news/company/polaris-to-discontinue-production-of-rinker-striper-larson-fx-boats/
Comments
Rinker has been such a fantastic brand for so many of us! Thank you Rinker for all the good years!!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Go Steelers!!!
Last line very telling. I am a member of Mariah Owners club forum that is member run for a brand no longer in business and it is not pretty. 5years ago it was an active and informative site. now just about abandoned. Hope Ray was wrong
1. Its really disappointing to hear this news as after a little research I heard that Polaris only purchased the Rinker brand a few years back, and so it certainly feels like they were not 100% committed to maintaining and driving the brand forward. Maybe it was struggling, however I find it hard to believe that "The current economic environment" ie Covid19 was the final straw to break the back of their commitment. It definitely feels as though this is a good excuse and reason to close down the brand without losing too much respect in the market place.
2. In the UK our government are actively supporting businesses, both through financial support and stimulus to ensure jobs aren't lost. I hear that over 120 jobs will be lost in Syracuse which again is really sad and disappointing...yet again its the blue collar workers that are impacted the most. These are skilled engineers!!
3. For some reason the cost of boating seems to have spiralled these last few years, everything connected with marine seems to have massively increased in price...and you have to ask yourself why!...are the products that much different? do they really need to be that much more expensive? The outcome of all these increased prices could well be that boating becomes only for the wealthy, and that the average family will no longer be able to justify the spend....is this really the outcome anybody would want!
4. I have already mentioned I'm a UK Rinker owner, but as for getting parts, WOW!!, the cost is horrendous when you factor in shipping and the additional import Trump tax of 25%. The UK Pound is a hard earned Pound, we pay enough tax already so if the US administration aren't careful the UK £ will not be buying US goods. There are plenty of alternatives out there.
Rant over, not wishing to offend anyone, my Rinker is great and have made some new friends by joining this Rinker forum.... this is a sad day for us Rinker enthusiasts!!!
On a different note, I believe that closing the entire brand was a mistake. They could just keep the brand going with a few of their best selling vessels and reduce volume, while at the same time using the rest of the factory for some other function. I foresee that America will start building more things in the future, certainly a good thing, and smart companies will use the investment approved by the Federal government to retool and prepare for the future. It's sad to see the Rinker brand go... and it's even more sad to hear that American workers will lose their jobs.
https://www.al.com/business/2015/01/heres_what_polaris_new_505-acr.html#incart_story_package
Big market now for people too lazy to walk in the woods. Lot too lazy to to own a boat.
All other aspects of the website give the impression they are/will be in business post-covid.