Brunswick buys Cabo Yachts

[administrator]

This announcement was made at the Miami show yesterday.

Brunswick Acquires Cabo Yachts

Brunswick Corp. has added another brand to its sportfishing lineup, announcing this morning it has acquired Cabo Yachts.



Brunswick says Cabo will join its Hatteras Collection, which already includes the Hatteras and Albemarle brands. Cabo, founded in 1991, builds offshore fishing boats in express and flybridge models in a range of 31 to 52 feet.



“Cabo nicely bridges the gap in our sportfishing lineup between Albemarle and Hatteras,” said Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy, in a statement. “The Cabo brand has a well-earned reputation for design, quality, performance and ‘fishability,’ all prized characteristics within the Brunswick Boat Group.”



The Hatteras Collection now includes a range of sportfishing convertibles and motoryachts running from 24 to 90 feet, McCoy said.



Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Brunswick says it includes Cabo’s production facility and headquarters in Adelanto, Calif., near Los Angeles.



“With Cabo, we will serve a broader range of sportfishing enthusiasts, and fill out some of the remaining ‘white space’ within our domestic product portfolio,” said McCoy.



“Cabo rounds out our lineup of offshore sportfishing products,” said Hatteras Collection president Bill Naumann. He said the range of that lineup “allows boaters to grow with the line as their expectations and resources evolve.”



Cabo’s 400 employees will remain at the Adelanto plant, Brunswick said. Cabo president Henry Mohrschladt will remain in that position and Mike Howard will continue as senior vice president and chief operating officer. Greg Bourque remains vice president of sales and marketing.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Well, there goes the small Hatteras I kept asking about...never happen now. For those of you who have never been on one: Cabos are very well-made yachts, the electrical wiring and plumbing are as good as anyone in the business, just beautifully done. And their glass work and finishing are just as good. The styling is not bad...if you like new boats.

 

[Genesis]

Yep.

The wild thing though is that I didn't think their 35 rode all that well. Surprisingly, the 31 IMHO is a better all-around boat! Certainly better in snotty conditions - no doubt there whatsoever.

The 35 is one they need to redesign IMHO - it needs less fullness forward in the hull. Yeah, that makes Momma not like it as much (can't fit all that "stuff" in there) but such is the price of a good ride.

Systems-level is top-drawer though - really the only boat I've been on in the last 5 years or so "new" in the sportfish arena that has systems thought out as well as - or maybe even better than - Hatteras.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I forgot to mention: Henry Mohrschladt and Co were the founders of Pacific Seacraft as well. PS builds the best small sailboats in the world- very seaworthy and incredibly durable, blue-water passagemakers. That company was sold as well, and continues in their first-rank position in the sailing world. If Henry isn't careful, he's going to end up rich one of these days

 

[Akyla]

Jim is correct, we will never see another small Hatteras now. But the Cabo boats are built really very well and have a great reputation in the sport fishing world. When I go to any of the shows and look around they are on the very short list of boats I would consider buying. Top quality components with excellent installation and finish, especially in the engine room.
Makes me think every time I get on board one - if I sold the Hatt... nope can't do that.

 

[hcalmar]

Maybe they will rename the Cabo and Albemarle line "Hatteras"!

 

[captddis]

don,t laugh there has already been speculation. Or they might call the Hatt convs Cabos. NOT