Bass Cat and Yar-Craft extend heritage with Correct Craft

[RickPierce]

Gentlemen,I was required to establish a long term contract and this is not a normal sale. We have one Correct Craft staff member in this week to establish everything to get the business functioning. CEO Bill Yeargin will be leaving today and he will not return for a few weeks and then it is for a board tour.

We operate Bass Cat and Yar-Craft every day from this point forwards with myself at the helm. We have no challenges in this decision and it make us secure for decades beyond. We have the same game plan, the same Owners Invitational, the same dealer meeting and we continue every day just as we have.

We are very excited about what we have achieved in this and we look forward to being stronger, offering more and doing a better job all the way around in the future.

Bass Cat holds 5 (five) JD Power and Associates awards for Customer Service and led the industry for 4 of those years setting JD Powers records, Correct Crafts largest subsidiary, Nautique, finished second to Bass Cat in those years and received 7 (seven) JD Power and Associates awards during every year of their segment. They have a similar understanding and have quality in mind. This is a great opportunity to secure Bass Cat and Yar-Craft with a heritage to grow on.

Thank you,

Rick Pierce

[Anonymous]

And Time Marches On!! A new chapter!!

[Phil Bangert]

Melba and I wish BassCat Boats along with CorrectCraft a future with nothing but the very best.

[Bass Cat Boats]

This is a portion of the the reason that the Pierce’s made the decision they did in the future of the company.

Good things to come and we hope you will read the information in the link which is recent.

Thank you,

BCB

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/forum … yees-serve

Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on 5:04 PM – Mar 27, 2015, edited 1 time in total.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Kevin Short’s take on it all this morning.

BCB

Despite the gloom and doom attitude of some when they heard news about the sale of Bass Cat Boats BCB to Correct Craft yesterday, it looks like the sun came up on a beautiful day.

Yes, it is certainly sad to see a proud family that has put every ounce of energy into a company for 44 years sell their prized possession, as the Pierce family has done. I can’t even imagine how hard that decision was for Ron, Jan, Rick, and Dee to make. Can’t even imagine.

I do know this; after long discussions with Rick the past few days, after meeting the CEO of Correct Craft yesterday, and after doing some innerwebz research on Correct Craft and the people involved in running that company, I’m not worried about a thing. In fact, this could be the best thing that has happened to the Bass Cat and Yar-Craft brands in many years. If nothing else, it will give both companies rock solid financial backing.

Have you ever priced a Nautique boat? Wow. These things ain’t cheap. $80,000 – 180,000. We’re not talking entry level, disposable boats here. These people are serious about building boats. They’re NOT into buying and selling companies. That’s a good thing.

Two key things to note in this deal; one, a condition of the sale was that Rick stayed on with a long term contract to run Bass Cat and Yar-Craft just as he has been. Correct Craft wasn’t doing the deal without Rick in charge. Two, RP now has time to focus on doing something he is pretty darn good at – designing and building boats.

I’m pretty damn excited about the future for Bass Cat and Yar-Craft. Ready to get busy.

 

[PPBASS51]

Kevin has said all that needs to be said!

I would add that I would hope that this new change will make things a little easier for Rick in that he will only be working 22 hours a day instead of 24!
He is the hardest working individual I have ever encountered in this industry.

[BassCatDan]

BassCat builds better boats and will continue to do so. I hope for Rick’s sake that he can work shorter days! At least hope for half days….you know, 12 hours…LOL. BCB built a great boat and the customers came. BCB will continue building great boats and the customers will keep coming.

The company for which I’ve worked since 1993 was recently sold and at first it was unbelievable that it could ever happen. However, we’re weathering the initial shock and we’re moving forward successfully!!! My current employer is my favorite company and BCB is one of my other favorites. I see many good things to come.

God Bless the Pierce family, all of the BCB employees along with the dealers….and the BCB Family. Let’s be positive and ride with fair winds and following seas! But if we face brutal winds and head-on seas, I’ll take em on in my BassCat.

[Brad Patterson]

And this is why I bought a BassCat! BassCat Strong!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to the Pierce family and the BCB family! When you make an investment and the time is right you hope to cash in on that investment, we all do it. I have no problem with that. I have been a loyal BassCat owner since 1999. On my second Cat during that time span. When I purchased my current boat, a 2013 Eyra, in July of 2013; I looked hard at 2 competitors. I literally crawled through those boats and opened every compartment, pushed every button, and inspected the fit and finish of both competitors. I did this on two separate occasions, about 5 hours total. Why? When I spend $50K+ I expect it to still be valuable after 10 years of normal use if given reasonable care. In my opinion, BassCat is by far the best built (value) bass boat on the market today. I think the same thing about Correct Craft (Nautique) when I think of that brand and the primary market they serve. This is a natural fit when I think of value and what each company stands for. Honestly, if the Pierce’s wanted to cash out, this is probably the best possible outcome for any BassCat owner. I am thankful that Rick will still be hands on, speaking for the brand that his family built. Good luck, Correct Craft, on the next 40+ years of the BassCat brand!

Robert Guest
BassCatSC

[monte1]

I think this will be a great marriage. I have been looking hard at another bass boat. I still have BC at the top of the list. Going to get to finally see a Caracal in person and hopefully test ride in it next week from someone who bought one near buy. Still looking at the Sabre ftd also and still would like to see one of those in person. Congrats again to both business’s I really think you compliment each other.

[Bass Cat Boats]

After considering many views and seeing everything from gut wrenched consumers to the naysayers posting we have came to a relative point.

Yar-Craft was carried through time and ownerships to us as the fourth owners. The D. family passed it on after 20 plus years of heritage to Bob S. to preserve it, from there the Suthers family extended it’s life to prevent death of a loyal brand they loved as consumers. We were entrusted when Corey came to us to extend the legacy of Yar-Craft because he knew we would protect that history.

We have taken a similar action with both brands now as we extended the end of life through a strong backbone to support us. Yar-Craft and Bass Cat have both been preserved and our portions in those companies will iive on. After contacting Corey, explaining the details surrounding the situation, the inside facts of the CC intent, and details on what our intent was, he was extremely pleased in what we were doing to preserve Yar-Craft. It has survived because people cared about the brand and made good decisions that brought it further along. This is a similar decision.

Yar-Craft is now protected alongside Bass Cat for decades. No other company can say they have a forward looking path with the long term focus, or intent, that the directors and CEO of the business arm we are tied to now.

No matter How much shock or fear anyone has, I have no fear of continuance as is. Sure I have reservations after almost 44 years, though no fear. Reservations surround decisions that now must be handled in unknown manners as we learn to dance with the Correct Craft team. Though no reservations on the future of “YOUR” brand. No reservations that there is intent to lessen what we have done. They haven’t done anything to lessen a Nautique, so why would they even want me to lessen a brand they envied under JD Powers and Associates results.

This was a very good move for all involved and we really appreciate those who used their craniums to develop thought provoking conversation. We move forwards next week with the 28th Bass Cat Owners Invitational. The original and oldest organized bass boat owners event in the USA, well world really. Next week many will be able to see in person we still are who we are. And by the way we have gone out of our way to inform them of who we are and we have no intent of changing that, nor do they want us to.

Now let’s go fishing next week and have a wonderful event on Sam Rayburn!

God Bless,

Rick

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Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on 5:29 PM – Mar 27, 2015, edited 1 time in total.

[speck]

Rick, I am amazed you feel the need to explain yourself over the internet. I guess that is just how you do business but it is absolutely unheard off in almost any business. Being in business myself I understand that things change. The fact that you care so much about the brand speaks volumes to your character. I’m sure BCB will thrive under this new deal and you obviously would have it no other way. Having been a longtime champion guy I have been through those meltdowns and this is nothing like that. The puma that I bought is by far the best boat I have ever had. THe quality that I see in the boat along with the functional thought process has impressed me. I will see you at the OI and give you a congrats on doing business the right way, thanks Stewart Beatty

[Author]

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