Fall of the industry bass pro bought the big 3

[MO QWACK]

Well sad day... Bass pro bought Ranger, stratos and triton !
  This. Is the fall of the industry. After Johnny  gets bass cat, Phoenix, and legand to fall he will start fighting the ropes of ranger stratos and Triton until they are all a nitro with different stickers. He also now has total control of the outboard industry. Mercury marine will bankrupt evinrude and Yamaha will only have skeeter after the independent companies fall. So in short every boat motor or boat sold in the United States will profit Bass Pro. One factory less jobs and more profit for his investors. He basically monopolized the industry.

[Muskygary]

 I don't think so. The whole bass boat industry is pricing itself out of the market. It's hard to pay 50,000 to 60,000 for a boat unless your on  a bass trail. The aluminum boat industry is where the selling is happening. I just bought a Lund Fury package (2015) for $10,700. The trolling motor and locator's I will put on my own. This is a very lightweight boat but will work out super here in the north. More people are down sizing and going to lighter aluminum . The fiberglass industry reminds  me of Studebaker who bought out Packer so they would have a larger share of the auto market. Of course it didn't work and they went under. Same will happen in the boating industry unless they come up with boats that the public want at decent  pricing.

[21xdc]

Just another reason to buy a custom boat like Allison, Bullet, Stoker etc... 

[MO QWACK]

I don't think so. The whole bass boat industry is pricing itself out of the market. It's hard to pay 50,000 to 60,000 for a boat unless your on  a bass trail. The aluminum boat industry is where the selling is happening. I just bought a Lund Fury package (2015) for $10,700. The trolling motor and locator's I will put on my own. This is a very lightweight boat but will work out super here in the north. More people are down sizing and going to lighter aluminum . The fiberglass industry reminds  me of Studebaker who bought out Packer so they would have a larger share of the auto market. Of course it didn't work and they went under. Same will happen in the boating industry unless they come up with boats that the public want at decent  pricing.

   I agree the bass boat market is out of control 50-60k for a boat! Oh but you can loan on it for 10 Freaking years!!
The consumer market in general has lost its way. That's why I like to see companies like Do-It still make a great product for a great price.

[Lamar]

 I hope this is not true. Ranger and Stratos are very well made boats. Bass Pro will destroy them. I agree a Ranger is way over priced but I disagree Muskygary there is nothing nicer to fish out of then a well made fiberglass bass boat. Period. I'm glad I own my boat if this is happening. Nitro and Bass Pro makes junk compared to the rest of the industry.

[Bucko]

They are nice but way to expensive.  I've fished bass circuits for 11 years now.  I have an aluminum boat and really like it.  It's 17.5 foot Lowe Stinger.  It's  slower and drifts in the wind easier but one thing about my boat allowed me to win.  I can float in a lot shallower water than the big fiberglass boys can.  I can pass through a swamp channel or go up a creek to the next little pond.  Some guys are trying to make some off those waters off limits because they say it is an unfair advantage.  The people that say you have to have a top of the line boat are wrong.  If they don't believe me I invite them over to see my trophy shelves....  Just be happy and fish what you can afford I think.

[Muskygary]

Let me clarify, The sales of big rigs is small. So Bass Pro is buying up other companies to get a bigger portion of the sales. The reason some of the companies are selling out is because they can no longer sell enough to stay in business. In time most of the big line bass boats will go out of business.

[Lamar]

  Here's a link from Wired2fish. http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1491084-what-does-the-bass-pro-acquisition-mean?s=537
Sorry but I disagree again Muskygary. My friend owns a Ranger dealership and his busiest year ever was last year in sales of high dollar bass boats. If you take care of the guys they will come from all over to buy boats from you. So does that mean the manufacture too ? I would think so but who knows. You seem to see more Rangers out there then any other boat. Maybe money does talk. My biggest fear is Bass Pro will cheapen them up and there goes the name. With this news if I was buying a new boat I would go with Skeeter.

[Muskygary]

Thanks for posting the article Lamar. Well have to wait to see what happens. The big question I have is "If the future of big bass boats is bright why would Fishing Holdings (Ranger, Stratos, Triton) sell out?

[BareKnuckleJigs]

As long as they leave Alweld (and Xpress, too) alone, there will always be a light at the end...lol

And Yamaha (and Honda) is way too strong to ever be bumped out.  That's like sayin' a Bass Pro's reels can overshadow the line of Shimano Calcuttas...AAAAHAHAHAHA HAAAAA!!!

[Justin9j]

Phoenix. Boat in five years it will be. 

[Apdriver]

Probably the best thing that could have happened to Ranger. Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro, and Forrest Wood, founder of Ranger, were good friends. Bass Pro is a outdoor company and promotes the outdoors and outdoor lifestyle. IMHO, they bought this brand to promote, build and protect it. At least another Equity firm, that no one ever heard of, didn't buy it again. I think this is good news. Only time will tell.

[Carl]

I believe that Bass Boats are in a bubble right now liked the housing market was earlier.  The previously owner may not have enough stay power when the industry corrects itself. As someone said, more and more aluminum boats are being sold because the market is shifting to a more economical price and people are holding their boats much longer. I think BassPro has enough capital to stand the storm when it hits and will come out a winner in the long run. However, I do agree that they will diminish quality to the consumer just by association. But they may be the first ones to correct the market.  Just my thought. 

[LipRipper84]

I'm curious what cabelas will do now.  I know that the store here in kc deals with stratos and ranger. I wonder if they will try to make it a bass pro exclusive to sell ranger or if the number of mom and pop dealers will pay the price.

[ctom]

Bass Pro? Cabelas? On the same page? Seems unlikely. But then who knows. I'd bet that Cabelas finds itself a tin boat maker to latch onto and focus on a price range that is a whole lot more realistic for the status quo type of anglers. If Cabelas is smart that's what they'd do.