NorthWest Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing => The Kayak Shack => Topic started by: Shin09 on March 15, 2021, 11:07:25 AM

Title: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Shin09 on March 15, 2021, 11:07:25 AM
as seen on the Hobie.com forums:

https://paddlingmag.com/stories/news-events/hobie-sold-to-investment-group/

Will be interesting to see how this plays out.  On one hand, it seems good they acknowledge the production issues.  On the other hand, acquisitions like this seem to usually be more about the bottom line than improving the product.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Stinger Hook on March 15, 2021, 01:56:18 PM
Thanks for sharing.
I wasn't aware of this. Let's indeed wait and see how this plays out.
Hopefully no long term issues.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Ling Banger on March 15, 2021, 03:48:50 PM
Almost never turns out well for consumers.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Shin09 on March 15, 2021, 04:07:07 PM
I was actually just reading about the Traeger acquisition from a few years back. While it was certainly a blow to the local economy since the Hawk moved away from here I would largely say the consumer overall has benefited.

Hope the same goes for Hobie. It seems like the sailing part of the business would be most likely to atrophy. The has been little product development on that side and the line continues to get cut.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Tinker on March 15, 2021, 05:02:35 PM
As far as I can tell, Maynards Industries is an AUCTION HOUSE.  Take it for what it's worth.

https://maynards.com/ (https://maynards.com/)

That is the right Maynards, with the correct CEO:

https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/southfield/profile/auctioneer/maynards-industries-inc-0332-90011585 (https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/southfield/profile/auctioneer/maynards-industries-inc-0332-90011585)
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: crash on March 15, 2021, 05:50:19 PM
As far as I can tell, Maynards Industries is an AUCTION HOUSE.  Take it for what it's worth.

https://maynards.com/ (https://maynards.com/)

That is the right Maynards, with the correct CEO:

https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/southfield/profile/auctioneer/maynards-industries-inc-0332-90011585 (https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/southfield/profile/auctioneer/maynards-industries-inc-0332-90011585)

It didn’t sell to Maynards.  It sold to an investment group made up of Maynards senior management.  The auction business is good and they are diversifying.  Maybe they’ll buy a football team next?
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Tinker on March 16, 2021, 07:48:21 AM
Not the point - and that's not how the buyout has been publicized, but okay, point taken.  Still, the senior management positions at Hobie - CEO, CFO, and COO - have been replaced by the executives of Maynards, and they have no background or experience in making anything.  They take things apart.  Not saying they'll do that to Hobie, but it wouldn't seem to be a match made in Heaven for Hobie.

I also wonder why Hobie, the market leader in watersports, felt a need to sell.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: pescadodiablo on March 16, 2021, 08:48:19 AM
Not the point - and that's not how the buyout has been publicized, but okay, point taken.  Still, the senior management positions at Hobie - CEO, CFO, and COO - have been replaced by the executives of Maynards, and they have no background or experience in making anything.  They take things apart.  Not saying they'll do that to Hobie, but it wouldn't seem to be a match made in Heaven for Hobie.

I also wonder why Hobie, the market leader in watersports, felt a need to sell.

If your primary business is paddlesports, 2020 was the year to sell... because kayaking companies have never been worth near what they were last year/this year, and the work load has simultaneously never been more difficult to navigate. Can’t say I blame them.
The leadership team that really gets shit done (Ruth & co) are still around. I don’t anticipate many changes. This is the second time that they’ve changed ownership during my time in the paddlesports industry, and if anything the last buyout led to a lot of drastic improvements.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Squidder_K on June 02, 2021, 02:18:54 PM
Not the point - and that's not how the buyout has been publicized, but okay, point taken.  Still, the senior management positions at Hobie - CEO, CFO, and COO - have been replaced by the executives of Maynards, and they have no background or experience in making anything.  They take things apart.  Not saying they'll do that to Hobie, but it wouldn't seem to be a match made in Heaven for Hobie.

I also wonder why Hobie, the market leader in watersports, felt a need to sell.

The founder died, and now is a good time to sell before the cheap brands under cut you.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Tinker on June 02, 2021, 04:49:58 PM
The founder died, and now is a good time to sell before the cheap brands under cut you.

Uh, Hobie Alder passed away in 2014.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Squidder_K on June 23, 2021, 12:01:19 PM
The founder died, and now is a good time to sell before the cheap brands under cut you.

Uh, Hobie Alder passed away in 2014.

I know, but you know if he was alive it would of never been bought. 
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: ballardbrad on June 24, 2021, 12:02:19 PM
The founder died, and now is a good time to sell before the cheap brands under cut you.

Uh, Hobie Alder passed away in 2014.

I know, but you know if he was alive it would of never been bought. 

Hobie Alter sold the company 7 years after founding it in 1975 to the Coleman Company. It's been sold to a couple private equity firms in the late 80's and mid 90's. The three new investors are dumping a load of cash into the business to increase production.  Business as usual.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Squidder_K on June 24, 2021, 02:30:36 PM
The founder died, and now is a good time to sell before the cheap brands under cut you.

Uh, Hobie Alder passed away in 2014.

I know, but you know if he was alive it would of never been bought. 

Hobie Alter sold the company 7 years after founding it in 1975 to the Coleman Company. It's been sold to a couple private equity firms in the late 80's and mid 90's. The three new investors are dumping a load of cash into the business to increase production.  Business as usual.

Well maybe they can bring the cost down on the units. Seems the original peddle drive was $1899 or so, Which was high then, now it would be a bargin.
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Shin09 on June 25, 2021, 08:30:39 AM
I mean....A passport 12 MSRP at 1699 and is arguably a superior boat in almost every way to the original mirage kayak.  Adjusted for inflation thats a deal
Title: Re: Hobie Cat Company Sold to Investment Firm
Post by: Squidder_K on June 25, 2021, 11:29:45 AM
Agree, but they only came out with stripped down yaks because the rest of the world started making peddle drives.