Brunswick: Trophy Boats Return?

Trophy Boats is a brand manufactured by the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of the Brunswick Corporation. Brunswick is a prominent market leader in the marine industry, with a diverse portfolio of boats for fishing, cruising, and watersports. Trophy Boats, which entered the market in 1987, caters specifically to anglers, offering durability, comfortable seating, innovative storage, and powerful motors. While Brunswick continues to be a global leader in marine recreation, it is unclear if they will bring back the Trophy Boats brand, as some sources indicate that Brunswick shut down the Trophy line in 2009. However, Trophy Boats are still mentioned on the Brunswick website as recently as 2024, suggesting that the brand may still be active.

Brunswick Corporation's history and leadership

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American corporation that has been developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. With nearly 200 years of innovation and market leadership, Brunswick is a prominent leader in the recreational boating industry.

History

Brunswick Corporation was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who migrated to the United States from Switzerland's Rhine Valley as a teenager in 1845. A carriage maker by trade, John Brunswick opened a shop in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 15, 1845, where he was introduced to billiards. Recognising the demand for better tables, which were then being imported from England, he began crafting his own. The company expanded and opened its first branch office in Chicago, Illinois, in 1848.

Over the years, the company changed its name several times, reflecting the addition of family members to the business. In 1874, Brunswick merged with competitor Great Western Billiard Manufactory, owned by Julius Balke, to become the J.M. Brunswick & Balke Company. In 1879, the company was incorporated with a capital stock of $275,000, and it merged with another competitor, H.W. Collender Company of New York City, to acquire their patented billiard cushions. In 1884, the partners formed the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company (or B.B.C. Company for short) with a capital of $1.5 million.

The company expanded its product line to include diverse items such as ornate bars for saloons, bowling balls, pins, and sporting equipment. They also manufactured toilet seats, automobile tires, and phonographs. In the 1930s, they introduced a line of refrigerators. During World War II, the company manufactured small target-drone aircraft for the U.S. military.

In 1960, the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company officially changed its name to the Brunswick Corporation. The company continued to diversify its product line, acquiring Mercury Marine in 1961 and introducing the automatic scorer for bowling in the 1970s. They also patented a machine gun using a delayed blowback operation and developed the Rifleman's Assault Weapon, a grenade launcher that used a spherical rocket-propelled grenade.

In the 1980s, Brunswick became a major maker of yachts and pleasure boats under brands like Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Maxum, Sea Ray, and Trophy. During the Gulf War, they supplied the military with camouflage nets and radomes for the Patriot missile.

Leadership

David M. Foulkes is the current Chief Executive Officer and non-independent Director of Brunswick Corporation, appointed in January 2019. He previously served as President of Brunswick Marine Consumer Solutions and as the company's Chief Technology Officer.

The leadership team also includes:

• Ryan M. Gwillim, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Strategy Officer
• John G. Buelow, Executive Vice President and President, Mercury Marine
• Aine L. Denari, Executive Vice President and President, Brunswick Boat Group
• Brett A. Dibkey, Executive Vice President and President, Navico Group
• Brenna D. Preisser, Executive Vice President, President, Business Acceleration
• Michael D. Adams, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
• Randall S. Altman, Senior Vice President and Controller
• Lauren E. Beckstedt, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
• Jeffry K. Behan, Vice President and Corporate Strategy
• Neha J. Clark, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Finance
• Christopher F. Dekker, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer
• Lee B. Gordon, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Global Public Relations
• Jill M. Wrobel, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Trophy Boats' history

Trophy Boats is a renowned brand in the boating industry, manufactured by the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of the Brunswick Corporation. The Trophy brand name started as Bayliner's fishing boat line in the early 1980s. These boats were designed for fishing and included bass boats, center consoles, cuddy's, and small cruisers. They were built to standard Bayliner specifications and featured similar components, such as swim steps, interior components, and seating areas.

In the early 2000s, Brunswick decided to remove the Bayliner name from the Trophy line and positioned it as a separate brand. This move improved the build quality, and Trophy boats started using upgraded hardware. Trophy boats are known for their durability, comfortable seating, innovative storage, and powerful motors. They are ideal for anglers and offer models suitable for coastal fishing, deep-sea fishing, and recreational fishing.

The Trophy Boats brand entered the market in 1987, offering a range of walkaround fishing boats and center consoles. The boats are manufactured using a process called the PRO system, which provides a durable vessel at an affordable price.

The Brunswick Corporation, the parent company of Trophy Boats, has a long history dating back to 1845 when John Brunswick, a carriage maker, immigrated to the United States from Switzerland's Rhine Valley. He established a business in Cincinnati, where he learned about billiards and began making tables. Over the years, Brunswick Corporation has become a global leader in marine recreation, committed to transforming experiences on the water through innovation and technology.

Brunswick's commitment to sustainability

Brunswick Corporation, the company behind the Trophy brand of boats, is committed to sustainability and minimizing the environmental impact of its operations and products. Recognizing its role as a leader in the marine industry, Brunswick strives to meet the needs and expectations of its consumers, partners, employees, investors, communities, and society.

In the realm of electrification, for example, Brunswick is advancing technologies to provide electric propulsion systems and energy management solutions. This not only enhances boat operation but also benefits marine consumers. Additionally, Brunswick is innovating participation models to provide affordable boat ownership alternatives, attracting new demographics and expanding engagement.

Brunswick's sustainability efforts extend beyond its products. The company has been recognized as one of America's Greenest Companies by Newsweek and has received the Green Masters Designation from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. These accolades reflect Brunswick's commitment to conducting its business in a sustainable manner.

Furthermore, Brunswick's dedication to sustainability is also demonstrated through its Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) division. BCGP is a leading manufacturer of commercial and government watercraft, providing superior-quality crafts to agencies worldwide. Brunswick stands behind its boats, offering a multi-year limited hull warranty and ongoing support throughout the life of their vessels.

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products

BCGP's history dates back to the early 1960s when Boston Whaler, a subsidiary of Brunswick Corporation, began producing government and military workboats. Boston Whaler boats were used in the Vietnam War, and the demand for their commercialized boats continued to grow. In 1983, a dedicated business was established to focus solely on producing boats for the commercial and government sectors. The company was incorporated in 2001 and renamed Brunswick Commercial & Government Products.

Today, BCGP offers superior-quality crafts to commercial and government agencies worldwide, providing exceptional customer service and support. They stand behind the boats that their customers depend on, offering a multi-year limited hull warranty and lifelong support.

Brunswick Corporation, the parent company of BCGP, is a global leader in marine recreation. Through sustained investment in consumer-focused technology and bold innovation, they strive to transform experiences on the water. Brunswick Corporation's portfolio includes renowned brands such as Sea Ray, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, and Trophy fishing boats.

Trophy fishing boats, a part of the Brunswick Boat Group, entered the market in 1987. They offered walkaround fishing boats and center consoles, catering specifically to anglers with their durable and innovative designs. While Trophy boats were discontinued in 2009, they left a lasting impact on the industry, known for their quality and performance.

Brunswick Corporation's commitment to innovation is evident in their ACES Innovation Strategy, focusing on Autonomy/Assistance, Connectivity, Electrification, and Shared Access. They aim to elevate and simplify boating across proficiency levels, promoting an engaging and safe experience on the water. With their advanced design, technology, and sustainability efforts, Brunswick Corporation continues to shape the future of marine recreation.

Honda Marine and H2O Sports Manufacturing LLC's agreement to revive Trophy

In 2016, Honda Marine and H2O Sports Manufacturing LLC announced a new agreement to revive the Trophy brand of boats, exclusively powered by Honda Marine engines. The agreement outlines that H2O Sports Manufacturing will produce a full new lineup of Trophy skiffs, which will be powered by Honda Marine engines.

The Trophy lineup initially consisted of four, V-bottom skiffs: 1800SVK, 2000SKV, 2200SVK, and 2400SVK. Production of these models began in the summer of 2016 at the H2O facility in Americus, Georgia.

Honda Marine supplied H2O with selected outboard engine models from its Mid-Range BF Series (BF40, BF50, BF60, BF75, BF90, and BF100) and High-Power BF Series (BF115, BF135, BF150, BF200, BF225, and BF250).

Mark DiPietro, Senior Manager of Honda Marine, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting the class-leading performance, outstanding fuel efficiency, and reliability of Honda Marine engines. He also emphasised the value and quality that the partnership will bring to customers and dealers in the recreational boating market.

H2O Sports Manufacturing, founded in 2014, has a solid network of over 30 dealers in the southeast region and plans to expand its network and manufacturing footprint in Americus, Georgia. The addition of the Trophy line of skiffs is expected to create 30 new jobs by the end of 2016.

The new Trophy boats feature wood-free construction, Sunbrella UV-protecting upholstery designed and sewn on-site, walk-in consoles, a full liner, vinyl ester resin, and a spray core. Chad Roberson, President of H2O Sports Manufacturing, expressed pride in partnering with Honda Marine and continuing the tradition of the iconic Trophy brand.

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