Seaswirl Closing Culver, Oregon Plant

Two Fister · 02-28-2007, 08:33 AM

Hey dogs,
I heard on the local news this morning that Genmar, the parent company of Seaswirl, is closing the Culver, Oregon manufacturing facility to "consolidate" operations. The were based in Culver for more than 30 years.

It's particularily hard news for the greater Madras community as Brightwood Forest Products just laid off 140+ and the county lost a lot of money when the feds stopped the Timber Community Assistance funds at the start of this year.

Just thought that you'd like to know.
TF

pontoonbandit · 02-28-2007, 08:45 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. There are not many living wage jobs in the area and like you said it's already been hit hard.

PB

corrirod · 02-28-2007, 08:52 AM

I just scanned the web and can't find anything on it. Which channel was it on?

craigcw · 02-28-2007, 08:58 AM

A friend of mine told me 2 weeks ago that Seaswirl is downscaling in Culver, but not closing completely. I was told that Seaswirl was only going to build their smaller boats in Culver and move the over 20 foot productions somewhere else. I'll have to speak to my contact again to see if the plan had changed.

Two Fister · 02-28-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrirod

I just scanned the web and can't find anything on it. Which channel was it on?

I heard it on the local sports radio show on 970 AM. They have a local news segment at 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00. I'll see if I can find anything in the Bend or Madras newspapers today. The report said that they were closing the plant and laying off 70+, but I'll see if I can find more documentation.
TF

Two Fister · 02-28-2007, 09:08 AM

Here's a link from the Bend Bulletin:

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbc...&nav_category=

And it's 170 jobs lost, most of which will not be moved to Minnesota...

Hanapa'a Time · 02-28-2007, 09:17 AM

I just got a call from a friend of mine that is working over there(Madras). He also said that they already moved the Striper production to Min., something about 60% of the Stripers are sold on the East Coast

Sad news for central Oregon

craigcw · 02-28-2007, 09:24 AM

:frown: :frown:

Yep, sad news for that area for sure.

Herring Problem · 02-28-2007, 09:35 AM

This will be totally out of the norm, Driving by the Culver plant and not seeing the boats on the trucks and racks ready for shipment. 25 years I have watch the boats come and go thru Redmond. Surely a great loss for the community and employees.

Metal Manipulator · 02-28-2007, 03:41 PM

Oregon Buisness Climate :frown:

Lady E · 02-28-2007, 07:57 PM

Unfortunately it is true. According to people at Seaswirl they have about two months to finish production in Central Oregon; then they are gone.

Corporate has it figured out; yeah right.

Another manufacturer leaving Oregon, and a quality one at that.

Jefferson County is going to hurt from this.

Every person from management to office personel to production people are out of work

.

Two Fister · 02-28-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wet Fly

Oregon Buisness Climate :frown:

I don't think it was the Oregon Business Climate that took them out of Oregon. Genmar bought the company a couple of years ago from OMC who was in Chapter 11 or maybe even Chapter 7. They knew when they bought them that the bulk of their market was back east. They squeezed everything that they could out of the county and when that econ dev money dried up they took the Seaswirl name and went back home to Minnesota.

I know that on more than one occassion I've wondered how they could be making money having to transport the boats such a long way.

It's a real triple whammy on Jefferson County with Brightwood and Seaswirl laying off nearly 200 people apiece right on the heels of the Timber Community Assistance funds being cut off.

andiamo · 02-28-2007, 08:54 PM

I wonder what "consolidation" means; there will probably be a few folks in MN that won't see much of their family now

corrirod · 03-01-2007, 08:12 AM

How would you like to be the person buying those last sets of boats going thru the plant right now! :blush: I don't imagine the morale is real good. :frown:

I think the boat industry as a whole is down right now which isn't helping. If things were going and blowing I'm sure Bayliner would probably try to pick some of these folks up for either their Roseburg plant or one of their Washington facilities but I don't know that business is good enough right now.

Norski · 03-01-2007, 08:16 PM

Well my

worth, I lost a real good account, when I drove in I was treated like a king, was there today, and a good sure of the people I saw were not to happy, most of the employs are Spanish, they are wondering if they can get unemployment, ( only if you are here legal).
I see it as I just lost about 10K per year with them one.-----Dang It.

Flysnrides · 03-01-2007, 11:53 PM

Pretty sad, I am actually on my third Seaswirl

I had an older P 14, with a 60 HP ,my first boat, was pretty cool, put alot of hours on that thing, and I was pretty proud of it too !

Then I got a 17' Tahoe, my kids grew up in that boat, many many hours put on on it, ski, fish ect. A friend of mine still owns it, and his two kids are growing up learning to boat, ski and fish on it also.

Now on my 3 rd, 26' striper sport cabin, all were made in Oregon.

:frown: