Brunswick announces more layoffs...

On the heels of last week's announcement of a 5% layoff in their Sea Ray division, Brunswick today announced a 13% downsizing in their US Marine division. This amounts to a layoff of 40 of the 309 employees in the division. The US Marine division manufactures the Bayliner and Maxum brands of power cruisers. The company also announced temporary closings of the Bayliner plant in Roseburg, Oregon effective October 26.

“These actions are in response to continued weakness in the marine market,” Brunswick said in a statement. “The U.S. marine industry has seen weak demand as numerous economic pressures continued to reduce consumers’ spending power and new-boat purchases are being adversely impacted. US Marine has concluded it must take measures to size its production levels in line with retail demand.”

The plant closings will be during the week of October 22, Thanksgiving week, and for two weeks during the Christmas holidays to help further reduce production.

Sea Ray lays off 5% of workforce.

Sea Ray Boats, a division of Brunswick Corporation, announced the immediate downsizing of 180 employees, or roughly five percent of their workforce, citing continued weakness in the marine market. Their plants in East Tennessee and Florida will be affected, as well as the Baja boats division in Ohio.

“These decisions are very difficult, but nonetheless must be made to protect the overall health of the business,” the company said in a statement. “Affected employees will receive assistance in transitioning to other employment.”

The past year has shown the marine industry overall a double-digit decline in demand for new boats. The downturn in the housing market and the tightening of consumer credit has played a large role in the decline.

“Sea Ray has concluded it must take measures to size its costs in line with the declining market,” the statement continued.