Marine
Boston Whaler Celebrates Fifty Successful Years
EDGEWATER, Fla. September 13, 2007 – Boston Whaler® recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in high style as it kicked of its 2008 model year. Holding its annual dealer meeting in a special location, Whaler® returned home to its roots: Boston, Mass. Whaler hosted 400 hundred people including Boston Whaler dealers, key partners and vendors, Brunswick executives, members of the press – as well as some very special guests such as family members of Boston Whaler's founding father, Richard T. “Dick” Fisher. Held from July 29 through Aug. 1, the Whaler meeting participants agreed afterwards that “this year's dealer meeting was a fully fitting kick-off to the 50th anniversary year.”
“What a tremendous honor to be the president of a company like Boston Whaler at the time of such a momentous occasion,” said Boston Whaler President, John Ward, during a presentation to dealer meeting attendees. “I am proud to celebrate this historic milestone in our history here in Boston and to lead Boston Whaler into our next fifty years.”
Several Fisher family members were invited to partake in the festivities, and in an impromptu and emotional speech on stage during the Boston Whaler awards ceremony, “Dick” Fisher, Jr. expressed his humbled response to the overwhelming enthusiasm and pride he witnessed by dealers and Whaler employees. “I guess I took for granted what my father accomplished with Boston Whaler and lost touch with you folks for many years,” said Fisher. “I am so glad to be a part of this 50th celebration, and I'm inspired by the energy and pride you folks have in Boston Whaler. The quality of the boats is better than ever, and I'm amazed at the technology in them. Congratulations and keep up the great work!”
Penny Duncklee, Dick Fisher's daughter and a former Boston Whaler employee during the early years, expressed her feelings in a letter to Boston Whaler after the event. “It brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much has happened in 50 years, during which Boston Whaler sped ahead forging its ‘unsinkable legend',” wrote Duncklee. “As I watched, listened and learned during Boston Whaler's celebration, I was glad that the stories about the early years have been saved for future generations to know and enjoy.”
To save those memories, Boston Whaler invested in shooting and producing a more than twenty minute documentary about Boston Whaler's humble beginnings as well as special memories told by the Fisher children, employees, dealers, and a few customers. This documentary, available to view online at whaler.tv, provides insights on the founder Fisher's concept and plan with the Boston Whaler boat as well as reactions in their own words from eye witnesses to the first ever formal showing of Boston Whalers at the 1958 New York Boat Show. Certain to be a keepsake in the future, this documentary is a key communication tool to educate potential Whaler customers on Boston Whaler and its legacy.
Other highlights of the Boston Whaler Dealer meeting include:
- The dealer meeting kick-off celebration featuring a “welcome to Boston” Cheers theme. With an entire replica of the television show's bar set, dealers and media were treated to a real Cheers experience including three look-a-likes of key characters: Carla, Norm and Cliff.
- An opening general session entertained and educated attendees with a Jay Leno comedian favorite, Wayne Cotter, along with special guest speaker, Brunswick CEO Dusty McCoy.
- A Black-tie optional awards celebration elevated the 50th anniversary event to truly special occasion status.
- Awarding of the Inaugural Richard T. Fisher Award to Schock Boats of Newport Beach, Calif. initiated a tradition that will award an outstanding dealer each year on their delivery of beliefs held dear by Whaler founder, Fisher: exceed customer expectations, deliver quality products and service, represent the brand creatively and innovatively, and, finally, to achieve Boston Whaler Master Dealer status.
- A Toast with Boston Whaler-labeled champagne added a nice touch of class to the awards ceremony.
- Rolling out a 13-foot-long by 6-foot-wide cake in the color and shape of Boston Whaler's first boat, the 13 foot Whaler, brought attendees to their feet. With blue interior and real wooden seats, the large cake was cut in half with an electric saw by John Ward in the presence of nearly 400 awards ceremony guests.
In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary in Boston, dealers were also provided with an opportunity to learn more about the four new boats: the refreshed 170 Montauk, the new 180 Dauntless, the new 230 Dauntless and Whaler's new flagship model the 345 Conquest, and to run other Whalers in an amazing location, the Boston Harbor. Dealers also attended breakout sessions to learn about marketing programs for the upcoming 50th Anniversary, toured one of Boston Whaler's most amazing dealer facilities – Russo Marine's Medford, Massachusetts facility – and learned about the new Brunswick Dealer Advantage program; where tremendous appreciation was received from dealers regarding Brunswick's recently successful launch of the Dealer Advantage Health Care Program.
The Boston Whaler 50th Anniversary celebration is one dealers and special guests will remember for years to come, and it was one that successfully energized Whaler dealers for the 2008 model year. For more event highlights or to view photographs/video footage surrounding the 50th anniversary celebration, go to www.whaler.com or www.whaler.tv.
About Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler, celebrating its 50th anniversary with the 2008 model year product, is a business unit of Brunswick's Saltwater Group. Whaler is the leading
manufacturer of unsinkable family fishing boats 11 to 35 feet. For more on The
Unsinkable Legend™, please visit www.whaler.com or for video footage, visit www.whaler.tv.
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill
“Genuine Ingenuity” ™in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Laguna, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer
management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment;
Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards
tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables.
For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.
Contact: Kim Hegel
Director of Marketing
Phone: (386) 409-6440
Email: Kim.Hegel@whaler.com
