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![[*]](./images/xpsilver/default_icon.gif) posted on 1-28-2009 at 06:33 AM |
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Houseboat makers get sinking feeling
(Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan 28 09)
The nation's ailing economy has caused choppy waters for Southern Kentucky's signature houseboat industry, which employs several hundred people and
builds most of the houseboats sold in the United States. Officials at several of the 10 makers of luxury, aluminum-hulled houseboats clustered near
Lake Cumberland said business fell off over the last year and orders are down. Several have had layoffs and temporary shutdowns, and one closed.
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At FunTime Luxury Houseboats in Russell County, owner Tim Abernathy said sales sank about 45 percent in the past 18 months.
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Majestic Yachts Inc. laid off all 26 of its employees at the end of August, said Bill Padgett, vice president for sales.
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Shawn Heinen, president and co-owner of Thoroughbred Houseboats in Clinton County, said he had one customer who made a deposit on a boat, but
couldn't get a loan to complete the purchase.
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American Waterways, a Wayne County houseboat maker, closed last year. Starlite Luxury Houseboats closed in mid-November, but has a new owner and is
scheduled to resume production in February, said Tucker, who markets boats for the company. With Starlite, there would be 11 houseboat makers in five
lake-area counties, most of them in Wayne County.
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David Barrett, president of Stardust Cruisers in Wayne County, said he'd had more inquiries about houseboats in the past 30 days than in the prior
six months.
ORIGINAL FULL ARTICLE: Houseboat makers get sinking feeling
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scarlet
Master Member
Posts: 1163
Registered: 5-8-2006
Location: Columbus, OH (CB)
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Mood: Coming into the best time of year...Boating AND Football!!!
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| posted on 2-3-2009 at 02:07 PM |
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Same article in The Columbus Dispatch this morning...full page on the back of the sports section.
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ruffinit
Senior Member
Posts: 150
Registered: 7-29-2007
Location: Centerville, Ohio
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| posted on 2-4-2009 at 02:47 AM |
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I'm doing my part, just ordered a new Sumerset. I have a 2006 for sale if someone else wants to do their part :>
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Bim
Senior Member
Posts: 307
Registered: 3-24-2006
Location: Centerville,Ohio - LFM
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| posted on 2-4-2009 at 07:24 PM |
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Good for you ruffinit, when is your baby due to be completed?
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ruffinit
Senior Member
Posts: 150
Registered: 7-29-2007
Location: Centerville, Ohio
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| posted on 2-4-2009 at 09:55 PM |
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She's almost cooked. Walls are up, wirings about done, boats insulated and they gel coated today.
Sumerset is saying early March. Fine with me, nothing like taking on a new boat when it's 15 degrees outside. I wouldn't mind if they held on to it
until mid March. My other one is only 3 but what the heck?
Ahhhhh, nothing like owning two houseboats! Yikes.
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Bim
Senior Member
Posts: 307
Registered: 3-24-2006
Location: Centerville,Ohio - LFM
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| posted on 2-5-2009 at 09:44 AM |
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You are either a very brave man or a very ..........one!  These are
strange times, best of luck and I hope you find a buyer for your "old" one soon.
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