MasterCraft buys NauticStar centre-console fishing boats

In what could be called a deft and timely move, the big towsports boat brand MasterCraft has acquired NauticStar, an established manufacturer and distributor of sportfishing boats in the 18-28ft range.

Now the big ski, wakeboard, wakesurf and luxury-performance powerboat marque can add trolling lures to towing boarders and skiers.

Known for its offshore centre consoles, sneaky bay fishers, and deck boats, NauticStar is a privately owned and operated company that’s been building boats in Amory, Mississippi, since 2002.

NauticStar’s year-over-year unit growth is said to be among the strongest in the 18-28-foot category and demand domestically currently exceeds supply.

Meantime, MasterCraft is a well-run and slick producer of cool 20-26ft wake- and ski-boats with inboard power, but with only one outboard offering.

As fishing and tow sports have been the two big growth areas in the global pleasure-boat industry, MasterCraft has made a strategic business move.

The acquisition of NauticStar for $79.8 million unites two leading and complementary boating brands.

NauticStar’s portfolio adds to MasterCraft’s product diversity and gives it a presence in the saltwater fishing market — and a much bigger outboard-propulsion play. These are the two of the fastest growing segments in the broader boating industry.

With more than 15 years of boat manufacturing experience—and a 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility — NauticStar has a reputation for reliability, quality and consistency. It sells it boats through an established network of approximately 70 US dealers.

But as MasterCraft has a wider reaching global dealer network, a great opportunity exists to expand NauticStar’s reach.

When we spoke to Ronnie Arenson, the Australian Sales Manager of MasterCraft boats, he said watch this space.

"We’ll launch at the 2018 Sydney International Boat Show or a bit before that. But you’ll be the first to know," he told boatsales.com.au.

Terry McNew, MasterCraft’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said he was excited to welcome NauticStar to the MasterCraft family.

"NauticStar is a well-respected, expertly-built and uniquely-positioned brand. The company’s outboard bay, deck and offshore centre-console boats provide MasterCraft with additional product diversity.

"They also provide MasterCraft a presence in saltwater fishing as well as outboard propulsion, two of the fastest growing segments in the broader boating industry."

NauticStar will maintain its current headquarters and manufacturing facility in Mississippi, approximately 300 miles southwest of MasterCraft. The transaction is expected to be accretive to MasterCraft’s earnings per share in fiscal 2018.

NauticStar owner and founder, Phillip M. Faulkner, said his entire organisation is pumped to join the MasterCraft team and leverage their experience and operational know-how to further grow NauticStar.

In the calendar year ending 2016, NauticStar generated approximately US$63.7 million in net sales and is expected to approach US$80 million in net sales for the calendar year ending 2017.

McNew said as a combined organisation, they have the resources and experience to greatly expand NauticStar’s distribution, both domestically and internationally.

Timothy M. Schiek, 49, was recently appointed the new president of NauticStar. The seasoned marine industry veteran recently served as President of Brunswick’s Recreational Boat Group and Sea Ray, and was President of Brunswick’s Boston Whaler Group prior to that.

As boatsales.com.au has said before, sport fishing and watersports are the hub of activity in the new boating universe, with outboard engines propelling much of that meteoric growth.

More at Mastercraft and

NauticStar Boats.