In More Cigarette News. PBC Out BTM In

[Tank]

This is pretty shocking. Hopefully it doesn’t screw upmthe June Cigarette rendezvous.

Big Thunder Marine Named Cigarette Dealer At Lake Of The Ozarks

In a move that still has the ground shaking in Osage Beach, Mo., Cigarette Racing Team has named Big Thunder Marine as its new dealer at the Lake of the Ozarks. The news was first reported by Speedboat magazine this morning. “There were a number […]

www.speedonthewater.com

 

[Singleton]

This shows having a 20yo as CEO, is not the best move IMO.

Brett Manire, who co-owns Performance Boat Center, said he was informed of the change via text message Friday evening.

 

[Yoshiro]

Ahh yes, a breakup via text. That is indeed the new way of doing things with the younger generation.

 

[Singleton]

Ahh yes, a breakup via text. That is indeed the new way of doing things with the younger generation.

I tell my younger team members (under 30), once you learn how to give bad news in person or over the phone your career will go any direction you want. Too many folks are scared to have the hard conversations and rely on e-mail and texts to avoid those conversations.

 

[Nordie]

I tell my younger team members (under 30), once you learn how to give bad news in person or over the phone your career will go any direction you want. Too many folks are scared to have the hard conversations and rely on e-mail and texts to avoid those conversations.

This holds true, my wife on Saturday was going to put in her 2 weeks notice. They moved her department and they wanted to shift her into another department. She called me and was obviously nervous, she said she was going to send an email to all of the bosses. I told her talk to the administrator first, then send your email.

The administrator talked her out of it, but also offered her a better position with a small promotion.

 

[SJP]

Honestly - brutal move. I was never a huge fan of PB taking over sole exclusive rigging of the DW 32 but in this case why would 20YR CEO cut off a great dealer and production resource? They could have completed some of the work on finishing the cat line and rigging while DW and Cig try and increase production of hulls without sacrificing quality.

 

[FROGMAN524]

I'm guessing Cigarette is just a hobby for this guy

How To Conjure A $20 Billion Fortune Using A SPAC

A blank check merger with MSP Recovery values the law firm and data platform at $32.6 billion despite no guaranteed future revenue.

www.forbes.com

 

[Apex svt]

Pretty upsetting, PBC puts on a great event and the Redhead/PBC location is the best place to host something like this.

Pools/Bars/Restaurant/covered slips, pretty central location on the lake.

Big shoes to fill. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin the best event of the year.

 

[Teague_JR]

This is really shocking. PBC did a great job carrying the cigarette banner.

 

[sirbob]

Wow - Bummer. I wonder exactly what it was that PBC couldn’t / didn’t do to cause them to lose the dealership.

I wonder how much thunders Palm Beach dealership had to do with it?

New Cig management = fucking pussy move to send a text.

 

[Tank]

Honestly - brutal move. I was never a huge fan of PB taking over sole exclusive rigging of the DW 32 but in this case why would 20YR CEO cut off a great dealer and production resource? They could have completed some of the work on finishing the cat line and rigging while DW and Cig try and increase production of hulls without sacrificing quality.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think PBC deal with DW was exclusive. I was under the impression you could still get DW direct from factory. PBC was just one of the outlets.

It doesn't say anything about the future of DW and PBC after this move but I'm guessing PBC will lose DW as well now that they are owned by Cigarette. Oh, and now that Szolack just ordered 12 DW's I'm guessing you're not going to be able to even get a DW anytime soon so maybe it's a moot point if PBC loses DW.

 

[Tank]

Pretty upsetting, PBC puts on a great event and the Redhead/PBC location is the best place to host something like this.

Pools/Bars/Restaurant/covered slips, pretty central location on the lake.

Big shoes to fill. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin the best event of the year.

At least they're still gonna throw it this year. Very professional and cool move on PBC's part. Looking forward to seeing you guys there Conner. Which Hustler you guys brining?

 

[FROGMAN524]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think PBC deal with DW was exclusive. I was under the impression you could still get DW direct from factory. PBC was just one of the outlets.

It doesn't say anything about the future of DW and PBC after this move but I'm guessing PBC will lose DW as well now that they are owned by Cigarette. Oh, and now that Szolack just ordered 12 DW's I'm guessing you're not going to be able to even get a DW anytime soon so maybe it's a moot point if PBC loses DW.

Ron Szolack must have made his money from something besides a club in Detroit. What else is he in to?

 

[RiverDave]

At least they're still gonna throw it this year. Very professional and cool move on PBC's part. Looking forward to seeing you guys there Conner. Which Hustler you guys brining?

It is a classy move.

 

[RiverDave]

Wow - Bummer. I wonder exactly what it was that PBC couldn’t / didn’t do to cause them to lose the dealership.

I wonder how much thunders Palm Beach dealership had to do with it?

New Cig management = fucking pussy move to send a text.

I wasn’t aware big Thunder had anything in Florida.. but I know that PBC opened a second facility down there.

 

[Tank]

It is a classy move.

You and Stacy should go Dave. Taylor and AJ are dragging their boat out.

 

[sirbob]

I wasn’t aware big Thunder had anything in Florida.. but I know that PBC opened a second facility down there.

That article says they have a dealership in the Palm Beach area?

 

[SJP]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think PBC deal with DW was exclusive. I was under the impression you could still get DW direct from factory. PBC was just one of the outlets.

It doesn't say anything about the future of DW and PBC after this move but I'm guessing PBC will lose DW as well now that they are owned by Cigarette. Oh, and now that Szolack just ordered 12 DW's I'm guessing you're not going to be able to even get a DW anytime soon so maybe it's a moot point if PBC loses DW.

For the 36 and 42 you needed to go to PBC they had a bunch locked in. On a 32 race boat any racer could order direct for DW. On the 32 there were a few guys that ordered a few and you could still go direct to DW but towards the end it was rumored that PBC was going to have a bunch of 32s locked in. It was kind of a weird deal that culminated with Cig buying them. You kind of wondered what was going to happen but I really did not think they would blow up the PBC deal on essentially day 1.

 

[Tank]

Meanwhile, mark waddington (owner of PBC) just keeps expanding. This place looks like it’s gonna be bad ass. Def want to check it out when we’re there in June.

New Lake Of The Ozarks Waterfront Restaurant Is Building A Pool… IN A CAVE

When you own a cave, and it sits on a perfect piece of commercial lakefront property at the nation’s most popular recreational lake, what do you do with it? If

www.lakeexpo.com

 

[SJP]

Meanwhile, mark waddington (owner of PBC) just keeps expanding. This place looks like it’s gonna be bad ass. Def want to check it out when we’re there in June.

New Lake Of The Ozarks Waterfront Restaurant Is Building A Pool… IN A CAVE

When you own a cave, and it sits on a perfect piece of commercial lakefront property at the nation’s most popular recreational lake, what do you do with it? If

www.lakeexpo.com

It is almost comical the facilities on that lake compared to Havasu, Mead, Powell put together. I mean we are fighting for 3 ill sized slips at the springs just to get out of the heat.

 

[Tank]

It is almost comical the facilities on that lake compared to Havasu, Mead, Powell put together. I mean we are fighting for 3 ill sized slips at the springs just to get out of the heat.

I was sitting at Kokomo’s with Bubba and his crew from Oklahoma last year at DS and we were talking about how different the two lakes are. LOTO, People LOVE running to a bar and then wading in the shallow pools. Hang a bit, get in the boat and run to the next bar/pool/restaurant. Not a big beach or tie up place. Used to have party cove but that doesn’t even happen like it used to.

We were sitting there, it’s 85 degrees and there’s like 3 people in the pool at Kokomo’s. Totally different scene. It’s weird. It’d be bitchen if havasu had a few nice restaurant / bars / pools on the water. Even make them seasonal. The infrastructure and welcoming ease of things is better there too. 100 bad ass guest docks at each place, dock girls helping you dock. They have their shit together back there.

 

[Apex svt]

At least they're still gonna throw it this year. Very professional and cool move on PBC's part. Looking forward to seeing you guys there Conner. Which Hustler you guys brining?

Shoooot, you already know Mind If I Smoke & Mean Streak roll together! Looking forward to it too man.

 

[Tank]

Swing and a miss!

No cigarette / doug wrights.

Wonder if yanking PBC as the dealer had to do with it.

Cigarette Racing Team Acquisition Of Doug Wright Designs Off The Table

Scheduled to close on March 31, Cigarette Racing Team’s planned acquisition of Doug Wright Designs will not happen. Both Cigarette’s owner John Ruiz and Doug Wright, Jr., who co-owns the Doug Wright Designs business with his father, Doug Wright, Sr., have confirmed that the deal […]

www.speedonthewater.com

 

[attitude]

Swing and a miss!

No cigarette / doug wrights.

Wonder if yanking PBC as the dealer had to do with it.

Cigarette Racing Team Acquisition Of Doug Wright Designs Off The Table

Scheduled to close on March 31, Cigarette Racing Team’s planned acquisition of Doug Wright Designs will not happen. Both Cigarette’s owner John Ruiz and Doug Wright, Jr., who co-owns the Doug Wright Designs business with his father, Doug Wright, Sr., have confirmed that the deal […]

www.speedonthewater.com

Ouch, I wonder what cat manufacture they will go after next.

 

[RiverDave]

Swing and a miss!

No cigarette / doug wrights.

Wonder if yanking PBC as the dealer had to do with it.

Cigarette Racing Team Acquisition Of Doug Wright Designs Off The Table

Scheduled to close on March 31, Cigarette Racing Team’s planned acquisition of Doug Wright Designs will not happen. Both Cigarette’s owner John Ruiz and Doug Wright, Jr., who co-owns the Doug Wright Designs business with his father, Doug Wright, Sr., have confirmed that the deal […]

www.speedonthewater.com

Maybe the ceo sent another text to someone.. lol

 

[Singleton]

Swing and a miss!

No cigarette / doug wrights.

Wonder if yanking PBC as the dealer had to do with it.

Cigarette Racing Team Acquisition Of Doug Wright Designs Off The Table

Scheduled to close on March 31, Cigarette Racing Team’s planned acquisition of Doug Wright Designs will not happen. Both Cigarette’s owner John Ruiz and Doug Wright, Jr., who co-owns the Doug Wright Designs business with his father, Doug Wright, Sr., have confirmed that the deal […]

www.speedonthewater.com

Thinking this is good news for DW. I know you love Cigarette, but reading the article and quotes from Cigarette shows me the current leadership needs to be humbled. My gut says Sr. and Jr. saw how the CEO treated PBC and started to have second thoughts and they found a new silent partner to help them continue to grow.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Thinking this is good news for DW. I know you love Cigarette, but reading the article and quotes from Cigarette shows me the current leadership needs to be humbled. My gut says Sr. and Jr. saw how the CEO treated PBC and started to have second thoughts and they found a new silent partner to help them continue to grow.

In the article I read they referred to DW as a "stepping stone" and that since they bought vectorworks that they no longer need DW as that gives them capacity to build their own designs... Most of their comments in the press/articles have a very arrogant tone so....I could see you being very right on this.

 

[ToMorrow44]

In the article I read they referred to DW as a "stepping stone" and that since they bought vectorworks that they no longer need DW as that gives them capacity to build their own designs... Most of their comments in the press/articles have a very arrogant tone so....I could see you being very right on this.

Agreed, very arrogant. Cant wait to see his personally-designed, safest, fastest, and best looking cat that will revolutionize the industry…

 

[sonicss31]

His statement about “ safest, fastest and best looking” sounds like a touch of plagerism from Reggie back in the 90’s.

 

[Tank]

Frankly, who puts out a press release that they’re buying and slaps a sticker on a boat at the biggest show in the world without the deal being done?! That’s some jenky shit.

So much behind the scenes drama involved in all of this including PBC BTM shit.

 

[Hammer]

Frankly, who puts out a press release that they’re buying and slaps a sticker on a boat at the biggest show in the world without the deal being done?! That’s some jenky shit.

So much behind the scenes drama involved in all of this including PBC BTM shit.

I'm not surprised one bit. I told you my thoughts on the new regime when I went to Miami and met with the CIG executives this year.

 

[RiverDave]

Frankly, who puts out a press release that they’re buying and slaps a sticker on a boat at the biggest show in the world without the deal being done?! That’s some jenky shit.

So much behind the scenes drama involved in all of this including PBC BTM shit.

I’d like to take their money but their idiots

 

[Backlash]

They're.

 

[McKay]

Honestly - brutal move. I was never a huge fan of PB taking over sole exclusive rigging of the DW 32 but in this case why would 20YR CEO cut off a great dealer and production resource? They could have completed some of the work on finishing the cat line and rigging while DW and Cig try and increase production of hulls without sacrificing quality.

I was told the 32DW in Miami boat show was rigged by Grants.

 

[OLDRAAT]

And Cigarette stuck the Cig sticker on it without the boat owners permission.

 

[SJP]

I was told the 32DW in Miami boat show was rigged by Grants.

The owner of that boat was the person that built my boat. This is his third DW build and all have been with Grants. They know that platform and rig those boat so well.

 

[OLDRAAT]

Grant B is on top of his game. So glad he didn't get hurt worse during the shop accident.

Wish I had more FU bux to get a DW from him.

 

[McKay]

The owner of that boat was the person that built my boat. This is his third DW build and all have been with Grants. They know that platform and rig those boat so well.

Ya you gave me a ride when you had your 32 years back. Nice boats!

 

[TCHB]

Honestly - brutal move. I was never a huge fan of PB taking over sole exclusive rigging of the DW 32 but in this case why would 20YR CEO cut off a great dealer and production resource? They could have completed some of the work on finishing the cat line and rigging while DW and Cig try and increase production of hulls without sacrificing quality.

I agree!

 

[HydroSkreamin]

Grant B is on top of his game. So glad he didn't get hurt worse during the shop accident.

Wish I had more FU bux to get a DW from him.

You know, Myrick and the boys at Performance Boat Center do a great job, with in-house paint and rigging.

And who wouldn’t want a boat rigged and set up by the current SuperStock World Champion team?

 

[OLDRAAT]

Met Myrick probably 20 years ago at the shootout while talking to Rod Tschiggfrie and have always been impressed with his amount of talent and humbleness.

Gotta get back LOTO sometime in the future and see all the updates at PBC, it's been too long. Lots of good folks there.

 

[Tank]

Again in more Cigarette news - They released their new clothing line.

Ummmmm, $90 shirts. $90 trucker hats.

Good luck with that.

Discover Cigarette Racing Luxury Performance Boats

Welcome to Cigarette Racing, Luxury Performance Boats #. Be part of the Legend, Explore our world, and exclusive boating experiences.

www.cigaretteracing.com

I balked at paying $60 for two kids Cig shirts at Performance Boats Center last year. $80 for an official kids Cig shirt!

 

[sirbob]

wow 90 + dollars for a long sleeve t-shirt / 80 + for a short sleeve???

90 for a trucker hat?

that's pretty bold pricing - even with inflation!

 

[Roosky01]

I guess if they are trying to create a luxury lifestyle brand then they feel the need to overcharge the heck out of stuff so it radiates "status".

Just wait till you see the pricing on the handbags/purses and perfume...

 

[HCP3]

wow 90 + dollars for a long sleeve t-shirt / 80 + for a short sleeve???

90 for a trucker hat?

that's pretty bold pricing - even with inflation!

For $8 more you can get a long sleeve with a hood and SPF 50 rating

 

[Hammer]

Again in more Cigarette news - They released their new clothing line.

Ummmmm, $90 shirts. $90 trucker hats.

Good luck with that.

Discover Cigarette Racing Luxury Performance Boats

Welcome to Cigarette Racing, Luxury Performance Boats #. Be part of the Legend, Explore our world, and exclusive boating experiences.

www.cigaretteracing.com

I balked at paying $60 for two kids Cig shirts at Performance Boats Center last year. $80 for an official kids Cig shirt!

They are trying to make the Cigarette brand the next Supreme. They are missing the mark IMO. The iconic heritage that is Cigarette is luxury performance offshore boats and center consoles. If they wanted to build yachts, jet skis and Von Dutch priced Hats(Hell, the only difference between a VD and CIG hat is the logo) they should have created a brand from scratch and went after those markets... The Cig brand recognition doesn't go with the business model they are trying to achieve. Its like RDP going after the wake surf crowd....

 

[TOOLEY]

wow 90 + dollars for a long sleeve t-shirt / 80 + for a short sleeve???

90 for a trucker hat?

that's pretty bold pricing - even with inflation!

Shhhh don’t Tell RD….

 

[Tank]

They are trying to make the Cigarette brand the next Supreme. They are missing the mark IMO. The iconic heritage that is Cigarette is luxury performance offshore boats and center consoles. If they wanted to build yachts, jet skis and Von Dutch priced Hats(Hell, the only difference between a VD and CIG hat is the logo) they should have created a brand from scratch and went after those markets... The Cig brand recognition doesn't go with the business model they are trying to achieve. Its like RDP going after the wake surf crowd....

I'm seriously questioning some of the decision making going on. It's very erratic. The brand was ALREADY an iconic upper echelon brand. They sold more boats in the 1-3 mil range over seas to royalty and ultra rich Europeans than they did in the US. On one hand they seemingly want to saturate the market with shit like a sea doo and a yacht and on the other they want to charge ridiculous prices for hats and shirts that will 100% turn the majority of the market off. Not to mention they pumped this clothing release up like it was gonna be some HUGE deal. The layout, articles, models, etc look identical to what previous owner Braver already had. Except that Braver had a much larger catalog of items at 1/3 the price. It's all just silly. I'm really trying hard not to be negative but it keeps being more and more difficult not to be. Between the Doug Wright debacle and announcing they bought the company when they actually only had a letter of intent that eventually fell through, to making outlandish claims of increased sales, to the ill handled manner in which they dumped Performance Boat Center for Big Thunder Marine (and I heard the behind the scenes reasons for it and there were some valid points for the separation but the manner in which it was done was not exactly classy), there's been some seriously eye brow raising moves.

 

[Hammer]

I'm seriously questioning some of the decision making going on. It's very erratic. The brand was ALREADY an iconic upper echelon brand. They sold more boats in the 1-3 mil range over seas to royalty and ultra rich Europeans than they did in the US. On one hand they seemingly want to saturate the market with shit like a sea doo and a yacht and on the other they want to charge ridiculous prices for hats and shirts that will 100% turn the majority of the market off. Not to mention they pumped this clothing release up like it was gonna be some HUGE deal. The layout, articles, models, etc look identical to what previous owner Braver already had. Except that Braver had a much larger catalog of items at 1/3 the price. It's all just silly. I'm really trying hard not to be negative but it keeps being more and more difficult not to be. Between the Doug Wright debacle and announcing they bought the company when they actually only had a letter of intent that eventually fell through, to making outlandish claims of increased sales, to the ill handled manner in which they dumped Performance Boat Center for Big Thunder Marine (and I heard the behind the scenes reasons for it and there were some valid points for the separation but the manner in which it was done was not exactly classy), there's been some seriously eye brow raising moves.

I completely agree with everything you said. In hindsight, I wonder if Braver regrets selling to them now? Or is it cash out and move on with life? It would be hard for me to watch my company be handled like this in such a short time.

 

[Tank]

I completely agree with everything you said. In hindsight, I wonder if Braver regrets selling to them now? Or is it cash out and move on with life? It would be hard for me to watch my company be handled like this in such a short time.

I heard he’s onto focus on his exotic car collection and chill. But he’s gotta be a bit concerned. However, The cigarette company’s is kinda like the movie character Batman, it’s had numerous owners over the years and transitions and ebbs and flows with the times. Hands down no one, besides aronow, has done more for cigarette than braver did. I really hope we owner doesn’t drive it into the ground. It’s a very turn key operation. Would be a shame to mess that up.