Bavaria Yachts USA Ceases Operations

The message below was posted yesterday to the Facebook page of Bavaria Yachts USA. I'm curious, how may this impact Horizon Yacht Charter? I know they carry FP and Lagoon catamarans, but they are obviously heavy on Bavaria monohulls. I believe they were directly operating through Bavaria Yachts USA for charter yacht sales. Thoughts? Sorry to hear this. I love their monohulls. Sounds like a tense breakup and situation. Their FB post also received a comment from Bavaria Yachts Spain saying the same happened to them a couple of weeks ago.

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It is with a very heavy heart that we have to inform you that the relationship between Bavaria Yachts USA and Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Giebelstadt, Germany no longer exists.

With a new management team in Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, the commitment from the factory has plummeted.

On October 6th, 2016, ten minutes before the start of the 2016 Annapolis Boat Show, the Mr. Lutz Henkel, the CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau, handed us a termination letter which was effective immediately. Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH’s management was fully aware that our team had worked for weeks in preparation of our market’s most significant and costly sailboat show.

Our US company, comprised of experienced boating industry professionals, has committed to ensure our yachts are serviced to Bavaria USA standards which has come at a great financial cost, but we believe providing the highest quality and standards in the industry was worth it because it has been the right thing to do, it’s just good business. For years, under previous German management, we worked in good partnership with Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH to ensure the products sold in the US market were up to the standards fitting the expectations of the American consumer.

Over the last five years, the team at Bavaria USA has actively built the Bavaria brand into a respected and very recognizable entity in the US boating industry. We have represented our products with great care and pride, and have provided a level of service to our owners which we would expect if we were to purchase a yacht ourselves.

Since Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH has chosen to abandon its commitments to Bavaria Yachts USA, the sole distributor and dealer for the US market for monohull Sailboats and Powerboats, Bavaria Yachts USA is now forced to cease all operations.

Best Regards,
Team Bavaria Yachts USA

I could see many reasons why the parent company would want to shift focus, go a different direction, and/or change their go to market model... I am sure some are envious of Beneteau's vast independent inventory holding dealer network.

Well that explains it. Was at the show and went in to see the boats but the transoms were all lifted - like everyone was on a lunch break - which was weird.

Horizon sent an email earlier today saying that they work directly with Bavaria in Germany and that this does not affect them.

Had the same experience. Thought they were kind of snippy but now I get it.

Dear All - thank you for expressing your interest in this and for raising the issue as it may relate to Horizon yacht Charters in the Caribbean.

Further to the recent severing of relationship between Bavaria Yachts and Bavaria USA, we are pleased to advise that Horizon's relationship with Bavaria Yachts remains unchanged, intact and growing from strength-to-strength.

Horizon has a direct relationship with Bavaria Yachts in Germany, unrelated to - and independent of - Bavaria USA.

We trust this clarifies the situation and please feel free to contact us if you have any more queries on the matter, or wish to purchase a Bavaria Yacht in the Caribbean! Guy Phoenix, Horizon Yacht Charters.

Guy Phoenix
Horizon Yacht Charters
284 494 8787
marketing@horizonyachtcharters.com

Cool, hope to submit my reservation for the Vision 46 at Horizon for next June sometime soon.

Great to hear Guy and HYC! Wishing you all the best.

Thanks for that clarification. If I purchase a boat and placed it with Horizon in the BVI what's going to happen after the contract expires and I bring the boat back to the US? Who is going to be providing service/parts 'cause right now I don't believe there is anyone. Or am I missing something?

I cannot imagine a boat used in the charter industry with any warranty left at the end of the charter business. The boat manufacture mostly just glues all the parts together made by others. Masts, sails, engines, winches and so much more comes from third parties. After five or more years the local craftsman or supplier is usually your best bet. Would you want to pay for and wait for a boat part from Germany anyway?

After all that dribble. What is not clear is did Bavaria abandon the US market? Or do they have a secret future go to market plan? Will they sell direct? Try to sign up tens of local dealers?

The real risk with any investment in Bavaria is the past boats with keel failures. Some do not believe that was handled well by the folks back in Germany. What is the brand worth and what will the resale be in each of the markets.

I doubt Bavaria is abandoning the US market. They will likely have another dealer in place soon.

That is the big issue. I suspect however a company the size of Bavaria will have a new distributor in the US shortly.
G

We're on that boat next month!