Scuttlebutt Magazine - January 2008 - (Page 28) Page 28 • January 2008 www.scuttlebutt.com Premier Marine named NCMA Manufacturer of the Year Pontoon manufacturer Premier Marine has received the 2007 Marine Manufacturer of the Year Award by the Minnesota-based North Central Marine Association. The NCMA is an advocacy organization representing more than 70 dealers, manufacturers and marinas throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. “We’re honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient,” says Premier president Bob Menne, “The NCMA is a great advocate for the industry, and Premier is proud to be a member.” The award is presented every three years to a recreational marine manufacturer that excels in product quality and innovation, and lives up to a high industry standard of fair and honest business practices. Premier was recognized as this year’s winner at a Dec. 3 ceremony in Plymouth, Minn. Premier Marine received the National plete five-year bow-tostern limited warranty for its 2007 product line. This includes every screw, staple, cleat, bracket, couch and helm wire. This is in addition to their lifetime warranty on decks and rotocast furniture. The company was started in 1992 with a simple goal, “to create the most reliable, wellengineered and finely crafted pontoon boat in its class”. Bob and Betty Menne and Hall of Famer Gene Hallberg were the key players. Today they have over 200 employees and are the fifth largest pontoon manufacturer. While the boating industry has been experiencing declining sales, Premier has grown at a rate of between ten and fifteen percent. The Menne family members have been strong supporters and contributors to the industry. The company joined NMMA while they were still in the development stage and they are a long-time member of the North Central Marine Association (NCMA). Bob Menne has served on the NMMA board of directors, NMMA boat manufacturers division board of directors and the RBFF board of directors. Betty is the past president of NCMA, having served on its board of directors for over ten years. She received the MRAA Darlene Briggs Award of Excellence for her contributions to the industry in 1996. Now the second generation of the Menne family is becoming active. Tom Menne is an NCMA board member. Premier Marine employs more than 230 workers to design, build and market 12 models of luxury pontoons. The 16year-old family-owned and -operated company sells its pontoons through boat dealers located throughout the United States and Canada. Premier is headquartered in Wyoming, ■ Minn. Betty and Bob Menne accepted the North Central Marine Association Marine Manufacturer of the Year from Gene Hallberg, last year’s recipient. Marine Manufacturers’ Association (NMMA) Customer Service Index award in each of the last three years, maintaining a customer satisfaction standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher. Premier Marine earned the customer satisfaction by setting high quality standards for their boats, customer service and dealer network. It’s easy to set high standards, but the Menne family has taken the steps necessary to implement them. Premier Marine has a strong record of innovation. They were the first to offer 100 percent wood-free interiors, using rotocast and vacuum-formed components. Their patented J-clip seat hinges, Bimini top hardware and rail spacers make it easier for boaters to cover their pontoons and use seat storage areas. Premier offers a com- The Menne Family – foreground: Bob and Betty Menne. Back, left to right: Tom and Gabrielle Menne, Tim Menne, Mike Menne, Lori (Menne) Obar FULL LINE DEALER NEW LARSON RUNABOUTS & CRUISERS CLOSEOUT SPECIALS!! 22’ ‘07 LXI 228- 5.0L MerCruiser MPI/Trailer . . . .$29,900 31’ ‘06 Cabrio 310- T-5.7L Volvo GI DP/Air/Gen .$110,000 37’ ‘06 Cabrio 370- T-8.1L Volvo GXI . . . . . . . . .$175,900 • Now accommodating up to 90’ • Spacious, well-lit docks with power, water and local television hook-ups • Safe, well-protected calm harbor • Private bathhouse with restroom, shower and laundry facilities • Patio area with picnic tables and grill • Special PWC and dinghy docks (keeps them out of the water) • Full-service gas dock • Transient slips available • Yacht Club with family events, trips and year-round socializing NEW DORAL CRUISERS CLOSEOUT SPECIALS!! 23’ ‘07 235 Elite Bowrider- 5.7L MerCruiser/Trailer . .$ 55,995 28’ ‘06 Monticello- 5.7L Volvo GXI DP . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 69,995 32’ ‘07 Prestancia- T-5.0L Volvo/Air/Gen . . . . . . . . . .$ 159,900 • NEW & BROKERAGE BOAT SALES • CANVAS SHOP • DOCKAGE • FINANCING • GAS DOCK • PARTS • SERVICE DEPARTMENT • SHIP’S STORE CRUISERS 22’ ‘00 Stingray 220SX – 5.7L MerCruiser/Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 19,900 23’ ‘03 Starcraft 2310 Nexstar - 5.0L MPI Alpha 260hp Merc . . .$ 18,900 23’ ’99 Bayliner 2355 Ciera Sunbridge – 5.0L MerCruiser . . . . .$ 18,900 26’ ‘02 Wellcraft 2600 Martinique- 5.7L Volvo/Air . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 45,000 26’ ‘86 Sea Ray 268 Sundancer- 5.7L MerCruiser . . . . . . . . . . .$ 11,700 26’ ‘98 Bayliner2655 Ciera- 5.7L Mercruiser 250hp . . . . . . . . . .$ 24,900 26’ ‘84 Chris Craft 264 AC Scorpion- 5.7L MerCruiser . . . . . . . .$ 8,500 27’ ‘05 Rinker 270 Fiesta- 350 Mag MPI MerCruiser . . . . . . . . .$ 63,000 27’ ‘03 Regal 2765 - 8.1 GI DP 375hp Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 64,900 27’ ‘01 Maxum 2700 SCR- 7.4L MPI MerCruiser BIII . . . . . . . . .$ 39,900 28’ ‘89 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer - T-5.7Alpha 1 260hp Merc . . .$ 34,500 29’ ‘99 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer - 4.3L 190hp Merc . . . . . . . . .$ 64,900 32’ ‘96 Carver 325 Aft Cabin - 350 XL Crusader/Air/Gen . . . . . .$ 79,900 33’ ‘91 Carver Aft Cabin- T-454 Crusaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 80,000 36’ ‘88 Regal Commodore 360- T-7.4” 330hp MerCruiser . . . . .$ 41,900 38’ ‘06 Silverton Convertible - T-8.1L 425hp Crusaders . . . . . . .$309,900 38’ ‘94 Chris Craft 380- T-7.4L Volvo/Air/Gen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 69,900 39’ ‘02 Carver 396 MY - T-8.1L MerCruiser/Air/Gen . . . . . . . . . .$209,900 HOUSEBOATS 52’ ‘85 C-Yacht 52- T-5.7L Crusaders/Air/Gen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 44,900 52’ ‘95 Harbor Master WB 520- I/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$109,900 10 minutes South of I-494 on HWY 61 Hastings, MN • 651-480-8900 www.kingscove.com http://www.scuttlebutt.com http://www.kingscove.com http://www.kingscove.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.