Cutbacks affect 1800 people locally.

This is very sad and comes at a rough time of the year for working families. But boats are a luxury, and people can't even afford necessities so they probably saw it coming. Besides, this has been brewing for a while*.

(*See here, here, and here.)

bizgrrl's picture

Is the economy so bad these

Is the economy so bad these people won't be able to fill the temporary retail jobs normally required during the holidays?

I just can't imagine being "furloughed" for two months.

Details are not final, but the company plans to help the furloughed workers while the plants are closed, Kubera said.

Of course, maybe they won't need a temporary job.

Hayduke's picture

Doomed and good riddance

Any industry that relies on burning large amounts of petroleum for entertainment needs to die. Rough for the workers with no other manufacturing jobs to go to. Maybe it's time to re-think globalization.

Nobody's picture

What a glaring and perfect

What a glaring and perfect example of the sheer, raw, unadulterated hate held by Democrats, liberals, and the like, always nice to see your true colors out and showing full bloom. It must difficult to be a Progressive, full of all that hate, envy, rife with jealousy, how do you stand it?

Andy Axel's picture

The more things change...

...from 2004

____________________________

the distance between black & white is much further than i would like until now i never noticed that fascism has many disguises -d. boon, 1981

Hayduke's picture

Hate, envy, jealousy? Not seeing it.

Hate, envy, jealousy? Not seeing it. Who or what is supposed to be the object of all this emotion?

The construction of pleasure boats that burn 20 or more gallons of petro-fuels an hour is certainly a part of our energy dependence and climate change problem. It's a destructive industry, creating nothing and wasting resources (sort of like war). I don't hate anybody for it and I'm sure not envious of folks who have to listen to a motor the whole time they're on the water. I just think it's a really bad idea and the less of it that exists the better off we all are.

Peace.

Nobody's picture

I hope that all of those

I hope that all of those furloughed workers get a chance to read this site and what the beloved Democrats/Progressives think of their hard work. First, you refer to them as some kind of scum for working at a craft that makes a product that lasts. Then you basically say that they are largely responsible for the climate change, that is still an issue in many ways as to what its true causes and solutions will be and finally, say that you hope their industry dies out. Thus, leaving how many workers out of work? By then of course, you will be ranting about how these workers should not be out of work.

The most disturbing of all regarding your comments is the ideology of hate and class warfare that is manifested. In addition to the making of these boats being more than "just a job" you have just said that everyone who has a boat, who may spend an entire weekend with their family in it, are low-life's for using it. I so wish that every boat owner and anyone connected with a boat in East Tennessee will take the time to read this section, and read how a Democrat/Progressive is spewing such hate and class warfare. Problem is that I have known numerous people in this area, who consider themselves a Democrat when it comes to politics, but go boating often during the summer. Imagine that but like I said, it is SO REFRESHING to see a class warfare spouting Democrat/Progressive showing their true colors. Please continue.

R. Neal's picture

I don't think the guy you

I don't think the guy you are referring to is even a Democrat. But please continue with your rant about "class warfare," which you seem to be promoting quite forcefully. Typical GOP misdirection/move the goalposts play.

Hayduke's picture

No Democrat here.

Yeah, no Democrat here. More of a worker-hating elitist neo-communist, but I do really like my boats (and not just in the summer) even if I don't share your enthusiasm for the floating Adidas sneaker aesthetic that comes out of the Sea-Ray plant.

Dude really needs to take it over to KnoxNews forums if he expects that sort of disjointed rhetoric to win him an amen. But hey, recycling kudos for harvesting crop circles for straw men.

Nobody's picture

Sounds like a sore loser out

Sounds like a sore loser out of job with SeaRay. Besides, if you think I am looking for an "amen" here, think again. I just enjoy countering the ideological nonsense spread on this site and challenging its mostly inane reports but most of all, the rife hypocrisy that is engaged in by Democrats and Progressives.

Nobody's picture

Who said anything being a

Who said anything being a member of the GOP? The assumption, like a typical Democrat, that anyone opposing them or those like them is automatically a GOP rant is why Dem's just don't get it about most people.

tennesseevaluesauthority's picture

Who said anything being a

Who said anything being a member of the GOP? The assumption, like a typical Democrat, that anyone opposing them or those like them is automatically a GOP rant is why Dem's just don't get it about most people.

Who said anything about Democrats?

I rather wish, though, that you would have used my favorite neo-con technique to responding to blog posts...

"I am new here. Who are these Republicans (sp?) that you speak of?"

Carry on. Or "Anchors aweigh" if you prefer.

R. Neal's picture

Maybe they should switch to

Maybe they should switch to canoes and pedal boats.

Hayduke's picture

GM ought to consider a shift

GM ought to consider a shift too.

reform4's picture

Or offer different boats

Biodiesel (for those that want to ski, etc)

There are some electrics, too, but they go pitifully slow (4-6 mph, a strong wind/current and you're screwed).

Or they could go back to making sailboats.

Hayduke's picture

Hybrid solar-powered is an option

A couple who came through Knoxville on their previous boat are awaiting delivery of the first Island Pilot DSe Hybrid yacht. It will do 6 knots with just the electric motors and solar power. That's about as fast as my boat goes ever, but they can crank it up to 13 kts (15 mph) with the diesels if they need to.

Ennui's picture

Unfortunately alternate

Unfortunately alternate fuels like biodiesel aren't available on most boat docks. Still a work in process. Worse still, marine gas is way more expensive on the docks than regular fuel...would biodiesel similarly be inflated in cost?

Ragsdale2010's picture

Don't Forget the Knox County Budget is premised on increased

collection of tax revenues and last check the state was running about $75 million behind what has been budgeted in the state's budget.

Has anybody bothered to see how Knox County sales tax collections are coming for this year? My instincts indicate that they are similarly lagging along the lines of how the state is progressing. But according to Mike Edwards, the SuperChamber, and Ragsdale, the Knox County economy is robust and vibrant, yea, tell that to the 1,800 folks who just got furlowed.

I bet if those fiberglass workers had read to school children, Sea Ray would not be in a slump cycle for the sale of new boats.

Up Goose Creek's picture

Solar Power

I have a solar powered charger for my little jon boat. Goes as fast as I need it to go.

The setup cost about $120 at Northern equipment.

___________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

redmondkr's picture

Visit us at The Home


Visit us at

The Home

Up Goose Creek's picture

Confused

I'm confused why our troll picked this thread to vent his/her spleen. I get that you're upset that the days of cheap boating are over. But most of us like boats, just not the gas hog aspect. Pleasure boats seem well suited for solar power if they sit in the sun all week soaking up power that is used for a few hours on the weekend. Or the biodiesel/waste oil was a good suggestion for speed. Boats are great for conversion where the motors aren't integral. Wouldn't I love to be able to unbolt the motor off my truck and have an electric for town and put the gas motor back in for road trips?

Signed,

Capitalist Democrat with a libertarian streak.

____________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

Disgusted!'s picture

Disgusted

I can't believe people are so self-centered that they don't even think about all those families that are going to be going without during the holidays. While all of you are venting over the amount of gas these boats use, think about all the gas you use each day to go back and forth to work, or run to the store, your freinds and families houses. I'm sure your not car-pooling everywhere. There are 1800 people being furloughed, who cares where they work. A furlough means they will be hired back, but will be collecting unemployment or finding a job making a lot less money, with no benefits right in the middle of the holiday season. If you lost your job for 2 1/2 months right now, would you be able to live the way you are now. If you can, lucky you, most of us wouldn't be able to. How do you think this is going to effect the economy, they won't be buying presents, which could put your job in jeopardy if you work in the retail industry. They won't be traveling, hope you don't work in that industry. They will be cutting back on gas, & food, and will not be taking out any type of loans. Don't forget when they cut back, it will be a chain reaction for almost every other company out there. I know the company I work for is effected by the public buying less. There going to be watching all of there expenses, they will be lucky if they can afford to pay there mortgage or rent. Some of them will probably become homeless because unemployment doesn't pay enough. They could get a job at Wal-Mart making if they are lucky $8.00 an hour. That $320 a week after Social Security, Medicare, and Federal taxes, they will be lucky if it is as much as the Tennessee unemployment rate of $275. I know that wouldn't even pay my rent for the month, forget about utilities, water, telephone, or food. They will not be eligible for food stamps because Sea Ray most likely has a retirement plan. Can't touch the retirement plan though, because they are not laid off, they are furloughed. As a final note, why don't you start thinking about other people for once, instead of bad mouthing a company start thinking about all the families that are effected by this, who knows maybe your family will be the next one effected be a lay off or furlough, the month before Christmas. So many companies have already had layoffs so don't think it can't happen to you. As for the quote from Kubera, they have not helped those families at all when it comes to the furlough, I know for a fact that a lot of those families are afraid of becoming homeless during this furlough.

Nobody's picture

To the LOSER posting about destructive industry

Who is the IDIOT that said boats are simply to 'burn petroleum' and are destructive?

HMMMM, let's see
1) They are used for human TRANSPORTATION
2) They are used for EXPLORATION
3) They are used for the TOURIST INDUSTRY
4) They are used for FISHING
5) They are used transportation of GOODS
6) They are used to EXPORT goods
7) They are used to IMPORT GOODS
8) They are used to PATROL the RIVERS, LAKES, and Oceans
9) WE CAN'T USE NUCLEAR because of all the liberal activists, even though EUROPE and the Navy have for 40+ years.
10) We use boats for RESCUE

The list goes on and on and on....but the point is YOU are an idiot that thrown out a blanket statement. Here is an IDEA you can chew on in your tiny brain, shut down airlines, cars, trucks, and trains. WAAA LAA the world is a perfect place...right?
10)

tennesseevaluesauthority's picture

I don't know about anybody

I don't know about anybody else, but I think my favorite discovery in this thread so far is this new alternate spelling for Voila...

WAAA LAA

Thanks, Nobody.

R. Neal's picture

The original poster (the

The original poster (the IDIOT you refer to) was referring to burning petrolium for "entertainment."

Isn't Brunswick/Sea Ray in East TN primarly in the recreation boat business? Do they make patorl boats, nuclear subarines, coast guard rescue vessels, barges, commercial fishing boats, etc.?

Anyway, you might have made a good point if you hadn't shown up out of nowhere and called people names.

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