Nichols Brothers Closing

[Tugboat Andy]

I just read that Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has closed business and laid off 250 workers due to financial problems. They have built many fine boats over the years. Check out their website before it disappears.

What a shame.... :(

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

That's sad news...

[smart_racer]

Not good news to hear apart of the marine industry is shutting down

[Aerominded]

Sad Indeed... :(

[toesup]

I wonder if this is the general 'state' of the (small company) specialised full size boat building industry these days?...

Even though they may have good order books, the banks wont support them if they cant get the cash flow?...

Nichols Brothers built all the Crowley tugs down here in LA / San Pedro.. so for me thats especially sad news... :(:(:(

[Aerominded]

Sadly, 1:1 boat building has always been boom and bust... I don't know the specifics about that segment but I imagine 'offshore' companys are a problem for them... Are there still laws re: American built boats only for certain jobs in U.S. waters?

250 jobs on Whidbey... that hurts... Looks like a neat facility too... :(

[Kmot]

"Pending litigation" :mad: aarrgghh...........

http://www.nwcn.com/business/stories/NW_110207BUB_nichols_brothers_KS.1d0c5ff01.html

[MichaelAlapaki]

Sad day indeed. The Nichols Brothers had to make 250 car payments and 250 mortgages/rents every month, and failed to do it. Why?

Aluminum prices have risen for everyone worldwide, but boatbuilders in Florida and Italy can afford it. Does anyone know if NBBI was well run, or used Lean Manufacturing, or used up-to-date technology?

I know we can do something about this in Washington. Is there anyone reading this who is familiar with Nichols management or the Nichols plant. I'd like to work with the Center of Excellence and the governor to keep other boat builders from sinking. Your info could help. Write me at foxwing (at sign) Comcast (dot) net.

[Boatfox]

Hmmm...I've actually had the pleasure of working on 5 boats that Nichols delievered. They were always on the up and up to fix warranty issues. Maybe we could offer them some small amount of money for a couple of blue prints before they dissapear. :rolleyes:

[jerryj98501]

Boatfox, I have stopped at the boatyard several times and talked to Matt about basic plans but most of them were under liscense and could not give out basic information. I have always admired their product but reading the following site, there was another side of the picture. To bad as they produced a great product as far as I could see. Read the comments from the following article. Jerryj98501
http://mrcompletely.blogspot.com/2005/07/whidbey-islands-own-sea-fighter.html

[keith S]

What is really puzzeling is that they were in the process of building 4 more new Z-tugs for Crowley on the new Valor design that was originally built for BayDelta. They were very nice folks and built good vessels. Had a unique launching sytem that had the boats run out on to the tide flats at low tide on a rail system them floated as the tide came in. This is sad news. :( :confused:
The other small boat builders here in the PNW seem to be doing very well as they are all back loged with orders for all sizes of vessels until 2009 it seems.

[keith S]

go here to see what they have built
http://www.nicholsboats.com/index.html

[Boatfox]

Here's one of the old ones I worked on. Big boat, but no draft. Kind of like running a dinner plate.
San Francisco Spirit (http://www.nicholsboats.com/PDF/S-99%20San%20Francisco%20Spirit.pdf)