Things haven't been good to the biggest names in the powersports industry as of late. BRP had to sell off one of its marine brands, Yamaha discontinued its snowmobile lineup, Polaris had some not-so-insignificant layoffs, and now BRP is taking another hit.
Earlier this month, the Canadian company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement whereby members of the Marcott family, owners of Bentley Pontoons, will be acquiring Manitou assets in Lansing, Michigan.
This sale comes not long after BRP decided to sell off its Marine business. This might seem like a huge loss for one of the biggest names in powersports, but the reality is it's necessary for it to double down on its core powersports activities, which should help to ensure the long-term success of the company.
“Today marks another key step in our process to sell our Marine businesses. I am proud of the strong foundation we have built for Manitou, and I sincerely thank all employees and dealers for their commitment and resilience over the years. I wish them the very best in this next journey,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP.
Unlike when some companies are sold off and the worry is that they'll be picked apart for parts by the new owner, this hopefully won't be the case with the Marcott family, as it has a proven track record in the pontoon industry and good understanding of the business.
“We are committed to ensuring the continuity of the Manitou brand and we intend to further its reputation for performance, quality and service within the industry, while continuing to support dealers’ needs and success," said Dennis Marcott. “We will keep building Manitou boats in the existing Lansing facility, and are looking forward to welcoming talented employees as part of the team.”
This transaction is expected to close during BRP’s third quarter of Fiscal 2026. Until then, BRP and the Marcott family will work in collaboration to try and ensure the transition between both parties is smooth. And now, the only thing BRP owns that sits in the water is Sea-Doo—please don't sell Sea-Doo, I love the products it's putting out.