Big News For BRIG RIBs
Published: Monday, April 23, 2018
A few years ago, the father of Ohio resident and marine business owner Bert Ammerman purchased a rigid-hull inflatable boat from Brig Boats. While not a well-known brand in the United States, Brig was Europe’s largest manufacturer of recreational RIBs and the world’s largest manufacturer of RIB’s longer than 10 feet.
Brig Boats had an impeccable reputation on the international scale, with sales in more than 60 countries, and the Ammerman family soon found out why. The RIBs are stable, lightweight, and low-maintenance. They offer a smooth, dry, and fast ride. They’re virtually unsinkable, thanks to the enormous amount of buoyancy in the tubes. They’re versatile — accommodating everyone from divers and watersports enthusiasts to anglers and day cruisers — and they’re affordable.
“We fell in love with the brand,” Ammerman says simply. “We also got to know Jack.”
Jack Behrendsen, who started selling inflatable boats in 1987 and his family-owned Islander Marine Sales in Marblehead, Ohio, had been selling Brig Boats on the shores of Lake Erie for nearly two decades, selling all available Brig models, from smallest to largest.
Ammerman knew Islander had a full-service repair shop and strong sales in both new and pre-owned inflatables. As the owner of Port Clinton-based Erie Marine, which sells and services boat lifts and docks, he recognized there would be natural synergies between the two businesses. Furthermore, after visiting with Sirocco Marine-Fort Lauderdale and getting to know the Brig USA team, Ammerman knew he wanted to approach Jack with an idea.
Although Behrendsen was already selling Brig Boats, Ammerman wanted to go a step further. The two men connected at the 2017 Progressive Mid-America Boat Show in Cleveland, and they soon were discussing what the future might look like.
Fast forward one year, and that future has arrived. Ammerman bought Islander Marine Sales, keeping Behrendsen on as a consultant, and he recently announced a new name for the business. Sirocco Marine-Lake Erie is officially the third dealership to enter the Brig USA/Sirocco Marine family in the United States, and it makes its new home at 2308 E. State Road in Port Clinton.
Customers can view the full line of Brig and Sirocco brands at the 8,000-square-foot facility, which now houses Sirocco Marine-Lake Erie and Erie Marine under one roof. Still under construction is a 5,000-square-foot showroom, which Ammerman expects will be open to the public in March.
“We’re hoping to schedule our showroom’s grand opening on March 15,” Ammerman said. “We’re eager to welcome the community through our doors, and to show them how we believe in and want to build on the Sirocco Marine brand - while preserving the outstanding reputation for quality, integrity, and customer service that Jack so carefully cultivated over all these years.”
To stay up to date with the latest news from Sirocco Marine-Lake Erie, including announcements about the March grand opening, visit www.siroccobrig.com. To learn more about Brig USA and its model lineup, visit www.brigusa.com.
tags: Company Expansions, Inflatable Boats, Lake Erie
