Telwater ceases Mercury agreement

TELWATER announced the cession of factory fitted boat, motor packages with Mercury or Mariner products.

Telwater MD Paul Phelan said the decision stemmed from changes implemented by Mercury which made the program uncompetitive.

“Telwater and Mercury have been partners for many years but unfortunately, the market has changed and so must we,” said Phelan.

Telwater will continue to offer boat/motor packages to its customers and dealer network thanks to the recent alliance with BRP.

“BRP has successfully filled the void in our package program with competitively priced outboards that complement our range,” said Phelan.

“We believe BRP’s attractive pricing and features will make Telwater boat, motor, trailer packages even more attractive in these testing times. Phelan said lightweight models and smaller engine sizes made them ideally suited to Telwater’s products. Telwater’s new model development will use BRP’s smaller engine sizes to maximise cockpit space and stability in smaller models.

“We expect to gain an average of 150mm in cockpit space in a 4.5 metre package, which in a small boat it’s something to scream about,” he said.

“Also, BRP engines have a lower centre of gravity, whereby making engine mass lower to the water and makes the vessel more sure footed for the end user."

Telwater will continue to factory fit pre-rigs for all engine brands including Mercury and Mariner.

“Customers are expecting well designed, keenly priced packages to attract them into dealerships and we intend to do just that with a little help from our new partner, BRP,” said Phelan.

John Temple Mercury GM Australia New Zealand Pacific told Marine Business Telwater has been a great partner for Mercury over a number of years "but with all relationships our needs and goals grew apart over time and Telwater wanted more than what we were willing to give".

"We made a pledge to our dealers that our first priority would be maintaining dealer health and not appointing dealers on every corner in competition to them, and that they needed space to survive in this difficult market and we would do everything possible to assist them," said Temple.

"Imagine dealers having to send their technicians off to another service school, buy more special tools, carry extra inventory and deal with another supplier all of which they don't want in these times," he said.

"Mercury has been around a long time and we've seen others come and go and come back again, regardless of this we will always ensure our dealers are competitive in the market whether it be for repowering an existing boat or selling up against a BMT packaged product, our dealers will be in the race," said Temple.