Sowester - Mercury Engines

Pete7 · 13 October 2001, 20:37

It would appear that Sowester who amongst other things supply Mercury have gone tits up. Hope no one brought a new engine recently. Hopefully someone brave will buy up the empire but it is causing minor problems with spares at the moment with there dealers. Thankfully most dealers ought to be able to source Mariner parts. Delayed the major service on my engine for a while.

Alan Mckewan · 13 October 2001, 23:14

I understand that SWMF who are connected with Sowester have also gone under. Does anyone want to give some info on what lead up to or caused this?

John Kennett · 14 October 2001, 09:05

Have a look at the RIBnet news page! the news has been there since Wednesday . . .

From what I hear it seems that Barrus may take on Mercury outboards. They are already joint distributors for Mercruiser inboards.

Whether or not Sowester manage to keep going, I'm sure that it won't have a major long term effect for Mercury owners.

John

Alan · 14 October 2001, 09:46

"Whether or not Sowester manage to keep going, I'm sure that it won't have a major long term effect for Mercury owners. "

B****y well hope so as we bought an Optimax in preference to a Ficht this year because of OMC's problems!!

Actually I think you are right. It would be a different story if Mercury themselves had gone bust. I am assuming (until someone tells me and my legal team :-) differently) that my Mercury warranty will be honoured by whomever is the importer/distributor.

Fingers X'd,

Alan

Alan Mckewan · 20 October 2001, 21:41

Actually I meant Simpson Lawrence connected to Sowester. Anybody any more news on either of these two as I've got a recent merc and a new SL handheld radio.

Alan · 21 October 2001, 14:56

Sowester bought out Simpson Lawrence a year or two ago. I understand that part of the probelsm they have had was integrating the two customers service/distribution operations.

Bad times for the marine products industry as the same week the holding company for many of the big chandlers, (Mailspeed, Cruisermart etc) went bust as well!

Alan

Christopher · 22 October 2001, 19:21

Sowester/Simpson Lawrence although in Rceivership are still trading . They pulled out of the Trade show last week at Windsor and the talk was that the Rceiver was hoping to sell as a going concern.
As far as Action Leisure is concerned(Pumpkin/ Capt O M Watts/Shoreline/London Yact Centre etc) they are officially in Administration rather than Receivership, and agin the talk was that they might be sold.

John Kennett · 23 October 2001, 09:03

Marine Power Europe, which handles Mercury Marine in Europe, Africa and the Middle East from their offices in Belgium, has issued a press release saying that its engine products, parts and accessories bought from Sowester Simpson-Lawrence will all be covered by the factory warranty.

So Alan W can sleep at night again

If SSL and Action Leisure don't find buyers, then the first floor of Earls Court is going to look very empty in January!

John

Alan · 24 October 2001, 09:53

I can sleep easier in my bed now!

Thanks John

John Kennett · 25 October 2001, 08:10

Looks like Action Leisure have got a buyer.

The new owner is Sailing Adventures Ltd who run the internet portal http://www.yachtinggateway.com/

John

Paul Glatzel · 07 November 2001, 19:22

Found this elsewhere

"Letter from Marine Power Belgium , was delivered by courier to all UK dealers today (7/11).
All their engine products (namely Mercury /Mercruiser ) will all be handled in future by EP Barrus and no longer Sowester.
hot off the press........"

......is it true?

Michael · 07 November 2001, 21:17

True. and it looks that was the final straw - the receiver is in. Sad for all the people who face the loss of their job. I dealt with their service dept. a few weeks ago and they couldn't have been more helpful.

Mike

Paul Glatzel · 07 November 2001, 21:17

The answer to the above is yes...

"Sowester in liquidation...

http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/...31ibinews.html

"EP Barrus taking on the Mercury/Mercruiser engines...

http://www.ybw.com/ibinews/newsdesk/...25ibinews.html

Paul

John Kennett · 07 November 2001, 21:41

I'd be surprised if Sowester get rescued now. Even if the name lives on, it will be an unrecognisable company. Mercury is just the latest in a whole line of suppliers that have taken up distribution deals with other companies, so Sowester has even less going for it.

John