Sealine International has announced that it will exit the new boat retail business, effective 31 December 2005.

“Sealine’s great strength is manufacturing world-class sport cruisers and motor yachts,” explained Rick Stone, managing director of Sealine. “It is extremely rare for a boat manufacturer to operate its own retail business, and after reviewing the situation we have concluded that Sealine’s retail sales are best managed by our world-class international dealer network.”

“We will continue to operate our sea school, service and boat brokerage operations, but the time has come to exit the retail business and focus on our core competency in boat manufacturing,” Stone explained.

The closure will affect Sealine’s new boat sales operations only, and will impact Sealine employees located in the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany. Counselling and support services will be provided and every effort will be made to find suitable alternative employment for those affected.

“We are grateful for the efforts of these employees, and we will do all that we can to help them in their transition to other employment,” Stone said.