Just ran across news at the Cruising World web site that NM was being sold to a private equity firm. I don't have enough posts to link to the article, but you can find it on the first page of the site if you're interested.
No details on the transaction were given, but it looks like Ross (current CEO) is leaving, and Jackett (COO/ch. designer) is staying for now. Probably both outcomes are best, at least for the short term and the sake of continuity. Reading between the
lines, the press release's emphasis on the new owners' substantial investment in the company suggests that the various QA/warranty issues that have cropped up, and associated the bad publicity they have generated, have taken their toll, cash flow-wise.
Assuming a cash crunch was the major reason for the sale, it seems the whole deal could have been avoided if Ross/Jackett had promptly taken a few simple steps: communicate with owners and the public in a non-confrontational and cooperative manner, and work actively to improve NM's service and warranty support process/reputation. Filing countersuits and adopting adversarial positions may make sense to a lawyer like Ross, but makes no sense on a business level.
Anyway, here's hoping for some positive action from the new owners. If they can generate favorable perceptions of this company's products and after-sale support, they should be well on their way to renewed success.
EDITED TO POST THE LINK BY CAM:
http://www.cruisingworld.com/boats-a...000007788.html