Scout Resumes Full Production

Scout Boats is building across its entire lineup in Summerville, S.C., after pausing production of some models while it implemented guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to everyone affected by this pandemic, and those on the front lines tirelessly helping to see us through this crisis day in and day out,” vice president and COO Dave Wallace told Trade Only Today. “At Scout, we are balancing the need to manage the crisis while also preparing for new challenges and opportunity. Rest assured, this will pass, and we will turn this horrible situation into an opportunity.”

Gov. Henry McMaster (R) did not issue stay-at-home orders for manufacturing operations in South Carolina, Wallace said. However, Scout voluntarily paused production in areas of its operations where it was proving difficult to maintain social distancing. That went into effect March 27.

“The areas where we maintained production were our Plant D operations that produce the 380, 420 and 530 LXF,” Wallace said. “This plant is very large, and it allowed us to separate our employees appropriately. We also continued to work engineering, customer service, R&D and new-product development. In fact, we were able to add staff to new-product development in anticipation of our upcoming opportunity.”

Scout’s safety and compliance team applied strict CDC protocols throughout the company’s entire operation, Wallace said. “These are aimed at ensuring continued protection to our employees as we are gaining strength and back at full capacity,” he said.

Most of the team was back to work and operations resumed April 14.

“Our founder and CEO Steve Potts said it best recently: ‘90 percent of people sense fear with apprehension, anxiety and surrender. Ten percent sense fear as a challenge, fight and conquer. I’ve always looked at the opportunities and choose the 10 percent group,’ ” Wallace said. “Our Scout family shares in those feelings.”

Being family-owned gives Scout flexibility and agility, Wallace said. “Our leadership team has the drive and the mental toughness necessary to meet the challenging days ahead,” he said. “We have stepped up our online marketing and extended our boat show incentives. Boats will continue to sell during these times, and there will be pent-up demand on the back side, of which ourselves and our dealer network are poised and ready for.

“We are confident that Scout, our Class A dealer network who represent our brand all over the world and our incredible vendor partners will not only prevail through this pandemic but emerge even stronger than ever in the future,” Wallace added.