SEA RAY® CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AT ITS TENNESSEE PRODUCTION FACILITY

Published on August 25th, 2023

Sea Ray’s Tellico Lake plant was opened in 1983 to support expansion of production

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (25 August 2023) — With more than six decades of manufacturing one of the most globally recognized brand of boats in the marine industry, Sea Ray is celebrating 40 years at its Vonore, Tenn.Tellico Lake facility and honoring the location’s history and achievements. 

Sea Ray made its first footprint in Tennessee when it started production of small runabouts in 1983 out of the Tellico Lake plant.  The company’s headquarters soon followed, relocating to Knoxville in 1985. 

The Tellico Lake plant initially produced Sea Ray’s Seville line of boats and other 18 to 25-foot runabout models. Over 40 years, the facility has built for Sea Ray and other Brunswick brands, totaling 680 models. Today, the facility produces boats ranging in size from 23 – 35 feet including models from each of Sea Ray’s SPX, SDX, SLX and iconic Sundancer lines.  It employs more than 620 talented and dedicated team members locally with 130 team members who have been with the plant 20 years or more.

“We were the first boat manufacturer to put down roots in Eastern Tennessee and have been proud to call the Knoxville area home for four decades,” said Keith Yunger, Sea Ray president. "The achievements of the past 40 years have set the stage as our tenured team steps into the next decade of building the most iconic boats in the industry.”

Throughout its establishment in East Tennessee, Sea Ray has also contributed greatly to the local community through outreach efforts. Showcasing their appreciation for the community they call home, Sea Ray employees have devoted their time and resources to make a positive impact and support their neighbors. Recent contributions include a food backpack program for local elementary schools, and a Christmas gift program with Angel Tree Gifts. The Tellico team donated over 530 lbs. of bird seed, books, blankets and other supplies for the Life Care Center of Athens and over 1,100 pounds of food for the Fresh Start homeless program, and has established an internal Blessing Box program for employees in need.  This month, the team continued its community mission by hosting three families for boat rides and time on the water, supporting Team Lexi, a local foundation that provides assistance to families with children diagnosed with cancer.

Sea Ray hosted a 40-year anniversary celebration Saturday, Aug.19th with over 1400 team members and their families in attendance.  Honored guests included members of the original “Tellico 13”, 13 of the founding team members of the plant in 1983, and additional team members that joined during that first year.

For more information about Sea Ray, and to view the complete lineup, visit SeaRay.com.

ABOUT SEA RAY
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Sea Ray is the world’s leading creator of superior quality pleasure boats. For more than 60 years, Sea Ray has pushed the limits of performance and craftsmanship to elevate the boating experience. Each Sea Ray is designed to make every moment exceptional, supporting boaters’ unique lifestyles with a customized balance of unparalleled comfort and performance and world-class technology throughout. Learn more about the Sea Ray Experience at SeaRay.com.

ABOUT BRUNSWICK
Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is the global leader in marine recreation, delivering innovation that transforms experiences on the water and beyond.  Our unique, technology-driven solutions are informed and inspired by deep consumer insights and powered by our belief that “Next Never Rests™”. Brunswick is dedicated to industry leadership, to being the best and most trusted partner to our many customers, and to building synergies and ecosystems that enable us to challenge convention and define the future. Brunswick is home to more than 60 industry-leading brands. In the category of Marine Propulsion, these brands include, Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and MerCruiser. Brunswick’s comprehensive collection of parts, accessories, distribution, and technology brands includes Mercury Parts & Accessories, Land ‘N’ Sea, Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Mastervolt, RELiON, Attwood and Whale. Our boat brands are some of the best known in the world, including Boston Whaler, Lund, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Harris Pontoons, Princecraft and Quicksilver. Our service, digital and shared-access businesses include Freedom Boat Club, Boateka and a range of financing, insurance, and extended warranty businesses. While focused primarily on the marine industry, Brunswick also successfully leverages its portfolio of advanced technologies to deliver an exceptional suite of solutions in mobile and industrial applications.  Headquartered in Mettawa, IL, Brunswick has more than 18,500 employees operating in 29 countries. In 2022, Brunswick was named by Forbes as a World’s Best Employer and as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, both for the third consecutive year. For more information, visit Brunswick.com.