SBT buys out Hydro-turf and HT Moto

SUPERJET-113

GASKETS FOR CHAMP BRAP!
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Marine and powersports entrepreneur, Greg Pickren, has acquired Hydro-Turf from founder, Arno Olbricht. “Hydro-Turf has been for over thirty years and still is the leader in watercraft traction mats and seat covers, and we are extremely excited about this acquisition. Mr. Olbricht certainly deserves a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the industry,” says Mr. Pickren.

“Founding and growing Hydro-Turf to the company that it is today has been my passion for most of my adult life. I will miss the daily challenges of running the business, but I am confident that the company has a bright future under the direction of Mr. Pickren,” says Mr. Olbricht.

The company will be relocated to a new, larger manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida during the first quarter of 2021. “Hydro-Turf will continue to provide the same outstanding level of customer service and product quality, something for which the company has been known for over the last thirty years,” added Mr. Pickren.

About Greg Pickren:
Mr. Pickren’s family of companies and brands include Marine Mat, SEI Marine Products, API Marine, 4XPro, East Lake Axle, Watercraft Superstore, SBT, BlackTip JetSports, Adonis Impellers, and Pacific Big Wave. The family of companies are headquartered in Tampa, Florida and have manufacturing facilities in the United States and Taiwan. The collective group of companies have 300 employees and annual sales of $70 Million. For additional information, contact Sage Pickren at sage.pickren@gmail.com.

About Hydro-Turf:
Hydro-Turf was founded in 1990 by Arno Olbricht. Hydro-Turf is the industry leader in watercraft traction mats and seat covers with multiple original equipment and aftermarket distributer and dealer accounts. The company’s manufacturing facilities are located in Anaheim, California. The company also produces seat covers and other products under the tradename HT Moto for the motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, and side by side industries.
 

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Well crap, guess I better stock up now before HydroTurf becomes the same crap as blacktip in the first quarter of 2021. We’ll get blacktip with hydroturf package and “made in China “ bonus.
Totally agree.A friend was able to get me some turf and pad a couple weeks ago.So l’m set for a while now
 

JetManiac

Stoked
Site Supporter
Vendor Account
Location
orlando
Well crap, guess I better stock up now before HydroTurf becomes the same crap as blacktip in the first quarter of 2021. We’ll get blacktip with hydroturf package and “made in China “ bonus.

It will be run as a separate company, and HT materials/suppliers will remain the same. It would make no sense to buy it and then ruin the name and business.
 
It will be run as a separate company, and HT materials/suppliers will remain the same. It would make no sense to buy it and then ruin the name and business.

I really hope so. It was their only competition. And as businesses do, buy the competition to eliminate the competition then just use the well known name and switch to a cheaper product under the premium name.
I have nothing to back up SBT doing this but it happens all the time.
 

JetManiac

Stoked
Site Supporter
Vendor Account
Location
orlando
I really hope so. It was their only competition. And as businesses do, buy the competition to eliminate the competition then just use the well known name and switch to a cheaper product under the premium name.
I have nothing to back up SBT doing this but it happens all the time.

If that is what happens, then there is an opportunity for new businesses to enter the market. There are lots of companies making ‘turf’ for the marine industry already, that could focus on jet skis. Also HT molded diamond turf is made in China already from what I am told, so no worries about switching production to cheaper in China.
 

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Will this effect the usual deals on Turf at the Daytona freeride?
I'm in need of a couple sheets of B-Stock and had planned on waiting and just grabbing a couple sheets there.
 

WFO Speedracer

A lifetime ban is like a lifetime warranty !
Location
Alabama
I hope it's more impressive than their SBT location in Clearwater , after all the promotional hype I was expecting something much bigger and better, basically a hole in the wall, I drove right past the place and didn't see it, not impressive.
 
I hope it's more impressive than their SBT location in Clearwater , after all the promotional hype I was expecting something much bigger and better, basically a hole in the wall, I drove right past the place and didn't see it, not impressive.
It's funny, if you go to their website the "About Us" page still says they are in Anaheim and shows the building in Anaheim but the mailing address has been changed to Clearwater, FL. I guess they don't want to get the word out too much that they moved and are now SBT.
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
It's funny, if you go to their website the "About Us" page still says they are in Anaheim and shows the building in Anaheim but the mailing address has been changed to Clearwater, FL. I guess they don't want to get the word out too much that they moved and are now SBT.
HT is a stand alone company from what I have seen. Hence they new building.
 
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