Escape to San Diego

SAN DIEGO — Little Falls, Minnesota-based Larson Boat Group wanted to get away from home for its 2014 dealer meeting, where it rolled out the 2015 boat models to dealers from around the country. The company’s decision-makers considered locations in Texas, Florida and California.

When it came down to it, they chose San Diego — thinking Florida and Texas could potentially be too hot this time of year — and California’s southernmost big city didn’t disappoint. Blue skies, refreshing breezes and temperatures in the high 70s meant the three-day event was a working getaway for many.

Attendees got the opportunity to test 23 models, 12 of them brand new, from the group’s five brands: Larson, Larson FX, Striper, Escape and Triumph. San Diego Bay provided an excellent testing ground. Plus, for dealers, there were breakout sessions featuring topics ranging from lead management to product development, and sessions led by Larson partners such as Raymarine, Honda, Suzuki and Navico.

Of the 12 new models introduced at the meeting, seven of them were pontoons in the Escape line, including six in the new RT series, which Larson places in the mid-priced pontoon segment. Those models come in standard, fish/cruise and full-fish configurations. The other was the Escape 25 TTT Dual Console, from the premium pontoon line. Two new Stripers (saltwater fishing) and a new Larson FX (freshwater fishing) were among the other new models.

The event was the first dealer meeting since Larson shook things up at the top, bringing in Rob Parmentier and his decades of experience as new president and CEO. He filled out his team with other industry veterans and longtime collaborators, and they got to work, rolling out all of these new models in less than a year’s time.

For more information, visit larsonboatgroup.com.

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