[SkyDancer]

Didn’t Carter do something like tax the boat industry and almost destroyed it along with hundreds of jobs?

[Thumper1960]

Yup.

Trojan Yacht.

[KarlInOhio]

That was under George H. W. “read my lips, no new taxes” Bush in 1991.

[Bonemaker]

Close but it was the much “beloved” George “read my lips” H. W. Bush who agreed to this stinker.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1041807729976794664

Thanks a rot posthumously.

[vette6387]

“Didn’t Carter do something like tax the boat industry and almost destroyed it along with hundreds of jobs?”

Yes he did, and there was a lot of “trickle down” unemployment as a consequence. At that time I worked for a company that had a division that supplied fiberglass cloth to ChrisCraft in Florida. We had essentially a captive plant there to service their needs. Carter put a serious pinch on our business. Speaking of that feckless turd, why doesn’t he die already? And take Ruthie G. with him.

[Hatteras]

Knew a fellow working for Hatteras Yachts in New Bern, NC at the time. I asked him about the impact of the "luxury Tax" on the business. He said there was no impact as their clientele (85 feet and up) is pretty much beyond reach. I was visiting at the time and we were standing there watching Felix Sabatos' (NASCAR team owner) third yacht being prepped for electrical and plumbing rough-ins.

My friend had just returned from a trip to Italy. Seems that a very wealthy widow took ownership of her 105 foot yacht and promptly took it to Italy to have extensive custom marble work installed. When they attempted to drop it in the water, it began listing as the weight distribution was compromised. Hatteras Yachts sent a team of engineers over to resolve the issue.

Side note: Very cool operation if you ever get the opportunity to tour the facility. Basically a huge hangar with two sets of rails passing through it. Each rail system can fit two to three hulls (depending on length) at varying stages of construction.