They were loud and funny, different and personable: when designer Alexander Vrolijk and advertiser Stephan Boden enriched the scene in 2014 with new ideas and fresh approaches, the success hardly seemed to stop. Everyone was talking about the team and products, and the Bente 24 sold well. Then the surprising jump to the second model: The 39 once again set an exclamation point with a unique, almost fully glazed structure and raised steering seat, radical racer look and driving qualities. And a 28 more suitable for the masses should expand the program.
Bente 39 on the Kiel Fjord
Then the end: "The company got into difficulties due to the high development costs for existing and planned yacht models. In addition, strategic decisions in the past had not had the desired effect," said the insolvency administrator Hendrik Heermaus Hamburg, who, among other things, already owned the Elsflether shipyard with the "Gorch Fock" renovation case. On April 1st, insolvency proceedings were filed with the Bremerhaven District Court. The firm FRH Finck Rinckens HeermRechtsanwälte - Steuerberater, which specializes in restructuring, has continued Bente Yachts in the previous proceedings and has now been able to sell it to FirmUltramarin Meichle & Mohr in Kressbronn on Lake Constance.
SonjMeichle
Christian Daum
From the press release: "Together with her father, SonjMeichle runs Germany's largest inland marina, Ultramarin in Kressbronn with around 1,500 berths on Lake Constance. In addition, the mother of two children is the vice-president of the Federal Association of the Water Sports Industry in Cologne and has a degree in economics. Both are enthusiastic sailors and have been very successfully represented by Bente since the beginning with a dealer location. Thanks to their many years of professional experience in yachting and Ultramarin's years of entrepreneurial expertise, the family-run company will be able to exploit or increase the full potential of Bente in the future were also able to win Christian Daum from Bente Yachts GmbH for the key position Head of Bente Yachts."
Alexander Vrolijk is not involved in the new company, but remains with Judel / Vrolijk & Co as a designer and source of ideas. The new constellation still needs the approval of the creditors' meeting. Benteyachts should be fully functional again from July 1st. The Bente 24 will continue to be the focus of the business, the 39 will also continue to be built, and the Bente 28 is to come, but has to be further developed and finished. Optimizations in quality management and a few minor adjustments in the production process are planned. The previous price list is currently still valid. The dealer network is to be expanded. The previous shipyard in Szczecin will continue to be the producer.
Customers who have ordered a Bente 24 and have not withdrawn from the purchase should receive their boats this summer without losses. Bente 39 that have been ordered are to be delivered by summer 2021.