Shearwater now majority owned by private equity firm

[Divin'Papaw]

No, no insult, it's just the fact that unless you're a multisport enthusiast (say actually a hardcore runner and you dive alot, and possibly some of the other trackers that it has) then it just won't make any sense to you. No offense but you're not the market they're aiming for.

OK ... yes, I agree completely. Glad I asked

 

[TuckerIdaho]

OK ... yes, I agree completely. Glad I asked

To do what the Mk2 does I'd have to own a Shearwater Perdix AI, Fenix 6, and whatever spearo watch is hot right now. That's more money than the Mk2 and a transmitter.

 

[kelemvor]

To a degree, I completely agree with you. So, we, you and I are probably avid divers, but we are less then 5% of the divers in the world. Many people do not want to have to purchase a new item for everything they do. Again, increasing market share making making your Watch more viable. Looking at the Garmin App store, it was a lot of option to make the Garmin a more everyday every activity watch. The Garmin also can check certain vitals while you are diving. My HS electronics died of a heart attack in 1985 while diving in Long Beach Bay in 1985. Could a Garmin given him a heads up? I have no idea, but it is a thought and a direction for the future.

My local LDS has owned his shop since the 1970's, and thousands of dives. He sells both Shearwater and Garmin, when an older 68yo man raves about a Tech product for diving, I try to listen. He is not selling me one, as he sold me my Teric and Perdix AI, but he just loves the Garmin.

For the record, I love to be a Shearwater Reseller, but they only allow brick and mortar shops.

You are looking completely in the wrong direction. You're right that none of those are serious competitors to shearwater.

Divesoft Freedom, Ratio iX3M, Henrichs Weikamp OSTC, and MiltiDeco TDC-3 are competitors that shearwater probably should be thinking about.

In 2019 I sold my shearwater petrel computers and moved to Ratio iX3M. Shearwater has added some features and now I'd like to move to their petrel2 or perdix. I'm not sure which one off the top of my head as it's not a purchase I'm looking to make this weekend.

 

[Micheal]

You are looking completely in the wrong direction. You're right that none of those are serious competitors to shearwater.

Divesoft Freedom, Ratio iX3M, Henrichs Weikamp OSTC, and MiltiDeco TDC-3 are competitors that shearwater probably should be thinking about.

In 2019 I sold my shearwater petrel computers and moved to Ratio iX3M. Shearwater has added some features and now I'd like to move to their petrel2 or perdix. I'm not sure which one off the top of my head as it's not a purchase I'm looking to make this weekend.

I do not discredit your opinion and I could pick apart each one, bit that's dumb. I used a Ratio at DEMA and liked the computer.
In 2009, the iPod was not in the Top 10 for sound quality. Yet iPod dominated the market on aesthetics. People are snobs, shearwater wins cosmetics.

 

[Glenn Williams]

I do not discredit your opinion and I could pick apart each one, bit that's dumb. I used a Ratio at DEMA and liked the computer.
In 2009, the iPod was not in the Top 10 for sound quality. Yet iPod dominated the market on aesthetics. People are snobs, shearwater wins cosmetics.

Yes the Shearwater wins cosmetically but I also like it’s functionality. It is intuitive and gets the job done. I also happen to like the ratio. It is not easy on the eyes but it is a fine dive computer. I happen to like the vibration alarms. It also gets the job done. I also own the Eon core. Not a fan. It’s ok and does its job, I just like the Shearwater better. I hope and wish Shearwater has a long success story.

Glenn

 

[lowwall]

You are looking completely in the wrong direction. You're right that none of those are serious competitors to shearwater.

Divesoft Freedom, Ratio iX3M, Henrichs Weikamp OSTC, and MiltiDeco TDC-3 are competitors that shearwater probably should be thinking about.

A private equity firm is not going to be concerned with a couple of thousand sales a year to technical divers. They'll likely see being in that market as a marketing necessity rather than a growth opportunity. If they want growth they will need products that appeal to a larger demographic. Presumably they'll start by expanding their rec computer line, I expect a Teric Rec or maybe Teric Freediver will appear before the Christmas buying season. After that, who knows? They could either start marketing wrist computers/watches for other sports or add on other product lines for divers.

 

[Micheal]

Yes the Shearwater wins cosmetically but I also like it’s functionality. It is intuitive and gets the job done. I also happen to like the ratio. It is not easy on the eyes but it is a fine dive computer. I happen to like the vibration alarms. It also gets the job done. I also own the Eon core. Not a fan. It’s ok and does its job, I just like the Shearwater better. I hope and wish Shearwater has a long success story.

Glenn

I worded my response poorly.... Again I really liked the Ratio, and considered purchasing one or even becoming a distributer. In the end I purchased my Teric and have not looked back, adding a Perdix to my collection. If I was in Europe, maybe I would have gone with the Ratio.

A private equity firm is not going to be concerned with a couple of thousand sales a year to technical divers. They'll likely see being in that market as a marketing necessity rather than a growth opportunity. If they want growth they will need products that appeal to a larger demographic. Presumably they'll start by expanding their rec computer line, I expect a Teric Rec or maybe Teric Freediver will appear before the Christmas buying season. After that, who knows? They could either start marketing wrist computers/watches for other sports or add on other product lines for divers.

For the most part I agree, I said much to this on an earlier post on this thread. I have been in IT for a lot of years, and have always disliked the Pay for upgrade scenario. Shearwater has a tried and true Software already developed. Why waste time downgrading and troubleshooting a tweaked OS. All the money spent there could have been used to enhance the existing OS. They could just keeping using it and create difference devices and form factors.

But as you stated, the new firm is going to look at diversifying its marketplace and portfolio.

 

[cmcdarris]

I have owned a Perdix for about 2 years and cannot be more pleased. I have owned a number of dive computers and the Perdix is hands-down the BEST!!! I have highly recommended it to friends who have also purchased the Perdix and all of us are very happy customers. One of the secrets to success in my opinion, is that it is a dive computer designed by divers for divers who have always made customer satisfaction the primary objective. Honestly, I cannot think of another company in any industry that has standards as high as Shearwater. As others have said, I worry that a private equity firm will be made up of non-divers who try to change things by putting profit over the product and customers. I sure hope Mr. Hartt can keep the investors in check.

 

[Marie13]

My Apple Watch works just fine as a fitness tracker and does a whole bunch of other stuff. I like keeping my diving on my two Perdix. I much prefer a larger display.

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

Hello everyone, we appreciate seeing all your responses to our recent post on the change of ownership control at Shearwater. I’ve had the privilege for the past few years of being the CEO of Shearwater Research.

Shearwater initiated the process of succession for the founders, while sustaining the organization’s ethos, over two years ago. It took time, but it had to be done right. The global pandemic didn’t help the process. We looked for partners that recognized and valued the qualities that led to Shearwater’s hard-earned reputation for quality and extraordinary customer service and could help the organization to further grow and scale up. We had to be sure that our new partners were going to be compatible with our company values.

We believe BRS is the right partner for us. We selected BRS for their successful track record with consumer products, its proven strategy and business acumen and the quality of relationships it has established with its other portfolio companies’ leadership teams. We look forward to working with them.

Bruce and Lynn Partridge continue to hold an investment in Shearwater and will continue to contribute as members of the Board of Directors. All management and staff remain in place and committed to Shearwater’s continued growth. Shearwater’s name isn’t changing, nor its focus on what we do best. We have the same products, customers and suppliers doing business on the same terms. We continue to build our products in our own Canadian facilities just like we’ve always done. In fact, this past December we moved to a manufacturing and headquarters space that is twice the size of our previous location, and yet just down the street. We remain committed to being an authentic diving business made up of divers and subject matter specialists. We will be happy to be judged on our track record moving forward and appreciate the interest and passion of this community.

@Jim Hartt So good to hear that business will continue as normal. I recently had an issue on my Peregrine, where I had condensation under the screen. It was sent back, and within a week, a brand new Peregrine was at my LDS waiting for me. Amazing customer service, brings repeat customers. Looking forward to the time when you offer a Peregrine AI, perhaps with a compass. (I had around 110 dives on my Peregrine when it was sent back. New one now has 28 dives) Absolutely love my Shearwater.