RE: Jacobs' estate – This is all a shame for his family. Through my career I have personally followed Irwin’s escapades for decades. Way back to Hatteras, Glaston and others, including a run at OMC in the 1990’s. Cajun, Deutche Financial, WellCraft, Ranger, VEC, wind blades, EPA and USCG efforts to change regs, court cases, real estate, package motors, T. Boone, Stratos, Champion, FLW, the guise of Genmar Retail Financing in 2008, efforts in the latest Genmar situation, and the list is very long.
I tried to know his motives before they were public as he manipulated aspects of our industry. Those in turn often created significant impacts on our business. A non-industry friend once told me of his experiences opposing Irwin’s investment buys and the way he managed to shine when others saw his realty purchases as excessive.
He was innovative, renegade and mostly a sharp promoter. Obviously his offspring are extremely sharp as well and appear to not share the same bravado.
In the end almost everything comes out when a situation develops as this has. In the end the truth is exposed publicly and while his cultural philanthropy was substantial, his affinity to risk was obviously extreme. It is unfortunate that his affinity to risk will eat the holdings and apparently most likely devour most of the estate. Unfortunate, though a course set long before his passing. The book will soon close on the final chapter of his escapades.
The last stamping will most likely have another impact on our sport and our industry – something he most likely is going to smile at with that grimace of a wrinkle.
BassFan says: Rick Pierce is president of Bass Cat Boats.
