1. You guys are expanding – why and why now?
> "Well I could say it's because it took us this long to get us in a position to where we could, but we really needed to sooner than this. When we built this [original Vexus] facility...ability to produce our own trailers was very important. We knew it was the first thing we'd outgrow and we outgrew quicker than we anticipated...."
2. Do folks there feel like the trailer is just as important as the boat? Or even more important??
> "Speaking for myself, I feel it's the most important accessory for the boat. It's where the boat spends most of its life. And now we travel farther, we travel faster, the boats are bigger – you could say the driver is more distracted.... So having a trailer that's roadworthy...for the life of the boat itself is something we spent a lot of time and engineering on."
[Is it wrong to say I love my trailer? 😁 Because I do. It's a relief for me, from my personal boat history, not to worry about it at all.]
3. What does 2022 look like for Vexus' bass boat supply?
> "As it stands today demand continues to outstrip supply, but we're doing a lot of things and pulling lot of different levers to grow our segment of the business, and believe we can do that.
> "I think what's important is that our fisheries are healthy...rise of fishing license sales across the states ...think just more people are wanting to enjoy the outdoors, which is good for us and good for them."
4. Is there a boat you guys are shooting for but you can't get there all in one leap?
> "I think for over half a century [including their time at Ranger, founded by Keith's grandad Forrest Wood] that's been the case. There's always been a boat in our minds that we're striving for.
> "Sometimes it's 'revolution,' like...our company, and sometimes it's evolution...tweaks to existing platforms.... But it's real...a constant dissatisfaction with the status quo.
> "Forrest once said, 'I'm glad we never quit trying to make them better.' That's how our company performs. We're never going to quit trying to make them better."
5. What do you think about this whole electric outboard deal?
> "I've said since electric cars started to be something...that we've built hybrid boats for years...spend a lot more time on the electronic trolling motor than we do with the outboard running.
> "I assume there's applications [for electric outboards]...believe we'll see more people fishing, and we'll all get a piece of the pie and be glad that it happened."
Bonus Q: Did you fish anything other than a Whopper Plopper in that Team Championship?
> [Laughs] "Unfortunately there wasn't much of a Plopper bite in Eufaula in Dec.
> "I have to commend B.A.S.S. for putting that on. I've been to a lot of fishing tournaments.... To put it in perspective, Ryan [Patterson, sales manager and Keith's team partner] said, 'We have a 1 in 500 chance of making the Classic' – there's not a lot of places you have those kind of odds.
> "It was just a cool experience. I hope to get to qualify again this coming season."
[Keith maybe you and Ryan should put down the Plopper for a lil bit? Except that's how you guys qualified so...😂]