This being Friday—and you know how much I like to report good news on Friday—I submit the following from Joe Schaldenbrand of Sunsation Performance Boats, which unveiled its new 36-footer at its Open House in Algonac, Mich., earlier this week:

“The New 36’ hit a home run today,” Schaldenbrand said in an email to the Sunsation faithful yesterday. “The boat exceeded our expectations in handling, driving, performance, stability. When you work on a project like this and put everything you have into it but, you’re just never sure how well it is going to run and the moment of truth finally comes, there is no better feeling in the world. ‘We have a winner,’ said Mike Griffith of Mercury Racing ‘This boat is right on.’

“ All the people that worked on this project need to be proud of what has been accomplished,” Schaldenbrand concluded. “It was a group effort that has paid off.”

On a personal note: Two years ago in Sanibel Island, Fla, at the end of one of Powerboat magazine’s spring round-ups, I walked up the docks to say goodbye to Wayne Schaldenbrand of Sunsation. We were done testing his company’s boat and he was headed back to Michigan. I told him how impressed we were with his boat, and how I hoped Sunsation could weather the coming economic storm.

Schaldenbrand choked up and his eyes filled. “It’s really hard right now,” he said. “But we’re doing everything we can to keep people working.”

So to Wayne, Joe, John and all the rest of the very good people at Sunsation, Congratulations. Class always tells. Always.