Crestliner’’’’’’’’s Journey A silver-haired man trolls for walleyes along a stretch of rocky shoreline on a Minnesota lake. His old 10-hp Johnson Sea Horse chugs away happily as it always has. His boat, built in 1......Crestliner’’’’’’’’s Journey A silver-haired man trolls for walleyes along a stretch of rocky shoreline on a Minnesota lake. His old 10-hp Johnson Sea Horse chugs away happily as it always has. His boat, built in 1946 and as silver as his hair, bears the name "Aluminum Boat Company." He takes nostalgic pride in fishing from the preserved vintage craft. As the old man trolls, he passes another boat working in the opposite direction - under the silent power of a bow-mounted electric trolling motor. The big fishing rig, a Crestliner Tournament Series 202, measures 20 feet. Within its smooth, sleek welded hull is every convenience an angler could hope for. The two fishermen, though strangers, exchange waves as friends. They are walleye men, and connected by their passion for the Minnesota State Fish. But their connection goes way beyond that, although neither knows it. For one boat represents Crestliner’’’’’’’’s beginning... and the other, its future. THE BEGINNING December 12, 1946 William Morse, Sr. owned an airplane hangar on the east side of the Mississippi River in Little Falls, Minnesota. Inside the humble structure, boat builders crafted an aluminum fishing boat that proved to be as tough as it was stable. After the last rivet was set, the Aluminum Boat Company was born. In their first year, the company would generate $135,000 in sales. 1948... Chapter 2 In 1948, the Father-Son partners Loiel Ryan Sr. and Loiel Jr. took over management of the Aluminum Boat Company and renamed it Larson Watercraft, Inc. Business was good, and the quality of their boats kept getting better. In fact, by the mid 1950s, production was so brisk that the Ryans expanded the operation to include a new facility that housed the aluminum fabrication processes and wood department. The first part of the new plant was completed in 1955. In the same year, Larson Watercraft adopted the name "Crestliner" for all boat models. Two years later, on September 16, 1957, they changed the company name from Larson Watercraft to Crestliner, Inc. Change in the late 1950s In 1958, Crestliner took a bold step and added fiberglass models to their lineup. To facilitate this move, the growing company expanded the plant for fiberglass boat assembly. Production rocks and ownership rolls in the 60s The 60s was a decade of change for Crestliner. In 1960, the Ryans sold the company to the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company of New York. During their four years of control, they further expanded the plant in Little Falls, MN to keep up with flourishing demand. In 1964, ownership changed hands once again when the Molded Fiber Glass Body Company of Ashtabula, OH purchased Crestliner, Inc. During this period, fiberglass boat production was becoming more dominant. However, Crestliner continued to manufacture a variety of aluminum models. During the same year, the company introduced a revolutionary manufacturing technique: Welding. While other manufacturers relied on rivets to fasten their aluminum boats, Crestliner began welding their hulls. This technique eliminated problematic rivets that have always been prone to leakage. In addition, welding gave Crestliner boats a smooth, distinct look and the rigid strength to withstand tough conditions. Business giants take control in the 1970s In April of 1970, Crestliner’’’’’’’’s ownership changed again. The North America Rockwell Corporation bought the company and placed it in their Industrial and Marine Division. Crestliner was in good company, as Rockwell also owned two other boat companies: Whitecraft Houseboats and Hatteras Yachts. But this corporate home proved to be short-lived, because in late 1972 AMF Incorporated purchased Crestliner and Hatteras Yachts. At the time, AMF was a recreational products giant. Through their involvement with the leisure market, the AMF marine division grew steadily in the 70s as Crestliner fiberglass and welded aluminum boats gained market share. However, as the decade came to an end, the fuel crisis and eroding economic conditions brought a shift in AMF’’’’’’’’s planning strategy. Crestliner becomes Nordic In 1981, AMF decided to reduce the size of the marine division and consolidate production into one location. To achieve this goal, they offered the Crestliner Aluminum Division up for sale. Some former Crestliner employees recognized the opportunity and jumped on it. They purchased the Aluminum Division and formed the Nordic Boat Company/Crestliner. As Nordic, the company continued to expand and improve the welded aluminum Crestliner line. They also reintroduced a full line of fiberglass models from 1981 to 1988. Enter Genmar Genmar is a major force in the marine industry, just as they were back in 1988 when they bought the Nordic/Crestliner. Building on their vast marine knowledge, Genmar helped usher in a new tradition of aluminum boat quality. To properly position the company as the leader in aluminum fishing and fish & ski designs, Crestliner discontinued all fiberglass models in 1989 and focused solely on welded aluminum innovation.