Marinette Boat Forum

I wanted to add this here. I posted it on FB, but that always goes into the FB abyss.

1954 to 1991 Big M's have had many versions. Marinette is a "Make" of boat with many models.

1954 to 1961 Falls City Flying Service
1. Spartan Mariner (I think 54 to 56)
http://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/17275_781.20_791.20
2. All Family Cruiser (58 & 59)
3. Marinette (1960)

1961 to 1991 Aluminum Cruisers, Inc. (All called Marinette from here)
1. Sedan (1961 listed one but I have only seen this model from the 70's)
2. Express (1961 to late 80's - Don't know if I've seen any 90 up Express models)
a. Hard Top
b. Flybridge
3. Sea-Crest
a. Catamaran (1962 & 1963)
b House Boat (River Cruiser)
4. Sportsman
a. Hard Top
b. Convertible
c. Flybridge
5. Fisherman
6. Grand Sport
7. Marquis
8. Overnighter (I have never seen one of these - In an early 60's brochure - May have become the Sportsman)
9. Double Cabin (Pre Marquis)

1992 Boating Corporation of America
1. Convertible (34 and 41)
2. Double Cabin (34 and 41)
3. Motor Yacht

I am sure this has lots of holes and maybe some dates are off some, but my research says over 8000 were built over almost 40 years .... pretty good run.

We have the 44 Marinette built by Boating Corporation of America, Gallatin, TN in 1994.
I believe it to be the last Marinette yacht they built.
I am interested in finding out who the designer was. It appears to be a stretched 41 with bigger stringers and Cat diesels.

Would love to see some photo's of her !

Marinette, or what was left of it, went on the auction block in 1994. John Althouse bought the name, tools, parts. He hoped to resurrect the brand but was unable to do it.

Has anyone heard anything as of late as to the status of Marinette, last I spoke with the father was a year and half ago and everything was in limbo pending the son's health.

In 1989 I was on a flight from New Orleans to Detroit (GM Audit Staff) with a two hour layover in Staniford Field (Louisville) to visit the Marinette production facility for some parts for our 32 SDFB. After purchasing the parts I was pleased to see the production floor and welders laying up the chine extrusions in jigs and welding the hull panels to them. After watching for a few moments I noticed a Hull on a trailer ,unpainted, superstructure in place with running gear installed and water droplets on the hull. When I asked what the boat in White (an automotive term for a vehicle completely assembled with powertrain and basic interior ready for engineering testing) was since it did not look like a Marinette with sloped forecabin top and a Radar Arch, I was told it was the NEW MODEL, 34 SDFB. I knew then I had to seatrial one at Emerald City, St. Clair Shores when it arrived. Later in 1990 that took place and I was hooked.

Then I was given a new assignment with GM and didn't return to Grosse Ile, Mich. and boating until a few years later. Ofcourse by 2010, when I retired from GM the Marinette company had stopped production and the 34 was just a memory. BUT in 2016 one of them showed up in a suburb of Detroit that was for sale. I won't bore you with the details of the purchase and back story, but now Spies Like Us is in our lift on Swan Island, Grosse Ile, Mich. and is piecemeal being brought back to Bristol condition. I would appreciate any information anyone has on these last models of this unique watercraft and welcome anyone to call Ron Spies at cell 734 318 9929, I'd love to talk with you.

Thank for the story, Ron
Does the 34 have 350 Crusaders?

More interesting stuff.
Thanks for sharing.

Here is what I believe to be a Tenn. built boat, for sale. https://www.boattrader.com/listing/1992 ... 103322307/