Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/326874
18 | Boating Industry | July 2014 [ 85 Years of boating history ] www.BoatingIndustry.com www.BoatingIndustry.com 1950s Like many U.S. industries, boating boomed in the post-war years. The GI Bill, rising middle class, baby boom and growing suburbs all played a role in the burgeoning ma- rine industry. In 1950, The Boating Industry reported that there were just less than 450,000 numbered (registered) motorboats in use. By 1959, the industry was selling that many boats in a year. The biggest challenge for the marine industry seemed to be keeping up with demand. Throughout the early 1950s the magazine reported on the shortage of metal slowing production as the National Production Authority limited the amount of steel, aluminum and copper available for consumer goods. That shortage of metal parts led to a resurgence in wood boats and the growth of fi berglass as a hull material. In 1955, even Chris-Craft began building fi berglass boats. As the post-war restrictions were lifted, though, the in- dustry achieved record growth. By the end of the decade, employees at boat builders and engine makers were working triple shifts fi ve or six days a week to keep up with demand. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the recreational boating industry in 1954, The Boating Industry conducted a reader survey. In that survey, 96 percent of respondents said boating was "on in the increase" in their area, with the aver- age reader reporting a 30 percent increase in business over the previous year. Boat shows continued to grow and the decade saw the fi rst Fort Lauderdale Sports & Boat Show, while in 1953 the Miami Boat Show became "International" for the fi rst time. In 1954, the American Boat & Yacht Council held its fi rst meeting in New York City, with Phelps Ingersoll elected as president. It described its mission "to develop and make available recommended practices and engineer- ing standards for improving and promoting the design, construction, equipage and maintenance of small craft with reference to their safety." Two of the iconic brands in the industry were also cre- ated in the 1950s. In 1955, J. Orid Edson founded Advanced Outboard Marine, the company that would become Bay- liner after he paid $100 to acquire the name from another company in 1960. And in 1959, Sea Ray was born when C.N. Ray founded the company in Detroit. 1950s Like many U.S. industries, boating boomed in the post-war years. The GI Bill, rising middle class, baby boom and growing suburbs all played a role in the burgeoning ma- rine industry. Industry there were just less than 450,000 numbered (registered) motorboats 1960s The Sixties have a well-deserved legacy as the most formative decade in recent memory for social upheaval, national tragedies, the expansion of civil rights, the start of the Vietnam War, Woodstock and Cold War tensions that nearly boiled over. At the decade's dawn, the U.S. was in a 10-month recession that preceded a massive cycle of prosperity. For the January 1960 issue, The Boating Industry ran a special issue that included boating statistics put together in concert with the National Association of Engine & Boat Manufacturers and the Statistical Research Department of the Outboard Boating Club of America. As of 1960, boating was the nation's top family sport with 39 mil- lion Americans participating and $2,475,000,000 spent at the retail level. After boat sales steadily and strongly increased throughout the 50s, there were 3,900 marinas and boat yards in the U.S., 1,100 yacht and boat clubs and 7,800,000 recreational craft on all waterways in the country. Other stats included 5,845,000 outboards in use, and 329,000 new outboard boats sold during the previous year. According to the Outboard Boating Club of America, New York lead the way in outboard boat use with 527,000 outboards in use at the close of 1959. Michigan came in second place with 424,000, followed by California in third place with 388,000 outboards in use. At that time, consumers paid an average of $524 ($4,227.67 in 2014 dollars) for an outboard boat, outboard engines cost an average of $472 and an average new boat trailers cost $220. Brunswick entered the marine industry in 1960 with its purchase of Owen Yachts. In 1961, Brunswick added the Kiekhaefer Corp., builder of the Mercury engine. Other major marine landmarks include the in- troduction of MerCruiser and its fi rst production sterndrive with more than 100 horsepower, Chris-Craft expanding beyond 10 factories and 5,000 employees, Honda building the fi rst mass-produced four-stroke in 1964 and its fi rst American outboard in 1967, and the Ski Nautique brand reborn with the introduction of a $4,500 boat-trailer combo. Volvo's Pentaverken changed its name to AB Volvo Penta in 1965 as marine engine sales grew and the company opened subsidiaries in England, Germany and Italy. Meanwhile, OMC began overseas production in Brugge, Belgium, introduced four computer-driven sterndrive maintenance schools, en- tered the snowmobile market in 1964 and, by 1969, saw its annual sales exceed $327 million. Hurricanes Betsy and Camille were major Gulf Coast disasters that roared ashore in 1964 and 1969. P16x20-BI14JUL-AnvLookBack.indd 18 5/28/14 11:57 AM