"Dr. Jonathan Smithers, MD Phd." wrote in message
...
At one time, Chris Craft had an excellent reputation, from memory it was
purchased by OMC in the 80's. Also from memory, by 1980, they had become
known as a low cost entry boat, similar to Bayliner.




They were owned by OMC, then Genmar, now by 2 individuals:


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Just mention the name "Chris Craft" to a boat owner of a certain age and
fanciful images of a bygone era come to mind. But that lingering image of
old is also part of the challenge to the new owners of Chris Craft as they
set about creating a company for the 21st century worthy of the legendary
history of the name.

Intrigued by the concept of an independent Chris Craft unburdened by a
corporate owner, Boat U.S. Magazine decided to visit their plant in
Sarasota, FL to meet top company officials and see firsthand what was
planned and what was already underway.

Chris Craft can trace its roots back to the late 1870s and for nearly 50
years following World War I, its name was nearly synonymous with motor
boating, much as other outstandingly successful brand names such as Kodak,
Kleenex, Thermos and Xerox were in their fields. The company earned the
respect of the boating community and enjoyed great success in all its
markets, extending from small runabouts to 60-foot and longer yachts. They
even built a series of well-regarded sailboats.

Unfortunately, by the late 1960s Chris Craft had become part of a
conglomerate, one of those ill-fated attempts by so-called "professional"
managers to apply their supposed skills at running one business to all
others, regardless of their knowledge or experience in the field.

Although things went fairly well for a while, Chris Craft was eventually
spun off by the parent company and was operated by a succession of owners
who licensed the use of the Chris Craft name but who, on occasion, failed to
honor the name with the boats they produced.

By 1987, Chris Craft was in bad shape and was cited by the Boat U.S.
Consumer Protection Bureau for building a number of defective models with
significant hull problems. After declaring bankruptcy in late 1988, the
company was sold to Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), which in the ensuing
years, underwent two major changes in management and eventual bankruptcy
itself. During the past year the company and all of the other OMC boat
companies were purchased by Genmar, who, in turn, sold Chris Craft to its
new owners, Stephen Julius and Stephen Heese.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl..._7/ai_84029131

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