If you’re on this website, you already know what I’m about to say.
The pontoon market is HOT right now. So hot in fact, Smoker Craft is telling us pontoon sales are a major reason behind its expansion. Smoker Craft makes Sylvan, Starcraft and Sunchaser pontoons in New Paris, Ind.
Smoker Craft, which also makes aluminum fishing boats and fiberglass sport boats, announced it will add 100 American jobs by 2018 thanks to a $4.1 million expansion.
The longest family-owned pontoon company in existence plans to renovate and equip its 500,000-square-foot production facility. According to a news release from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., it will add 90,000 additional square feet by March 2015. The company says its growth will allow it to increase production by 50 percent and improve efficiency, quality and consistency.
Smoker Craft, which currently employs more than 440 full-time employees, plans to begin hiring for line positions in February. Interested applicants may apply at the company’s facility.
“We chose to expand our presence in Indiana because it has been our home since 1903,” said Doug Smoker, president and chief executive officer of Smoker Craft in the release. “It has an excellent work force which believes in hard work and dedication to the company.”
In addition to its Indiana facility, the company also operates plants in LaGrange, Ga., and Stayton, Ore.
The pontoon boat segment is driving the expansion. Several months per year, the plant reaches capacity because they are building so many pontoons.
“Pontoons are not what they used to be,” says CFO Joe Blackburn. “The motors now have 115 to 150 horsepower whereas, not all that long ago, 40 to 60 horsepower was more common.”
Smoker Craft was founded in 1961 and is a fifth-generation, family-owned business that sells its boats through a domestic and international network of more than 300 dealers, which are critical key to growth for all boat manufacturers.’
I’ve seen the 2015 line-up for all three pontoon brands in person and I can tell you they are doing fun stuff. The company has incorporated bold colors into the exterior while giving the interior a clean and classy look. Smoker Craft makes a boat that anyone would be proud to own and since they offer a whole range of different models, you can find a boat that fits in your budget. Visit www.sunchaserboats.com, www.sylvanmarine.com, and www.starcraftmarine.com for more information.
