History of Glastron Boats

Glastron Boats are mostly known for a few mainthe first models to offer a fibreglass hardtop.
things which created their high profile very quickly.As Glastron Boats was rising to success they
The first was that they produced the first largerbegan to expand their facilities in Northwest
scale fibreglass runabouts, which consisted ofAustin, where they purchase 8 acres of land.
around 500,000 boats which is a lot more thanGlastron Boats saw new innovative technologies
any other boat company. Secondly in 1973 theywithin their new models including a two tones gel
produced boats for 'Live and Let Die' the popularcoat hull, the Aqua Lift deep-vee hull, and their
James Bond film. From this 17 of the boats theyfirst tri-hull boat. By the beginning of the 1960s
produced where destroyed while shooting theGlastron boats saw half of its boat sales come
boat scene to create the perfect speed andfrom the innovative models with the deep-vee
height for the jump scene which broke records. InAqua lift. In the 1970s Glastron saw its 100,000
the 1980s they designed a boat for anotherboat being built, and they also replaced there
James Bond film 'Moonraker.' This boat then wentstandard steering which led to a big increase
on to be given the 'Boat of the Year' prize bywithin safety.
Powerboat Magazine. Glastron also produced theIn the 1980s and 1990s Glastron boats saw two
bat boat which is one of their most famous boatslarge expansions. The first was to New Braunfels
today. This boat was featured in the batmanin Texas, and the second was to a larger location
movie and also the TV series. These movementsin Little Falls Minnestona. In 1997 Glastron had a
made Glastron Boats extremely famous and wellnew innovative idea which led to stronger but
known today.lighter boats which created a better performance.
The company was first set up in 1956 when fourThis came about when they started using
people shared a common interest in buildingmulti-axial fibreglass.
fibreglass boats, these where Robert R.In the last few years Glastron have developed a
Hammond, William D. Gaston, Robert A. Shoopnew technology called the VEC Technology. This
and Guy W. Woodard. They released their firstconsists of a closed-mould boat building process.
two models in 1957. These models offered theirFrom this Glastron expanded an extra 95,000
customers something which others did not, andsquare feet to secure an area to support their
that was a choice of different deck colours. Theynew technology. Today most of Glastron Boats
then released three other models which whereare built using this VEC technology.