| Ten years later, the RBC belonged to the Chris Craft Corporation (CCC)*. Redesignated the Roamer Steel Boats Division (RSBD) it immediately launched new designs to be built at its new plant on Lakewood Boulevard. The foundation of Roamer's offerings was the 35 foot model, and later the 42-foot class - which by 1958 included the Riviera, Regal and Royal models. 25 & 28 ft Express cruisers was also welded together at Holland. By 1959, steel Roamers continued to grow in |
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| Following its market, the RSBD transferred production to Pompano, Florida in 1975. Amazingly, nearly a fifth of all CC models were built out of aluminum in this year. JULY 1979 - End of an Era - brought to you by -"Dick" Genth . A "small boat" guy from Wellcraft, as CEO, this "visionary" ended Roamer production at Pompano, saying, " we don't deserve to be building these things (big boats)". So much for visionary outlook - yikes! In 1989, the Outboard Motor Corporation (OMC) purchased Chris-Craft (beating out GENMAR) and began a ten-year struggle to define what it meant to be a Chris Craft. Things were beginning to look up when in the summer of 2000 they introduced a new line of "retro" models: a 22' Runabout, a 26" Constellation, and most importantly, a NEW Roamer 39 model (see photo below). Unfortunately, OMC's problems with it's subsidiary Evinrude's Fitch fuel pump (which tended to leak and cause explosions) led to larger financial problems. This forced OMC to sell off CC. Fortunately, the company landed in good hands, the UK venture capitalist firm - Stellican Ltd. in FEB 2001. Under new management, CC plans to continue making all the new CC models (22'Runabout, 26' Constellation, and the renamed 43' Roamer) and another Roamer 36 (slated for introduction in Spring of 2003). More importantly, the new crew intends to go upmarket with larger models in keeping with the Chris-Craft tradition. With the new President, Mr. Steven Heese at the helm, the Legend lives on....., now if only they could "re-discover" the virtues of metal as a building material. |
| * On May 20, 1861, Christopher Columbus Smith entered the world near the St. Clair marshes close to Algonac. As a child he spent endless hours whittling wooden boats on the steps of his father's shop. In 1881, he began building rowboats and duck boats fro neighbor hunters. Soon, everyone wanted a Smith boat. He started making skiffs, and the first boat powered by an internal combustion engine. His superior design attracted promoter-financier John J. Ryan, who backed Smith in building Baby-Reliance single-step hydroplanes that broke nearly every speed record in the early 1900s. Ryan left in 1913, and Smith's four sons and a daughter joined him in his boat-building company. By the 1920s they started a mass-production system that allowed them to make 1,000 boats a year. Soon he had built the world's largest manufacturer of pleasure boats, Chris Craft Corporation, distributing worldwide to 250 dealers. In 1960, his descendants sold the firm for $40 million. |
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| Chris Craft Production Facility 1965 (Pompano, Florida) |
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| popularity with a carefully styled selection ranging from 25- to 52-feet. Consequently, the fleet size expanded to include: Sportsman Roamers for offshore fishing and cruising (25 & 28 ft); Express versions made in 25-, 28-, 31- and 35-foot models; 35-, and 42-foot Regals,; a new 42-ft Royal; and the all new 52-foot Motor Yacht. 1961 was another banner year for Roamer Boats, with an unprecedented 23 models being offered in sizes from 31-, to 56 feet. 16 separate models of the 35ft Roamer alone were welded - varied by power and appointments known as: Express Cruiser, Express Cruiser Hardtop, Express Cruiser Deluxe 6S (Six sleeper), Riviera, (Hardtop 6S and Deluxe 6S), Regal, and Sport Fisherman 4S. For around 90 grand you could also buy a 56-foot Motor Yacht with a pair of 336 hp GM diesels. (NOTE: Prototype 35 ft in aluminum built.) By 1962-3, the RSBD was producing its first production boats out of aluminum which eventually became their entire focus as they moved upmarket into the realm of large, and super-yachts. First, however, came the new 27 foot aluminum cruisers known as the Silver and Custom Comets (a Red Comet fireboat was produced as well). Also new were the stylish 32-, and 36-foot series called the Express Cruiser, Express Cruiser Deluxe, and Riviera Deluxe models. Top of the line were the 44-ft Riviera, and 56-foot Motor Yacht. After the "sale" of CCC in the early sixties, product lines were streamlined. Not surprisingly then , the RSBD offered only seven models by 1965. Nevertheless, sales increased as new fiberglass superstructures and impressed cathodic protection systems (CAPAC) for the hull effectively lowered maintenance costs and highlighted safety. Major styling changes implemented by Dick Avery also increased the appeal of these new Roamers. In steel, you could buy a 30-ft Dispatcher for 15 grand, or a 37 ft Riviera 6S for 24K. The 38ft Offshore came in steel only, whereas the 57 foot Motor Yacht came in both steel and aluminum (AL cost an extra 15% for a total price of $110K). In 1967, Holland was welding together five different models in steel and aluminum, ranging from 33-to-57 feet. The 33 was available in steel only, while the 37 could be had in either metal, as could the 48. In 1968, Roamer dropped the 33-, and 48-foot Rivieras, and added four versions of the 46 foot Riviera in either steel or aluminum. A year later, the 37 foot series got stretched to 38 feet, primarily so a Regal sedan version could be offered. That, and a 41-ft Regal, 46-foot Riviera, and 58 foot Riviera completed the line-up. All in all, by the end of the sixties, Chris Craft had reached the summit of their manufacturing abilities. Whether they choose mahogany, plywood, steel, aluminum, or fiberglass, CC's constant research and innovation made them the world leaders. Consequently, Chris Craft's signature of was still the premier trademark of excellence for boating around the world. *** Roamer opened the new decade by introducing a new 66-foot aluminum Motor Yacht in 1971. Five models were then available by 1972, complete with turbine power! For $210K a 60-footer w/a pair of 480-hp GM V-12 could be had; 55-, 68-, and 73-foot Motor Yachts rounded out the fleet. In 1975, the 73-footer was offered in a Yacht Fisherman model , complemented by a new aluminum 55ft Tournament version in 1976. |
| Click on photo to go to New Roamer Page |
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| The Roamer Boat Company (RBC) was founded in Holland, Michigan, by Robert R. Linn, just after World War II. Linn came to Holland from Grand Rapids as a young man, and apprenticed with Ken Campbell of the Campbell Boat Company (CBC) for two years. Linn built his first Roamer cruiser, a steel-hulled 32 foot express cruiser in 1946. Roamer built many additional cruisers designs at a small plant on Washington Avenue, Holland, MI, including express cruisers, deckhouse cruisers, and double cabin cruisers in 33, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42 and 48 foot lengths. In addition to pleasure craft, the RBC built commercial craft and a harbor tug for the military during the years Linn owned it. |
| ROAMER HISTORY |