Cruisers Yachts, Thompson Bros. in 1904
Boat Manufacturing Co. was founded and began its operations in the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin. This family business laid the foundation for a heritage in the manufacture of boats.
The second generation of the company began producing wood-trimmed cruisers with outboard cabins in Oconto, Wisconsin, in the early 1950s. The Thompson family has always thought big about craft and durability and made significant contributions to the industry.
Cruisers, Inc.’s first catalog was released in 1956, during which time the company was affiliated with Thompson Bros. It was producing 14 and 16 foot boats under its brand. However, in 1965, new technologies introduced to the wooden boat industry led to the preference for fiberglass boats.
In 1971 Cruisers, Inc. was sold to Mirro Aluminum Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. However, management of the company did not remain in the Thompson family until 1979, when Roy Thompson retired.
In 1980 Mirro Marine Division’s fiberglass product line was sold to TJ Bogard and TA Lisle. But in the early 1990s, KC Stock moved to seize opportunities in the region where he was born and raised in Oconto. In 1993, Stock’s KC International Inc. acquired the company and renamed it Cruisers Yachts.
The Cantius series was born with the launch of the 48 Cantius, and Cruisers Yachts turned heads in the industry when it introduced its largest yacht, the 60 Cantius, in 2015. The following year, they introduced the 60 Fly model, which shows that the company is constantly growing and developing.
