Fifty Years of Carver 1956 -2006
Carver boats have been enhancing the lives of many families for over fifty years. The Carver Boat Corporation had humble but ambitious beginnings. Charlie Carter and George Verhagen began building mahogany moulded ply runabouts in a Milwaukee garage in 1954.
In 1956, they moved their growing business to Pulaski, Wisconsin, to take advantage of the local workforce and nearby airfield. They built mahogany boats throughout the 1960's, adding cabin cruisers to an expanding lineup.
In the 1970's the switch was made to fiberglass hulls, with advances that included larger cabin design and the introduction of the popular Mariner models.
1974 was the first year of the fiberglass hull but retained the wood deck and cabins.
By the 1980's, Carver had expanded sales beyond the Great Lakes region, and truly became a player in the luxury motor yacht market. The motor yacht became Carver's niche in the early 1990's. In 1991, Carver Yachts was acquired by Genmar.
The 1990's also saw the introduction of the elegant frameless window system and the development of the upscale Voyager series. By the late 1990's all Carver Yachts included no structural wood below the waterline, fibreglass stringers, and a seven-year limited warranty on the hull and deck.
In 2000, the largest Carver Yacht was introduced, the 570 Voyager Pilothouse.
The image above is the assembly line at the Carver factory with a Carver Mariner being fitted with it's interior in the mid 1970's.
If you have any old photos or information that we could use here for others to enjoy, please feel free to contact me by email.
Send E-Mail to: carver28@sympatico.caCopyright © 2008 Paul R Mitchell. All Rights Reserved