Thompson Boats

[Mjust]

I recently bought a 1996 Thompson Calae 1800. I wanted to know more about the boats history against others of its size and year and how the Thompson line compared to companies like sea ray, well craft, Donzi, Glasstron..etc. Unfortunately I only found info about there older 1960 boats and that they were made in Michigan. It seems Thompson no longer exist since the closed down around 2000. If any of you have any info on the Thompson line or the calae series they made i would appreciate it.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Thompson Boats

Here's some history...

 

[DufferJim]

Re: Thompson Boats

Am I only one that chuckled at the Yar-craft brand name?

I can picture the advertising now: "YARRRR craft! The only choice for the Pirate about town!". "Buy now and recieve a lifetime supply of eyepatches, or a new Parrot!".


Sorry I'm easily amused...

 

[MikDee]

Re: Thompson Boats

A close friend of mine had one like yours, and highly praised it as a good choice, I never was able to find one at that time when I was looking. IMO Thompson's are still great boats, The Calais is a well thought out design, it's stylish, well built, roomy, has good freeboard, not too heavy, or light. I grew up with a 16' Thompson wood lapstrake boat, with a 30hp evinrude, eventually a 40hp evinrude in the 50's. It was my Dad's, alot of my friends had similar different brand lapstrake boats, none of them were as stylish, seaworthy, as well built, or as fast as my old Thompson, it was a better made boat then most, at a reasonable price, and the quality of the Thompson brand, still continued to the end. Years later, still many years ago, I bought another Thompson for myself, just like my dad's that served me well at the time. A few times, I almost bought an 18' or 20' Thompson Cuddy with a 260 Mercruiser, but something else came up in between.