 1940's
1946 -
Leon Slikkers starts at Chris-Craft in the joiner department making cabin tops.
1950's
Early 1950's - Begins building 14' runabouts in his garage after work.
1954 - Registers Slickcraft name.
1955 -
Leaves Chris-Craft, sells home to start small factory called Slickcraft on Washington Avenue in Holland, Michigan.
1956 -
Began experimental work in fiberglass hull construction.
1960's
1961 - Line expands to include 17' boats; all wooden models discontinued.
1962 - Expand into old skating rink on Washington Avenue.
1964 - SS235, Slickcraft's most successful boat, forerunner in the trend toward trailerable cuddy cabin boats, also deep V-bottom boats.
1966 - Construction begins on new Slickcraft plant on Brooks Avenue in Holland, Michigan.
1969 - Slickcraft sold to AMF; Slikkers stays on as President.
1970's
1973 - Slikkers resigns as President of Slickcraft.
1974 - Beginning of S2 Yachts, Inc., manufacturer of sailboats, 72,000 sq. ft., 53 employees.
1977 - Introduction of Pursuit series.
1979 - Doubled plant capacity and expanded all product lines--S2 sailboats, Tiara power boats, and added Grand Slam performance sailboat series.
1980's
1980 - AMF produced last Slickcraft.
1983 - S2 Yachts, Inc. purchases Slickcraft brand name from AMF.
A new plant is built in Ft. Pierce, Florida (approx. 75,000 sq. ft.)
1984 - Leon Slikkers becomes Chief Executive Officer.David Slikkers is named President.
Construction is completed on a 200,000 sq. ft. two-level facility in Holland; this brings the total square feet to nearly 500,000.
1986 - Brand names reorganized to include separate dealer franchises for each product line--Tiara Yachts, Pursuit Fishing Boats, Slickcraft Sportboats, and S2 Sailboats.
1987 - Slickcraft product line expanded to include five new models.S2 Sailboat production is ended. Total employment exceeds 500 persons.
1988 - Expanded corporate facilities: doubled engineering area, added corporate sportswear store, and expanded corporate entrance and lobby area.
New sales records established in all three brand names.
Total employment reaches 650.
1989 - S2 7.9 sailboat is re-introduced on a limited edition basis. Available 1990.
Pursuit 3250 Open nears completion. Introduction is set for January 1990, New York Boat Show.
New sales records established in all three brand names.
Total employment reaches 780.
1990's
1990 - Introduction of flotation bracket option for Pursuit products.
1991 - 1850 Pursuit Center Console introduced at IMTEC.
1992 - 2650 Pursuit Center Console introduced at Dealer Meeting.
2655 Pursuit Center Console named Boating magazine's 1992 Boat of the Year.
3100 Classic is introduced to the market as a Pursuit Express Fisherman.
Pursuit introduces the 1950 and 2150 Dual Console models.
2855 Express Fisherman introduced early summer.
1993 - New Pursuit models introduced include: 1950 Dual Console, 2150 Dual Console, 2150 Walkaround, 2355 Center Console, 2555 Center Console, 2555 Walkaround, 2855 Express, and 3100 Express.
Pursuit starts Total Quality Management Program and Total Company Education Program based upon "Vision" statement.
1994 - S2 Yachts celebrated its 20th Anniversary with an Open House for all employees and their families.
S2 Yachts was selected as the winner of the manufacturing division of the MCI/Inc. Magazine's National Award for Positive Customer Service.
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