The Evolution Of Jcpenney's Aluminum Boats: Who Made Them?

James Cash Penney, an American businessman and entrepreneur, founded the JCPenney stores in 1902. From 1965 to 1966, the JC Penney Catalog and Department Store sold outboard motors under the brand name Foremost, which were manufactured by Chrysler Marine. JCPenney sold boats manufactured by other companies, rebranding them under its own name. For example, StarCraft was well-known for providing badge-engineered boats for several other catalog brands and hardware stores.

JCPenney sold boats made by other manufacturers

JCPenney sold boats manufactured by other companies under its own brand name. From 1965 to 1966, JCPenney sold outboard motors under the brand name Foremost, which were manufactured by Chrysler Marine. From 1975 to 1980, JCPenney sold outboard motors manufactured by Eska.

JCPenney also sold boats manufactured by Starcraft Marine, a company known for providing badge-engineered boats for other catalog brands and hardware stores. Starcraft Marine manufactured boats for JCPenney in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In addition to Starcraft Marine, other companies that manufactured boats sold by JCPenney include Elgin, Sea Nymph, and Western Auto.

StarCraft designed boats for JCPenney

StarCraft is a well-known boat builder that offers a range of boats for sale, including pontoon, modified vee, deep vee, displacement, and other designs. They are known for their Pontoon, Deck, Freshwater Fishing, Unspecified, and other models. StarCraft boats are commonly used for day cruising, watersports, freshwater fishing, overnight cruising, and saltwater fishing.

The boats StarCraft designed for JCPenney were aluminum boats, a material StarCraft is known for working with. Aluminum boats are known for their durability and lightweight construction. StarCraft's expertise in this area likely contributed to the popularity of JCPenney boats during this time.

In addition to their work with JCPenney, StarCraft has also provided badge-engineered boats for several other catalog brands and hardware stores. This means that StarCraft designed and manufactured boats that were sold under another company's brand name. This practice was common in the boating industry, with companies like Elgin designing boats for Sears and Western Auto having boats made by other manufacturers.

Starcraft's partnership with JCPenney showcases their ability to provide quality boats for a wide range of customers. Their boats continue to be sought-after, with a strong presence in the used boat market. StarCraft's reputation for superior construction and award-winning customer service has kept them at the forefront of the boating industry.

Today, StarCraft continues to be a leading manufacturer of aluminum boats, offering a range of models and sizes to suit various boating needs. Their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has made them a trusted name in the boating community.

JCPenney sold boats under the brand name Foremost

In a boating forum, one user commented that Foremost made some boats sold by JCPenney in the 1960s. Another user, who bought a 12-foot 1961 JCPenney aluminum boat, also confirmed that Foremost made boats for JCPenney around that time.

In 1970, JCPenney sold a 14-foot aluminum boat under the Foremost brand name. One user speculated that Starcraft, a company known for providing badge-engineered boats for other brands, manufactured this boat.

A 1971 Foremost JCPenney 12-foot fiberglass runabout boat was listed for sale for $850. The seller noted that the boat and trailer were sold by JCPenney and another department store, Sears, Roebuck and Company, back in the day.

Foremost boats were made by Chrysler Marine

In 1965, Chrysler Corporation bought West Bend Outboard, which became the Chrysler Outboard Corporation, a new division of the company. That same year, Chrysler also bought Lonestar Boat of Plano, Texas, renaming it the Chrysler Boat Corporation. These companies were integrated into the new Marine and Industrial Products Operations division, which was part of Chrysler's Diversified Products Group.

The boats made by the Chrysler Boat Corporation included both fiberglass and aluminium boats. The aluminium boats were formed on a thousand-ton press, with strippet-punching equipment mating parts and heli-arc welders producing smooth seams. Paint was heat-treated to resist corrosion, and polyurethane foam was poured in between the floor and hull.

Chrysler's first hull design was the "Hydro-Vee", a deep V hull with sponsons for lateral stability. It came in six forms, from 14 to 23 feet in length, with different styling and shapes. The Hydro-Vee hull was used for the 16-foot Chrysler Charger, which had a hull weight of 820 pounds and a capacity of 1,380 pounds. It was described as having "excellent" finish and detail and being "a well executed and beautifully conceived job" by Hot Boat.

In 1967, Chrysler brought out Dick Anderson's Cathedral Hull, which formed the basis for a full line of boats named after Chrysler Corporation cars, including the 16-foot Fury and Sport Fury runabout and bowrider, and the 15-foot Sport Satellite bowrider.

In 1968, Chrysler added the Buccaneer 18-foot sailboat to its lineup, followed by a 16-foot Lone Star sailboat in 1969. By 1969, the Chrysler Boat Corporation was selling 46 different models of boats, from 12-foot fishing boats to a 24-foot cabin cruiser.

In addition to manufacturing boats, Chrysler Marine also continued to develop its line of marine engines. By 1969, the Chrysler Outboard Corporation was making 40 different outboard engines, ranging from 3.5 to 135 horsepower. The company also had a marine diesel engine, likely a modified Nissan marine diesel.

In 1970, Chrysler introduced two new lightweight 13 horsepower models, one with an electric starter, and a 45 horsepower outboard. The boat line gained four new boats: the 16-foot Conqueror, 18-foot Buccaneer, 16-foot Bass Runner, and 17-foot Hydro-Vee bowrider Courier 231.

In 1971, Chrysler Outboard introduced a 150 horsepower racing engine and a 130 horsepower production model. The company also added eight new engines in the 25-to-30 horsepower range for 1972, bridging the gap between fishing and cruising models.

In its final years, Chrysler Marine introduced a number of new boats, including the 14-foot Valiant runabout, the 18.5-foot Conqueror S-III sport boat, and the 16-foot Professional Bass Runner for inland water fishermen. The company also continued to expand its line of marine engines, introducing new gasoline and diesel engines.

In 1979, Chrysler sold its boat business, which was eventually acquired by Texas Marine International, a company formed by ex-Chrysler executives. However, Texas Marine struggled in a harsh economic climate and failed. The sailboat assets were sold to Wellcraft, and the remaining sailboat assets were split among six companies.

JCPenney sold boats under its own brand name from 1975-1980

JCPenney sold boats under its own brand name from 1975 to 1980. The company was founded in 1902 as a group of dry goods stores that James Cash Penney managed as part of the Golden Rule chain, and incorporated under his own name in 1913. The stores initially located in downtown areas but shifted to shopping malls during the 1960s.

The company sold outboard motors from 1965 to 1966 under the brand name of Foremost, which were manufactured by Chrysler Marine. From 1975 to 1980, JCPenney sold outboard motors under its own brand badge, manufactured by Eska.

In 1971, James Cash Penney died at the age of 95, and the company's stores were closed the morning of his funeral. That year, the company adopted the JCPenney style in advertising, and its revenues reached $5 billion for the first time. JCPenney reached its peak number of stores in 1973, with 2,053 stores, 300 of which were full-line establishments. However, the company was hard hit by the 1974 recession, with its stock price declining by two-thirds.

In 1979, JCPenney stores started accepting Visa cards, and MasterCard was accepted the following year. In 1980, the company closed its unprofitable Treasury discount stores to focus resources on its core retail stores.

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