Elan Overview
Elan and the Competition Ski Boat Industry
Overview
Ben Favret
• Pro water skier
• World, U.S., Pro-Tour Champion
• Firsthand knowledge of waterskiing industry & boat-building capabilities of American Performance Marine plant (now Élan Boats plant)
Jay Blossman
• Ben’s highschool tennis partner
• Politician
• Purchased American Skier o Previously owned by American Performance Marine o Plant in Kentwood, Louisiana o Recently filed bankruptcy
• Lacks insider knowledge regarding the building, marketing, and selling aspects of the ski boat industry
• Owner of Élan Boats o Means “vigorous spirit and enthusiasm”
Ski Boat Industry – History
• Began in 1922: Ralph Samuelson was first American to invent water skis
• 1920’S – 1930’s: enthusiasm and interest spreads
• 1939: American Water Ski Association (AWSA) was formed & National Water Ski Championships were held o Non profit organization that promotes waterskiing
• Open wooden towboat built with overlapping strakes & four-cylinder outboard engine was used
• Recreational boat manufacturing was minimal during WWII o No championships held during war o Interst and activity increased after war when the economy was booming
• 1940’s – 1950’s: o Chris-Craft & Century Resorters produced wooden inboard boats o Preferred by most water skiiers o However, large wakes were produced by these types of boats, negatively impacting the performance of skiers o Outboard boats: small wake but not powerful enough until twin-rig was invented in 1950
• 1950’s – 1960’s: o Twin-rig boats dominated the industry and rapidly grew their popularity o Mercury Marine, Evinrude, and Johnson recognized the potential market within the water skiing industry and invented the concept of promotional boats
Promotional boats: manufacturers built boats that were optimally constructed and equipped specifically for waterskiing tournaments
• 1960: o Leo Bentz: operated Florida ski school
Desingned and built an
Overview
Ben Favret
• Pro water skier
• World, U.S., Pro-Tour Champion
• Firsthand knowledge of waterskiing industry & boat-building capabilities of American Performance Marine plant (now Élan Boats plant)
Jay Blossman
• Ben’s highschool tennis partner
• Politician
• Purchased American Skier o Previously owned by American Performance Marine o Plant in Kentwood, Louisiana o Recently filed bankruptcy
• Lacks insider knowledge regarding the building, marketing, and selling aspects of the ski boat industry
• Owner of Élan Boats o Means “vigorous spirit and enthusiasm”
Ski Boat Industry – History
• Began in 1922: Ralph Samuelson was first American to invent water skis
• 1920’S – 1930’s: enthusiasm and interest spreads
• 1939: American Water Ski Association (AWSA) was formed & National Water Ski Championships were held o Non profit organization that promotes waterskiing
• Open wooden towboat built with overlapping strakes & four-cylinder outboard engine was used
• Recreational boat manufacturing was minimal during WWII o No championships held during war o Interst and activity increased after war when the economy was booming
• 1940’s – 1950’s: o Chris-Craft & Century Resorters produced wooden inboard boats o Preferred by most water skiiers o However, large wakes were produced by these types of boats, negatively impacting the performance of skiers o Outboard boats: small wake but not powerful enough until twin-rig was invented in 1950
• 1950’s – 1960’s: o Twin-rig boats dominated the industry and rapidly grew their popularity o Mercury Marine, Evinrude, and Johnson recognized the potential market within the water skiing industry and invented the concept of promotional boats
Promotional boats: manufacturers built boats that were optimally constructed and equipped specifically for waterskiing tournaments
• 1960: o Leo Bentz: operated Florida ski school
Desingned and built an