Flying Finn - Revision history

HandyAndy: added 1957 article

2021-04-08T18:19:28Z

added 1957 article

HandyAndy: added 58 article

2015-12-23T19:33:34Z

added 58 article

HandyAndy: added 1958 Seafin ad

2015-09-07T18:02:44Z

added 1958 Seafin ad

HandyAndy: added 1958 article

2014-02-08T01:47:24Z

added 1958 article

HandyAndy: added 1958 ad

2013-11-03T16:30:40Z

added 1958 ad

HandyAndy: edited years for Thompson Boat Co.

2013-09-23T00:35:40Z

edited years for Thompson Boat Co.

HandyAndy: added supplemental history

2013-09-13T14:02:35Z

added supplemental history

HandyAndy: added 1955 pricelist, 1959 brochure images and ad flyer

2013-09-01T20:28:18Z

added 1955 pricelist, 1959 brochure images and ad flyer

HandyAndy at 13:42, 22 August 2013

2013-08-22T13:42:28Z

HandyAndy: added 1959 article and ad, 1958 ad, misc photos

2013-08-22T13:41:14Z

added 1959 article and ad, 1958 ad, misc photos

@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 File:Flyingfinnb57003.jpg|1957 Brochure, p3
 File:Flyingfinnb57004.jpg|1957 Brochure, p4
 </gallery>

@@ Line 111: / Line 111: @@
 File:Flyingfinna58004.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Seafin 21 Ad
 File:Flyingfinna58003.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Article
 </gallery>

@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 File:Flyingfinna58001.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Ad
 File:Flyingfinna58002.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Seafin 21 Ad
 File:Flyingfinna58003.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Article
 </gallery>

@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 File:Flyingfinna58001.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Ad
 File:Flyingfinna58002.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Seafin 21 Ad
 </gallery>

@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 '''1958 Information'''
 <gallery>
-File:Flyingfinna58001.jpg|1958 Flying Finn ad
+File:Flyingfinna58001.jpg|1958 Flying Finn Ad
 </gallery>

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:35, 23 September 2013
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−	[[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co.]]: Cortland, N.Y. (Est. 1925 became an independent company in Jan. 1959) manufactured lapstrake wood boats. The hull was a round bottom design and the laps were marine plywood fastened to ribs with screws. The line up of boats in 1955 was 13’ to 18’ lengths. The company was purchased by ~~ChrisCraft~~ Corp. in ~~1969~~. They introduced fiberglass boats in ~~1965~~	+	[[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co.]]: Cortland, N.Y. (Est. 1925 became an independent company in Jan. 1959) manufactured lapstrake wood boats. The hull was a round bottom design and the laps were marine plywood fastened to ribs with screws. The line up of boats in 1955 was 13’ to 18’ lengths. The company was purchased by [[Chris Craft\|Chris Craft Corp.]] in 1962. They introduced fiberglass boats in 1963.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 13 September 2013
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	"Flying Finn" was the nickname for Paavo Nurmi, a long distance runner who won three gold medals in the 1920 Summer Olympics and five gold medals in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. The boat named for their national hero greatly interested the boat builders in Finland and production was underway.		"Flying Finn" was the nickname for Paavo Nurmi, a long distance runner who won three gold medals in the 1920 Summer Olympics and five gold medals in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. The boat named for their national hero greatly interested the boat builders in Finland and production was underway.
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		+	FLYING FINN, INC
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		+	SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY – The Company Demise


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−	The ~~only~~ fiberglass ~~model produced~~ by Flying Finn was the ~~Bay Belle 16'~~, their first ~~and last~~ fiberglass ~~boat~~.	+	The company continued growth rapidly through 1959 and they decided to introduce fiberglass boats into the line. They contacted Charles Witholz to design the “Bellefine” 16’ to be included in the 1959 line of boats. The “Bellefin” was not a hit even though they recognized that fiberglass was the coming material for boat construction. The initial investment for fiberglass molds, etc. was not recovered in their first few years of sales and thus discontinued. This combined with a general decline in wood boat sales in 1962 caused the partners to come to the conclusion to dissolve the Company while it was still solvent.
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		+
		+	I think it is interesting to note that their perceived competition the Lyman Boat Works and the Thompson Boat Co. also struggled in that period of time. Based on my memories and notes from this web site the following occurred:
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		+	[[Lyman\|Lyman Boat Works]]: Sandusky, Ohio. (Est. 1954 to 1969) manufactured lapstrake wood boats. The hull was a round bottom design and the laps were marine plywood fastened to ribs with clinch nails. The line up of boats in 1954 was 13’ to 15’ lengths, which they expanded around 1959 to include boats up to 23 foot. The company chose not to offer fiberglass and was closed in bankruptcy sometime in 1969.
		+
		+
		+	[[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co.]]: Cortland, N.Y. (Est. 1925 became an independent company in Jan. 1959) manufactured lapstrake wood boats. The hull was a round bottom design and the laps were marine plywood fastened to ribs with screws. The line up of boats in 1955 was 13’ to 18’ lengths. The company was purchased by ChrisCraft Corp. in 1969. They introduced fiberglass boats in 1965
		+
		+
		+	I would like to include a few personal observations that now 50 plus years later, I feel are relevant to understanding Flying Finn’s place in the history of boating.
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		+	The Nineteen Fifties sited often as the post WW II era of prosperity brought time for recreation and with it greater interest in boating. Flying Finn early on recognized the need for a more seaworthy small outboard boat. Their boat with its “VU” design (a sharp “V” bow to separate the waves and a ”U” transom for greater planning speed) by Charles Whitholtz gave the boat superior handling in the rough East Coast Waters. Coupled with laps constructed of resilient hard Finnish Pine fastened to Oak Ribs with a copper spring head rivet gave the boat the ability to take the pounding of choppy waters.
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		+	A reflection on the Boat Dealers of that era is also essential to understanding the Flying Finn rapid growth. Boat Dealers/Boat Yards were always on the water with docking facilities and owners/managers who had a strong association with the Sea. (unlike today when being any where near water had no bearing on their sales in modern show rooms that more closely resemble Auto Dealership) As a group they were gentlemen who believed that their word was their bond and they were not prone to change the line of boats that they represented. Into that mind set came Flying Finn which was able to secure their business by bring a demonstrator boat to their yard and having them take a ride. Having taken demo boats to Dealers myself, I remember their comments about the superior ride, glasses staying dry and after a full speed hard helm all the way over turn with out flipping, They were convinced to take on the line.
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		+	The end of an era for people who loved wood boats was coming quickly in the late 1960s. Fiberglass boats had a hard sell initially as the true old school boat owner thought wood was the only material for a boat. The first fiberglass boats had problems with transoms that develop stress cracks with rumors of outboard motors falling off while under way. However, it was as today market shows, the best material for marine construction for its strength, low maintenance, etc..

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@@ Line 51: / Line 52: @@
 <gallery>
 File:Flyingfinnbb001.jpg|1956 to 1962 Flying Finn outboard models
 </gallery>
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 '''1959 Information'''
 <gallery>
 File:Flyingfinna59001.jpg | 1959 Flying Finn Ad
 File:Flyingfinna59002.jpg|1959 Flying Finn Ad

@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 <gallery>
 File:Flyingfinnpxx001.jpg|Flying Finn Gulfin 15 photo, year unknown
-File:Flyingfinnpxx001.jpg|Flying Finn Bayfin 17 photo, year unknown
+File:Flyingfinnpxx004.jpg|Flying Finn Bayfin 17 photo, year unknown
 File:Flyingfinnpxx002.jpg|Flying Finn Seafin 18 photo, year unknown
 File:Flyingfinnpxx003.jpg|Flying Finn Seafin 21 photo, year unknown