As I understand it, Chris Craft bought Thompson in the '60s.

My buddy and I looked at a 20' cuddy from the '80s, of pretty decent build quality, with a Mercruiser 470 (3.7L) powertrain. It was branded a Thompson and I think the logo was a helm wheel. I've seen some other Thompsons from the '80s too.

Was this the same company? I guess it would have been a Murray company by then but was it still related?

No, this was the ORIGINAL Thompson and it had NOTHING to do with Chris-Craft.

There was a recent post on this forum about Thompson et.al. history because there is so much mis-information out there.

Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co. started at Peshtigo, WI in 1904. In 1925 they opend a branch factory at Cortland, NY. In 1953 the second generation Thompson men started Cruisers, Inc. at Oconto, WI. Effective 01 January 1959 these three boat manufacturing operations were split amongs various second and third generation Thompson family members. Peshtigo continued to be Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co. and Cortland became Thompson Boat Company of New York, Inc. This Cortland operation was purchased by Chris-Craft in 1962. Chris-Craft never had anything to do with Peshtigo's Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co.

Thompson Boat Company of New York, Inc. ceased making wooden boats in 1965 and they were merged into CC as the Corsair Division. The Cortland plant closed down in 1974.

Thompson Boat at Peshtigo continued to operate until 1980 when that firm went bankrupt. Their assets were purchased at bankruptcy auction and moved to St. Charles, MI. They continued as Thompson Boat Co. This firm went bankrupt in 1993 (or 1992?) and was once again resurrected. The last few years it was Thompson Marine Products, Inc. and they had a liquidation auction in 2002.

So your 1980s Thompson fiberglass boat was made at St. Charles, MI and there was NO connection to Chris-Craft.

www.thompsondockside.com
www.fiberglassics.com in the Glassic Library has some 1970s brochures

Pre 1970 brochures can be purchased on a CD-ROM at www.wcha.org

Mr. Andreas Jordahl Rhude
Founder & President
Thompson Antique & Classic boat Rally, Inc.
a non-profit corporation

This is a friend's boat. A Wisconsin model.
Eric

Eric,

I have a 1963 Thompson of Peshtigo Off-Shore stern drive. Similar to your friend's boat. Mine is a rough shape.

Andreas

Don't recall how or where, but you had some photos up some time ago. Very interesting boats. We have had it out in some pretty nasty stuff and it did well. I am always amazed when it comes time to move the trailer. With that small aluminum V8 and the light robust lapstrake hull, it is breeze to push around. Feels like less than 2000 pounds, but that's only a guess.
Eric

The Thompson we're most interested in due to the impact on Chris Craft, is the Thompson Boat Company of New York, which is the one CC acquired in 1962.

Here is a link that pretty well spells it all out.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/424840/message/1338393253/Thompson+and+Chris-Craft

Regards,

Paul

The US Coast Guard sanctioned hull ID on this 1980s boat should be on the exterior of the transom, starboard side. It should start with the three letters "TMS" and be followed by 9 other numbers/letters. The last part is a code for the month and year of manufacture.

Andreas

all of you guys have helped clear that up.

I kind of liked that 20'. Again it was just a cuddy but it had enough room for a sink and a burner. The 3.7L was torn apart and wasn't a great engine to start with so he passed on it