Boat manufacturer Chris-Craft, a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries, reported it opened a new manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida.
Building 5 increases the company’s production capacity by 50% and spans more than 70,000 square feet, allowing for the complete build of boats.
Chris-Craft will build six models in its fleet ranging from 24 feet to 28 feet in the facility. The expansion also allows the custom boatbuilder to expand its model offerings to meet customer preferences.
“I’m thrilled to see boats rolling off the new line,” said Chris-Craft President Steve Heese. “The new building marks an important milestone in the growth of our company, and the enhanced production capacity this new building provides will help our dealer network meet the demand for our products and ultimately ensure our customers enjoy incredible experiences on the water.”
Site preparation for the new building began in November 2021 followed by an official groundbreaking in February 2022. The company anticipates that the plant will employ more than 200 people.
Initially headquartered in Michigan, Chris-Craft has been manufacturing boats in Sarasota since 1988. Winnebago Industries purchased Chris Craft in 2018.
“The team at Chris-Craft builds some of the finest boats in the world, and I thank them for their effort to bring this facility from vision to reality,” said Michael Happe, Winnebago Industries CEO. “We are proud to have the company as part of the Winnebago Industries family and are committed to continuing to invest in their future success and the marine industry at large
