ORLANDO – Florida has many great boatbuilders and a strong marine industry, both in services and manufacturing.
One of the most historic is Correct Craft, maker of Centurion towboats, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft and Nautique. They also own the Orlando Watersports Complex and Miami and Orlando Watersports parks, now Aktion Parks. The company was created by a New Hampshire man, Ralph Meloon, when he moved to Florida; it was first apparently first Florida Variety Boat Company (1925) and then Pine Castle Boat Company.
Today, the company has survived the last recession and is a recipient of the Florida 2014 Manufacturer of the Year award, as well an $8 million expansion hiring hundreds.
There is much to be said about their modern history and products, but one of the most interesting stories is their role in World War II. We encountered the best version of this on a website detailing whether God ever performs true miracles. Here is the way it was described in Ebible.com by Mike Pottter, which is also echoed in a story in Boating Industry:
During the second war, the U.S. Army had the German Army in retreat. Their intent was to cross the Rhine and dig in to make a last stand from heavily fortified defensive positions. The American Army realized they had to cross the Rhine before the Germans had time to create the defensive positions. All boat builders in this country were approached by the Army to contract constructions of thousands of small wooden boats for the U S Army to cross on. The boats plans called for a very complex saw cut that until then, had not been done with the exception of hand fitting. The boats had to be assembled right away to be on time. Mr. Meloon, owner of Pine Castle Boats, in Orlando, Florida, promised to complete his share of boats. His family thought he had gone nuts to make the commitment given the time to do it and amount of boats. Me. Meloon told his family The Lord will provide the means. That night, in his dreams, The Lord gave him the plans for a saw that would make the lumber cut in one motion. After taking The Lord’s day off, they proceeded on Monday to build the saw. The boats were completed ahead of time. Mr. Meloon hired trucks to go across the country and pick up partially completed boats from other builders who could not complete their quota. The boats were built. The U S Army crossed the Rhine and crushed the tyranny and freed the prison camps. This is documentable by looking in government records and studying the history of Correct Craft Boats which superceded Pine Castle Boats.
A Bit About Meloon
We would love it if others could add some history of Walter Meloon. The Nautique website posted his obituary; he died in 2005.
ORLANDO, FL (March 23, 2005) — The oldest of three brothers, Walter O. Meloon was just a child when his father Walter C. Meloon moved the family from New Hampshire to Florida and started the Florida Variety Boat Company in 1925. While upholding the tradition established by his father of “building boats to the glory of God,” W.O. always dreamed of great things and was instrumental in the company becoming part of organized waterskiing. On Monday, March 21st, at the age of 89, W.O. passed away leaving more than just a memory—he left us a legacy.
The Christian influence in the creation of the early water ski industry is important to remember. Dick Pope, founder of Cypress Gardens, was a believer. Pope, who took Florida theme parks to a level never seen before, even hosted the weekly television program Day of Discovery there, and attended St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Winter Haven.
An excellent history of Pine Castle and the Meloon family is HERE.
The Good News? Well there’s that, but the even better news for your vacation in Florida is that you can take home a piece of the Meloon legacy buy buying a boat, seeing the boats at the February Orlando or Miami boat shows, or just visiting one of their two watersports parks, Orlando Watersports Complex and Miami Watersports Complex.
Any boat lover who goes to Orlando should check out this company. Nautique also offers tours; click HERE.
Click HERE for the full Correct Craft site.
