{{Short description|American boat manufacturing company}} {{other uses|Mastercraft (disambiguation)}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=January 2016}} {{Promotional|date=June 2023}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = MasterCraft Boat Company | logo = MasterCraft Boat Company shield.svg | logo_size = 150px | logo_alt = | logo_caption = MasterCraft brand shield logo | logo_padding = | type = Public | traded_as = {{NASDAQ|MCFT}}<br>[[Russell 2000 Index]] component | founded = {{start date and age|1968}} in [[Maryville, Tennessee]] | location = [[Vonore, Tennessee]], U.S. | key_people = {{ubl|Brad Nelson – CEO|Scott Kent – CFO|Matt Long – CIO|Charlene Hampton – VP of HR|Jim Brown – VP of Operations|Greg Miller – VP of Global Sales|Krista Schipner – VP of Marketing|Phil Walker - Director Front Office}} | industry = Towboat Industry, Marine Industry | num_employees = 920 (2024) | products = XSeries, XTSeries, NXT Series, XStar and ProStar | website = {{URL|mastercraft.com}} }}
The '''MasterCraft Boat Company''' is an American manufacturer of luxury high-performance boats. The company was founded in 1968 in [[Maryville, Tennessee]], and is currently headquartered in [[Vonore, Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mastercraft.com/history|title=History|work=MasterCraft}}</ref> MasterCraft boats are used in [[waterskiing]], [[wakeboarding]] and [[wakesurfing|wake surfing]].
==History== MasterCraft's founder Rob Shirley was a young waterskiing instructor who opened a waterskiing school in [[Florida]] in 1965. In 1968, with the help of a few fellow waterskiers, he modified a Ski Nautique boat manufactured by [[Correct Craft]]. The boat was completed in August, and debuted at the U.S. Nationals in [[Canton, Ohio]]. In the same year, Rob was forced to close the waterskiing school, and moved to his wife's parents' farm in [[Maryville, Tennessee]]. There, he founded the MasterCraft Boat Company, which initially operated out of a two-horse barn.<ref name=enc>"[https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/mastercraft-boat-company-inc MasterCraft Boat Company, Inc.]". Encyclopedia.com website, accessed on May 15, 2019.</ref>
During its first year of operation, MasterCraft only built 12 boats using the modified hull design. In 1993, the company's headquarters was relocated to [[Vonore, Tennessee]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=MasterCraft: Dream A Wake. |url=https://monroelife.com/mastercraft-dream-a-wake/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |website=Monroe Life}}</ref> As of 2006, MasterCraft produced over 3,000 boats per year, sold in 25 different countries, by over 100 domestic and international dealers.
Some of the company's most popular products are the ProStar, a direct drive ski boat, and the X Series Wakeboard boats. Since 2012, all MasterCraft models use [[Ilmor#Diversification – Ilmor High Performance Marine, LLC.|Ilmor Engineering]] inboard marine engines built on the [[General Motors]] 5.3L GDI, 6.0L MPI, and 6.2L GDI V8 engine blocks.
In 2007, the company was acquired by two [[private equity]] firms: [[Charlesbank Capital Partners]] and Transportation Resource Partners (affiliated with [[Roger Penske]]). In 2010, the company was recapitalized by Wayzata Investment Partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/498708-mastercraft-plan-avoids-bankruptcy-filing|title=MasterCraft plan avoids bankruptcy filing|work=TradeOnlyToday}}</ref>
In May 2015, MCBC Holdings, Inc. filed for an IPO to raise $100M.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/on-a-boat-mastercraft-files-for-a-100-million-ipo-cm472180|title=On a boat: MasterCraft files for a $100 million IPO|date=May 1, 2015|work=NASDAQ.com}}</ref>
On July 17, 2015, Nasdaq announced that trading of MCBC Holdings Inc., operator of MasterCraft Boat Company, commenced on The Nasdaq Stock Market trading as (Nasdaq:MCFT).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/nasdaq-welcomes-mastercraft-to-the-nasdaq-stock-market-20150717-00475#ixzz3gispgeNr|title=Today's Stock Market News and Analysis - Nasdaq.com|work=NASDAQ.com}}</ref>
==Notable Innovations==
=== DockStar === 2016 - MasterCraft substantially improves an inboard boat's operation in reverse with the introduction of DockStar, a rudder-based system that allows DockStar-equipped boats to maneuver predictably to both left and right, lessening the learning curve for new inboard boaters and taking the stress out of tight quarters like marinas and crowded docks. The system was awarded a National Marine Manufacturer's Association Innovation Award for 2017.<ref>{{cite web | title=MasterCraft's DockStar Technology Receives Second Marine Industry Award | Wakeboarding Mag | date=May 10, 2017 | url=https://www.wakeboardingmag.com/mastercrafts-dockstar-technology-receives-second-marine-industry-award/ }}</ref>
==CEOs/Presidents== Rob Shirley (1968-1984)
John P. Baird (1984-)
Chuck West (1987-1995)
Jim Hoag (1995-1996)
Gary Lownsdale (1996-1998)
John Dorton (1999-2012)
Terry McNew (2012-2019)
Fred Brightbill (2019-2024)
Brad Nelson (2024–present)
==Team MasterCraft== ===Ski=== * Ali Garcia * Taylor Garcia * [[Freddy Krueger (water skier)|Freddy Krueger]] * Joel Poland * Karen Truelove * Freddie Winter
===Wake=== * [[Parks Bonifay]] * Harley Clifford * Meagan Ethell * Tyler Higham * Steel Lafferty
===Surf=== * Ashley Kidd * Jett Lambert
===Foil=== * Ansley Pritchard <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mastercraft.com/athletes | title=Our Athletes | MasterCraft }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Tennessee]] [[Category:American boat builders]] [[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]] [[Category:1968 establishments in Tennessee]] [[Category:Water sports equipment manufacturers]] [[Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the United States]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1968]] [[Category:American companies established in 1968]]