Glassmaster Boats

Glassmaster Company has had an interesting evolution since the company was founded under the name of Koolvent Metal Awning Company in 1946. With the launch of a line of fishing and pleasure boats in 1958 it became evident the name had to change. In 1959 the company was re-christened Glassmaster Plastic Company. They became known the world over for the development and manufacture of monofilaments. These monofilaments were used in a whole host of products from fishing lines to electronic test equipment. In 1982 the word “Plastic” was dropped from the company name and they became known simply as Glassmaster Company.

Glassmaster Company discontinued the boat making line and began to focus more on the Glassmaster Controls and Monofilament lines in 1989. The company bought out Penn Craft LLC in 2005 and began manufacturing boats under the Glassmaster name again. With the rising petroleum prices Glassmaster began to feel the squeeze and had to file for bankruptcy. Bentley Pontoon Boats then bought out Glassmaster. Bentley was then the third largest manufacturer of boats in the US and also owned Challenger Offshore Power Boats, Sugar Sand Jet Drive and Duracraft, among others. It seems the acquisition proved fatal as Bentley Pontoon had to closeits doors the end of January, 2009.

Glassmaster boats are still readily available in the used boat markets. Older Glassmaster boats prior to 1989 can be purchased for an average price of $2,000 US for a boat that runs with trailer. Newer generation Glassmasters around 2008-2009 will run about $25,000 US.