Fleetcraft

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Fleetliner Boats

Fleetcraft Marine Sales Co.

1235 E. Florence Ave.

Los Angeles, California

Originally from Iowa, Robert R. Chesley began Fleetcraft in 1947 after finishing out his service with the Air Force (February 27, Los Angeles Times). In addition to manufacturing operations at two locations, Bob Chesley had marine dealerships in Long Beach, Lynwood, Gardena, Pasadena, Northridge, Culver City, and two locations in Los Angeles, California. The Fleetcraft Marine dealerships also sold Evinrude outboards and Scott boats and outboards (August 17, 1962 Los Angeles Times). Plywood boats used US Plywood Corporation's Weldwood brand plywood (January 31, 1958 Los Angeles Times).

Locations included:
2522 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, California (American Marine)
11374 S. Atlantic, Lynwood, California (Atlantic Boat Works)
2847 W. Olympia Blvd., Los Angeles, California
18425 Parthenia, Northridge, California
1235 E. Florence, Los Angeles, California
1449 W. Rosecrans, Gardena, California
2380 E. Colorado, Pasadena, California
5424 S. Sepulveda, Culver City, California
(July 13, 1962 Los Angeles Times)

At his dealership locations Chesley hosted classes including how to cover wood boats with fiberglass as well as boating safety (February 26, 1960 Los Angeles Times, August 19, 1960 Los Angeles Times). Chesley was also a founder of the Southern California Marine Association and exhibited as far as the Chicago Boat Show (February 27, 1959 Los Angeles Times).

The 1965 to 1971 model information below lists Fleet Craft Boats made by Flotilla Corp., Airport Rd., Woodbine, New Jersey. This brand may or may not be related to Fleetliner made by Fleetcraft Marine Sales Co. of California. Reference to a Fleetcraft Corp. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania also has been found from at least 1949-1951. This was a manufacturer of plywood outboard boats from 12' to 16' (Yachting, Vol. 87, Pg. 117, 1950). Another mention of this company was found in a Celanese Plastics ad from the Jan. 13, 1954 Los Angeles Times. The company was also listed as Fleetcraft Inc. of Palmyra, New Jersey in a Feb. 3, 1956 Celanese Plastics ad from the Chicago Tribune.

Model Information