History
The first design produced was the Y Flyer, which Hinterhoeller built in his spare time while building power boats at Shepherd Boats in Niagara-on-the-Lake. He finished 40 Y flyers starting in 1956. The next was Hinterhoeller's original design, the Shark 24. It was first built in 1959 of wood and later in fibreglass and attained racing success. [1] [2] [4]
The company went on to build designs such as the Redwing 30, Invader 36, Douglas 31/32 and the Frigate 36 during the late 1960s. [1]
The company was absorbed into C&C Yachts when that company was formed in 1967, with Hinterhoeller as a founding partner. By 1975 Hinterhoeller had grown tired of working in a large corporate environment, sold his shares and retired. Two years later, in 1977, he reformed his old company in a purpose-built 62,000 sq ft (5,800 m2) facility in St Catharines, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. [2]
The reformed company engaged yacht designers Mark Ellis for cruising boats like the Niagara 35 and the Nonsuch line and Germán Frers for racing boats like the Niagara 31. The Nonsuch boats achieved notable commercial success, with 975 built. They are noted for their distinctive hull shapes, large interiors and unstayed catboat rigs. [1]
Richard Hinterhoeller, who was George's son and a partner in the reformed Hinterhoeller Yachts explained the company's operating concept. "The business plan was to operate a shop with two production lines. The two models were to be a 30' club racer/cruiser and a 35' bluewater cruising boat. Both were to be sensible, timeless models. George had been impressed by the Aurora 40 from Mark Ellis and contracted him to design the Niagara 35. For the smaller boat, George sat on his C&C 30 and made a list of the 10 items which would take an already great boat and make it better. In his typical down-to-earth fashion, George added up the necessary lengths of berths, head, cockpit and galley, and ended up with a target length of 31 feet."
In 1986 much of the production was moved to the Halman Manufacturing Company in Beamsville, Ontario. In 1989 the company entered receivership and was bought by Strategic Associates Inc. in 1990. In 1993 that company consolidated its production with C&C Yachts. Then, in 1994, a fire destroyed much of the C&C facilities and Hinterhoeller moved into what was left. Hinterhoeller Yachts closed down in November 1995. The Hinterhoeller trademarks expired in 1998 and George Hinterhoeller died from the complications from a stroke in the spring of 1999. [1] [4]
