JK, thank you for posting; I love reading this history; keep em coming!
Richard
s/v Bushmark4; 1985 C&C 37 CB; Ohio River, Mile 586
Richard N. Bush Law Offices
2950 Breckenridge Lane, Suite Nine
Louisville, Kentucky 40220-1462
502-584-7255
-----Original Message-----
From: JohnKelly Cuthbertson via CnC-List <[email protected]>
To: JohnKelly Cuthbertson via CnC-List <[email protected]>
Cc: JohnKelly Cuthbertson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, Apr 12, 2022 10:59 pm
Subject: Stus-List While we wait for spring - Hinterhoeller
1928 to 1999 – George Anton Hinterhoeller
Reception at C&C during the heyday must have had a tough time cause if
someone called in and asked if they could speak with George….. there would have
been a pause… which one ? There was a third George instrumental in the founding
of C&C Yachts. George Hinterhoeller was born in Austria in 1928, apprenticed as
a shipwright and then moved to Canada in 1952, he shortly found work at
Shepherd Boats in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Being an entrepreneur spirit,
he left after 5 years and stated his own boat building company. Now he says his
first yacht sank, well he did build that one when he was 4, by 1959, he had
perfected his own designs and started construction on the first Shark. It was a
success for him and his partner Gordon Brinsmead and eventually over 2000
Sharks were built. Hinterhoeller also designed and built the HR 25 and 28.
In 1963, GAH contacted Cuthbertson and Cassian Limited to design the
Invader class. The first being built of cold molded mahogany and owned by David
Howard and John Hilton, who named her Invader. This was used as a plug to build
the first fiberglass boat of C&C design. Sadly that summer she was wrecked, as
the lights of the Toronto Island Airport at the Toronto Harbour western gap
were “misinterpreted” by Mr. Hilton. The remains of her can now be found as the
bar at the NOTL Sailing Club. The first fiberglass hull was then commissioned
as Invader II ( not to be confused with any of the 8 meters ) and hull #2 RIP
II was bought by Al. Mason who would later marry Bernice Telford, widow of Dick
Telford, who had given GHC his first….. oh there I go again )
At Shepherd, Hinterhoeller had learnt about production line boats, taking
this knowledge he set pits up in his every increasing in size plant. The boats
would be lowered in to the pits so the decks were at floor level. This allowed
the craftsmen to not have to climb up and down ladders to work on the boats,
saving time and potential injuries. By 1969 he had 5 lines running including
the Redwing 30 and a staff of 57 producing 181 boats a year.
That year Bob Sale, suggested that George Hinterhoeller and 3 other
companies join forces to form C&C Yachts. Each division would keep their
autonomy but by combining design, management, marketing and supply chains they
would become a force to recon with. The plant quickly grew and would provide
the basic C&C product line: C&C 25, 27, 30, 35, and 39
1972, C&C Yachts experienced growing pains at the top as Ian Morch left as
President succeeded by George Hinterhoeller. GAH was a boat builder and freely
admitted he was not a president of a corporation so after 10 months missing the
shop floor he stepped down. 1974 sees 571 boats built at the Niagara plant.
By late 1975 George Hinterhoeller had enough of the being part of C&C Yachts
and left the company. He forms Hinterhoeller Yachts in 1977 with his son and
begins building the Mark Ellis designed Nonsuch line. A series of cat boats
that reached a production # of 975. George opted for retirement in 1988,
noting that the boat business was saturated with used boats. The boat building
business didn’t do well in the late 80’s. By 1989 the company had entered
receivership and was completely gone by November 1995
George Anton Hinterhoeller passed away in March 1999 from a stroke left
behind Nona his wife of many years.
In October, the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame with induct George
Hinterhoeller in to their "Builders" catagory.
If you'd like to read other articles I've posted on the history of GHC, C&C
yachts and a few reproductions of promotional items, go to www.candcyachts.com
JohnKelly Cuthbertson
