The automobile capital of the world also holds a great boat building history.
Michigan, with its prime location on America's greatest inland waterway,
has been the home of great boat companies like Chris Craft and Gar Wood.
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In 1906, Great-grandfather Bill Gregory purchased the
land along East Jefferson Avenue which is now the home of the
Gregory Boat Company. Bill founded the Michigan based Belle Isle Boat
and Engine Company, and in 1912 his son Edgar took the helm and built Belle
Isle Bearcats and Hacker Design boats at this location.
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Just before the difficult years of the depression, the
land was sold to the Booth family. The Booths later leased it to the Fishers for
their submarine chaser and P.T. boat manufacturing operation.
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1958 saw the return of the Gregory's to 100
Motor Boat Lane. Edgar Sr. bought the Jefferson Ave. land back to house
the family boat sales company. Being a Johnson Motors dealer since 1924 and a
Chris Craft dealer since 1928, it seemed only logical that the family business
should be returned to its place of origin.
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Edgar Gregory Jr. was raised with a love of boats and
developed an appreciation of the Michigan waterways. His Gold Cup Unlimited
Hydroplane racing career culminated with a win in 1949. Edgar Jr.
carried the banner of leadership until 1975.
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In 1975, Scott, the son of Edgar Jr., joined the
company, to become the fourth generation of Gregory's associated with boat
services. Under Scott's direction, the company began revitalizing the wet
slips and adding dry "rack" storage to increase access to this unique
midtown boat facility. |
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Dark times fell on the company between 1989 and 1992.
In 1988 Chris Craft filed for bankruptcy, and Gregory Boat Company's bank was taken
over by the Federal government. With the poor economic situation at the time,
and as a result of Chris Craft's actions, Gregory Boat was forced into Chapter
11. With the help of brother, Mark Gregory and friends, the company emerged from
bankruptcy much stronger financially, and was able to focus on facility modernization
in all realms of the boating industry.
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Today, Scott shepherds the company through the next
phase of modernization, updating the balance of the full service marina. Wet and
dry storage is now the core business of the company, insuring the Gregory's will
survive and thrive into the next century.
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Currently, in addition to boat brokerage sales and
boat services, Gregory Boat Company provides fuel, marine products, wet and dry storage
and a boating convenience store all located along the Detroit River in Michigan.
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Future plans call for apartments, condominiums, and townhouses
along the canal. These unique housing structures will complete the full service concept
by providing boaters with slips under their living quarters all in the beautiful Great
Lakes state of Michigan.
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Gregory's latest endeavor, Signature Yachts, is
being developed to remanufacture used boats, revitalizing the classic beauties, preparing them
for many more years of service.
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Gregory Boat
Company
9666 Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48214
(313) 823-1900 Fax (313) 823-3940
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