Slick Craft Boat Co. - The Early Years

The History of Pursuit

The history of Pursuit is not just a company of 27 years. It dates back to the late 1940s when Leon Slikkers started at Chris-Craft in the joiner department making cabinet tops. By the early 1950s he was building small runabouts in his garage after work and in 1954 he registered the name "Slickcraft". Then in 1955 he sold his home to start a small factory in Holland Michigan, and the following year he was experimenting with fiberglass. By 1961 his now all fiberglass boat line expanded to include a 17 footer.

Building boats for the tough waters of the Great Lakes led to the SS235 which became the most successful boat in the trend toward trailerable cuddy cabin, deep V boats. With success secured Leon sold his company to AMF in 1969 staying on as President. The entrepreneurial spirit would not rest and in 1974 he started S2 Yachts, Inc. manufacturing sailboats.

	The 2600 Cuddy Cabin, 1988

Pursuit series of boats began in 1977 and by 1980 AMF produced the last Slickcraft. S2 Yachts then purchased the Slickcraft brand name and a new plant was built in Ft. Pierce, Florida. By 1986 each line of boats had become so well recognized that separate dealer franchises for each product line, including Tiara, were established and total employment had reached 780 people. On into the 1990s many new models of Pursuits were introduced and its reputation as a first class fishing boat grew, winning awards and more recognition.

With the advent of a "Total Quality Management" program, Powerboat Reports published in 1994 that Tiara Yachts had received a customer satisfaction rating of 95%. The company and Leon continued to receive many awards and in 1997 Leon was inducted into the Michigan Boating Hall of Fame. By the year 2000 Pursuit was presented with Yamaha's Sales and Marketing Achievement Award for the fourth straight year.

With the family well in control the company continues to set new standards for innovation, quality, design and value. Pursuit is now totally dedicated to building boats for the fisherman and his family.

Caribee Boat Sales and Marina, Inc. proudly represents: