Dart Boat Company Burgee Flag

Dart Boat Company History

Amid the Roaring Twenties, the desire for fun, frivolity, speed, and sport set the stage for a boom in the production of the then-new mahogany runabout. Capitalizing on this growing market, the Indian Lake Boat Company in Lima, Ohio developed a line of fast runabouts with the evocative name of Dart. Continuing to ride the crest of the wave of motorboat popularity, the Dart line of boats attracted the attention of investors in Toledo, Ohio, and in 1928 a new company was formed, the Dart Boat Company of Toledo, Ohio. Here is an old Dart boat movie.

Designer Irving “Hocky” Holler was retained from the Indian Lake Boat Company to refine the lines and hardware into a first-class product, to be produced at a new factory in Toledo. In a short time, Dart grew to be one of the leading boat builders, with iconic design, fast and stable hulls, and a legendary reputation for first-class workmanship. The Dart Boat Company was at the forefront of the industry, producing a top-of-the-line product, but also known for its international marketing efforts. Although favored by Prohibition-era bootleggers and the well-to-do, economic difficulties at the beginning of the Great Depression brought a halt to production.

Here is a link to the current Dart Boat website.