Houseboat Magazine — January 2018

26 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018 WWW.HOUSEBOATMAGAZINE.COM

The iconic Gibson Boats legacy dates clear back to 1968 found-
LY>PSSPHT)Y\TTL[[V\U[SLZZLHYZVMP[ZOPZ[VYHYLÄSSLK^P[O
the busy production of more than 6,000 boats by 1990. After the
recession sadly forced the manufacturer out of business in 2013,
this age-old brand had new life breathed into it when Kelly and Pam
Cawthorne and their son Shane and his wife Danielle Cawthorne
purchased the rights in 2017. Newly relocated to Tea, S.D., the
*H^[OVYULZHYLL_JP[LK[VVќLYHM\SSWYVK\J[PVUSPULHZ^LSSHZ
MVJ\ZPUNVUZLY]PJLÄILYNSHZZYLWHPYHUKYLM\YIPZOPUN(SYLHK loyal Gibson houseboaters have shown tremendous support as this hybrid cross between a houseboat and a cabin cruiser hits the water once again. The favorite 14- by 47-foot houseboat already shines out as the perfect size for families with enough room to play hard without tipping the price too heavily. The smallest build is the 36-foot Play and Sport, which includes a mid deck for attaching a smaller swim ZSPKLVYQ\TWWSH[MVYTHUKHU\WWLYÅIYPKNL[OH[MLH[\YLZHSHYNL
slide, rock wall and even a diving platform. Sizes stretch clear to the
59-footer with three staterooms, two large heads, and a generous
galley and salon combo with plenty of room for just two or as many
as ten for an extended water outing.

'DWH)RXQGHG 1968

/RFDWLRQTea, S.D.

%HVWVHOOLQJ0RGHORU)ORRU3ODQ14’ X 47’

6PDOOHVW+RXVHERDW%XLOWWR'DWH12’ X 36’

/DUJHVW+RXVHERDW%XLOWWR'DWH 16’ X 59’

+XOO'HVLJQ-PILYNSHZZ4VKPÄLK=O\SS

:DWHU$SSOLFDWLRQ Lakes, Rivers and Intracoastal

,QKRXVH7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ Ye s

,QKRXVH,QWHULRU'HVLJQHU Ye s

Owner Quote
“My wife and I have been boaters all our lives and we are always
excited to let everyone know we love our Gibson houseboat. We

have looked at and been on numerous houseboats in the last ten

years. We picked Gibson for a few reasons. It is a great-handling

big boat (ours is 16 by 55 feet) that gets us in and out of coves

^P[OV\[HU`PZZ\LZ>LSV]L[OLHSSÄILYNSHZZJVUZ[Y\J[PVU;OL

engines are out back where we can easily access them for routine

maintenance and it keeps any heat or smells out of the cabin area.

>LOH]LHU,_LJ\[P]LTVKLSHUKSV]L[OLVWLUÅVVYWSHU^P[OH

walkout back to a great rear covered deck. The lower level has

lots of room for our kids and grandkids. My wife loves the lower

SL]LSZ[VYHNLZWHJL-VYV\YOVTLVU[OL^H[LYP[Ä[ZHSSV\YULLKZ

Gibson of South Dakota has helped make our houseboat dreams

come true.”

• Steve and Bernadette Willuweit, Lake Francis Case, S.D.

Looking to 2018

Gibson Boats is looking forward to settling into its new home in

South Dakota. New changes in its boat line will include a wood-free

PUZLY[IVH[HZJ\Z[VTLYZHYLVќLYLKHULU[PYLS`ÄILYNSHZZI\PSK[V

eliminate water damage, bug damage, and smell characteristics—

the three biggest complaints of many boat brands.

What’s Trending Now?

̧;YLUKPUNPUPZ[OLTV]L[VZTHSSLYIVH[ZMVYZVTLLѝJPLU

cies and day-to-day cost savings at marinas. More and more peo-

ple want to keep boating, but ongoing costs are getting too high.”

• Kelly Cawthorne, Gibson Boats

Gibson Boats S.D.

605-231-1052 http://www.gibsonboatssd.com