s2 yachts inc holland mi

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• Sailboat Guide

The company, located in Holland, Michigan, USA, was founded by boating industry legend, Leon Slikkers, after he had sold his powerboat company, Slickcraft. As part of the sales agreement, he was precluded from the powerboat market for a number of years. There were no restrictions on sailboat building. So he built a new plant which was, at the time, a model for production-line efficiency and strict quality control. In the late 1970s, S2 did start building powerboats again, and soon established its Tiara line. Slikkers was later able to buy back his old powerboat line, Slickercraft. Production of sailboats ended in 1989.

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Steve VanderVeen: Leon Slikkers, founder of S2 Yachts, is a lifelong inventor

Leon Slikkers grew up on a farm near Diamond Springs, Michigan — but instead of doing chores, he preferred working with wood. So, in 1944, after his older brothers, Gerald and Dennis, got jobs at Chris-Craft in Holland, he tried to join them.

Chris-Craft wouldn't hire him, though, because he was only 16 years old. Finally, in 1946, when he was 18, Chris-Craft gave him a job in the joinery department. There, with Harry Bussker as his mentor, Slikkers worked on cabinetry, cabin tops, and floors. By 1952, he was assistant foreman — but then his peers went on strike. 

More: The man responsible for Holland's Chris-Craft boats

More: Three brothers, plenty of celery and Holland Transplanter

Before the strike, Slikkers and another Chris-Craft employee, Jason Petroelje, had started building 15-foot wooden “Runabouts” in Slikkers’ two-stall garage at 81 W. 35th St. During the strike, they ramped up production, buying scrap mahogany and cutting it into parts for 10 boats.

They were working on their fourth boat when the strike ended — but Petroelje didn't want to go back. They divided up the wood and ended their partnership. Petroelje launched a custom boat company under the name Skipper-Craft. 

Back at Chris-Craft, Slikkers’ responsibilities grew. Soon he was managing 60 people, but he never lost the itch to own his own boat company. He kept building boats in his garage. Unlike Petroelje, Slikkers’ dream was to build a dealer network and develop a national business.

In January 1955, Slikkers decided to leave Chris-Craft. When he told Herm Volkers, his immediate supervisor, he was leaving, Volkers told him to speak with the vice president. When the vice president asked him why he was leaving, Slikkers said he wanted to start his own boat company. The vice president acted surprised, warning him that even Chris-Craft was struggling, and saying he'd have a job waiting for him if Slikkers returned. 

Slikkers never looked back. Working out of his garage, he built dual cockpit Runabouts with mahogany decks and molded plywood hulls, which he purchased from a supplier in Grand Rapids. His struggle became not selling boats but finding enough space to make them. 

Where would he get money for a factory? He suggested to his wife, Dolores, that they sell their house. She agreed, not knowing where she, Leon, and their two young boys, David and Robert, would live. With the $5,000 Slikkers netted after selling the house and paying off his debts, he bought the building at 791 Washington Ave. — where Home Heating and Air Conditioning is located today — and purchased supplies.

But where would the family live? Dolores was willing to live in the tiny apartment upstairs, but only for a year. They lived there for eight. 

In his first year, under the two-word Slick Craft name, Slikkers made 35 boats. 

In 1956, Slikkers started experimenting with fiberglass. Initially, he purchased a kit from a small company in Minnesota. Then he met with an engineer from Canfield Plastics of Zeeland, which was making fiberglass chairs for Herman Miller. Then he bought 14-foot fiberglass hulls in batches from Poll Manufacturing Company, owned by Clyde Poll, son of Henry Poll , who had hired Jason Petroelje to design the molds.

To those hulls, Slikkers would add wood decks, chrome hardware and upholstered seats purchased from AutoTop, another local company. 

In 1958, Slikkers made his first fiberglass boat — but still with beautiful, hand-varnished mahogany decks. In 1960, he made his first fiberglass hull and deck boat. In 1962, he faced a big decision. At the time, he was making about 200 wooden boats and 40 fiberglass boats per year. But he knew he couldn't expand the business without specializing in one or the other.

He chose to make all fiberglass boats and came out with an innovative design for a 16-footer, which he introduced at the Chicago Boat Show at McCormick Place. It was a black boat with a red interior and white shag carpet. It was the hit of the show. 

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Needing more production space, Slikkers opened a facility at 1145 Washington Ave. — an old roller-skating rink. Meanwhile, his team, including former Chris-Craft employees, continued to grow. 

In 1963, Slikkers introduced an inboard/outboard motor option and built his first cabin cruiser, an 18-footer. His business rapidly grew even though he refused to work or engage in commerce on Saturdays, the Sabbath for Seventh Day Adventists.

We'll continue his story next week.

— Community Columnist Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. Contact him through start-upacademeinc.com.

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$3.5M luxury yacht built by West Michigan company like a ‘high-end home on the water’

• Updated: Mar. 17, 2022, 1:43 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 17, 2022, 10:10 a.m.

• Brian McVicar | [email protected]

HOLLAND, MI — Inside Tiara Yachts, amid a whir of cranes, trucks and machinery, Thomas Slikkers climbs aboard a prototype of his company’s newest luxury watercraft, the EX 60.

Today, the 60-foot vessel is still a work in progress. Its hull is unpainted. The cockpit, engine and navigation system have yet to be installed. But Slikkers, Tiara’s president and CEO, lights up with excitement as he describes the high-end flourishes that will make his company’s newest creation akin to a “high-end home on the water.”

“It really is our greatest hits,” he said.

With a roughly $3.5 million price tag, the EX 60 will feature a customizable cockpit with plush seating, an outdoor breakfast bar, and two bathrooms. It boasts a well-appointed kitchen, and the propulsion system has extras such as assisted docking. Below deck, three sleeping areas can accommodate six adults.

For more than 60 years, the Slikkers family has been making boats in Holland — and the EX 60 is its biggest and most expensive boat yet.

The family’s start in the boating business dates back to 1955 when Leon Slikkers, Thomas Slikkers’ father, left his job at Chris-Craft Boats to start Slickcraft Boat Company. He funded the venture by selling his family’s home for $5,000 and using the proceeds to buy materials and rent space on Washington Avenue near downtown Holland. Then, he moved his family into an apartment above his new shop.

Launching the business was a gamble. But Leon Slikkers found success with the 16-foot Slickcraft premier. Featuring a molded mahogany plywood hull, the 16-foot vessel sold for $1,165 in 1958. By the late 1960s, the company had grown in popularity, and Slikkers sold his business to American Machine and Foundry.

But Leon Slikkers, whose family describes him as a “true entrepreneur,” soon craved independence.

In 1973, he resigned as president of Slickcraft, and the following year he launched S2 Yachts, the parent company of Tiara Yachts.

“It had very small, humble beginnings,” Thomas Slikkers said. “But within a short period of time, my dad was able to convince people that we’ve got a great product here.”

Today, the private, family-owned company has grown substantially.

Inside its headquarters, 725 E. 40th St., 600 employees design, build and sell yachts. The company’s boats, the least expensive of which retails for more than $500,000, are sold to customers throughout the U.S. as well as Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Italy and elsewhere. Its biggest markets are the U.S. and portions of Latin America.

“Wherever there’s big blue water, that’s usually a good market for us,” said Slikkers, who grew up with the business but officially joined Tiara Yachts in 1982 as an accounting clerk.

The EX-60, which has been in the works for 1 ½ years, is still under development, but the prototype is slated to be complete by mid-August and available to customers later this year. The company has a focus on luxury, and high-end features that create a comfortable, quiet experience for customers.

“We want you to enjoy nature, and enjoy the sounds of nature — not the sounds of our diesel engines,” said Andrew Bartlett, Tiara’s director of design.

Walking through the company’s cavernous factory, where about 400 workers create the yachts, Slikkers describes the craftsmanship that Tiara prides itself upon. Nearly everything on each yacht, from its furniture to its kitchen cabinets, are made in house. Engines that power Tiara’s boats are made by outside companies, such as Volvo Penta and Mercury.

Workers at Tiara can produce about one boat a day, Slikkers said.

On a recent afternoon, as a worker inside the factory inspected a 43-foot LS yacht, Slikkers said his company’s production line is not unlike an automotive assembly line. The process starts with the hull, the body of the boat, and about halfway through the deck is added. Later, chairs, furniture, paneling and interior fixtures are installed.

Finally, the vessel is painted, and put on a truck for delivery, he said.

“It hasn’t been painted yet,” Slikkers said, as he pointed to the 43-foot LS yacht. “So, it’s not as pretty as it’s going to be.”

Tiara Yachts, located at 725 E. 40th St. in Holland, on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

While Tiara has evolved, adding new models, production techniques and automation, the company has stayed true to its roots as a family-owned company, Slikkers said. Walk inside Tiara Yachts, and you might bump into one of his six family members who work there.

His brother David serves as director of government relations, while his brother Bob is senior vice president of operations. His son Alex is a sales and marketing specialist, and two of his nephews, Tim and Kelly, also call Tiara yachts home. Kelly’s wife, Tiffany, has joined the family business too. She works in human resources.

That level of family involvement creates a bond that isn’t present in every business, said Slikkers, whose father, Leon, retired from Tiara in September.

“We aren’t trying to make sure that we’ve got a golden parachute tucked in the back corner in case we ever need to jettison at the first sign of trouble,” he said. “We’re the guys that are still driving the ship when she’s taking on water.”

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S2 Yachts, Inc.

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• 725 E 40th St Holland MI 49423
• (616) 392-7163
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Family owned boat/yacht manufacturing business for pleasure/recreational use. Premium segment.

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S2 Yachts to sell Pursuit Boats brand in deal valued at $100 million

HOLLAND — S2 Yachts Inc. will sell its Pursuit Boats brand in a deal valued at $100 million.

The Holland-based boat manufacturer said today that it entered into an agreement to sell all the assets of its Pursuit Boats brand to Loudon, Tenn.-based Malibu Boats Inc. (Nasdaq: MBUU), a manufacturer of recreational fiberglass boats, according to a statement.

The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, subject to closing conditions.

The Fort Pierce, Fla.-based Pursuit Boats makes a line saltwater fishing boats that are powered by outboard motors. The premium boat brand, which was established 41 years ago, generated approximately $124 million in net sales in the 12-month period that ended June 30 of this year, according to a statement.

S2 Yachts, which is owned by the Slikkers family, retains ownership of its Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport brands, according to CEO Tom Slikkers.

Slikkers described Malibu Boats as “an ideal partner” to position Pursuit for the future, noting the company shared a similar culture and “passion for product and people.”

“This transaction is as much about the right partner to steward Pursuit’s future as it is about the sale price. Malibu is that right partner,” Slikkers said in a statement.

Malibu plans to fund the purchase with cash on hand and debt from its revolving credit facility.

The company said the deal for the Pursuit brand will position it with a premium offering in the growing outboard-powered saltwater fishing boat segment. The addition also expands Malibu’s product offerings, diversifies its end markets and enhances its growth opportunities.

“The Pursuit brand maintains a strong reputation for luxurious appointments, innovation, and premium quality, and this highly complementary business creates strong strategic opportunities to enhance product development across our portfolio of brands,” Malibu Boats CEO Jack Springer stated.

Birmingham-based Angle Advisors LLC served as the financial adviser to S2 Yachts, which was also advised by Grand Rapids-based law firm Varnum LLP .

Malibu Boats was advised in the deal by Raymond James & Associates Inc. and the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP .

The deal comes amid a growth spurt for the boat manufacturing industry, driven by high consumer confidence, more disposable income and generally favorable economic conditions, according to a report from the National Marine Manufacturers Association .

In an annual outlook published in January, NMMA projected sales of powerboats this year will increase 5 percent to 6 percent from the more than 260,000 units sold in 2017, which was the sixth consecutive year of industry growth.

Annual consumer spending in the marine industry hit $37 billion last year, according to NMMA estimates.

As well, S2 Yachts’ sale of the Pursuit Boats brand marks the second transaction involving a Michigan-based boat manufacturer this month.

Previously, Lansing-based Triton Industries Inc. , the family-owned manufacturer of Manitou brand of pontoon boats, said it agreed to sell to Quebec-based diversified vehicle and boat maker Bombardier Recreational Products (TSX: DOO), as MiBiz previously reported . Terms of the Triton-BRP deal were not disclosed.

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Working at S2 Yachts

S2 yachts overview.

S2 Yachts is an American boat builder based in Holland, Michigan. From 1974 until 1989 the company specialized in the design and manufacture of fiberglass sailboats and it continues as a builder of motorboats.

S2 Yachts is a well-established company. It was founded way back in 1974. This time-proven company loves to hire graduates from Grand Valley State University, with 33.3% of its employees having attended Grand Valley State University. Want to explore some other great places to work in Holland, MI? You can check out our full list of Best Companies to Work For in Holland, MI .

S2 Yachts is a medium manufacturing company with 600 employees and an annual revenue of $160.0M that is headquartered in Holland, MI.

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The team at S2 Yachts

• The founders of S2 Yachts is Leon Slikkers .
• The key people at S2 Yachts are Thomas Slikkers and Leon Slikkers .

S2 Yachts Rankings

S2 Yachts is ranked #13 on the Best Manufacturing Companies to Work For in Holland, MI list. Zippia's Best Places to Work lists provide unbiased, data-based evaluations of companies. Rankings are based on government and proprietary data on salaries, company financial health, and employee diversity.

• #13 in Best Manufacturing Companies to Work For in Holland, MI
• #9 in Biggest Companies in Holland, MI

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S2 Yachts FAQs

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of S2 Yachts, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about S2 Yachts. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at S2 Yachts. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by S2 Yachts. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of S2 Yachts and its employees or that of Zippia.

S2 Yachts may also be known as or be related to S2 YACHTS INC, S2 Yachts and S2 Yachts Inc.

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Welcome to the TIARA COLLECTION

Your source for Tiara Yachts Branded Merchandise

The Tiara Collection online store allows you to order from a unique collection of Tiara Yachts Branded Merchandise chosen exclusively for you. Simply select a category from the Tiara Yachts Branded Merchandise dropdown box above to begin shopping.

If you have a question about your order or need additional information, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-862-5718. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. EST.

If you are interested in ordering Tiara Sport branded apparel please reach out to Devin Walsh at [email protected] or by phone 1-610-220-9209 to learn more. Please note that other products that were featured on the Tiara Sport web store may not be available due to minimum quantity requirements.

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Careers at Tiara

Join the team.

All applications must be submitted online, through our career portal.

Join an organization rich in history and tradition, and centered around family. Tiara Yachts is one of the oldest, privately-held boat manufacturers in the United States. Family owned and operated since day one, we leverage this aspect of our business to direct and build values used to conduct business.

In addition to competitive wages and health plan options, Tiara offers:

• Paid vacation and holidays
• Quarterly bonus
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-site training
• No Saturday hours

GREAT LAKES BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL SPONSORSHOP

Tiara Yachts has partnered with Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville, Mich. to provide $15,000 sponsorship awards for two students attending the 2024-25 school year. Upon graduation, each selected student agrees to work for Tiara Yachts for a period of one year for pay and benefits. Application Deadline: June 9, 2024

Careers FAQ

How can I learn more about Tiara Yachts?

Browse our website to learn more about the products and learn more about our story and our commitment here .

Do I need an email address?

Yes, all applicants must have an email address in order for your application to be accepted. A Tiara Recruiter will contact you via email, phone number or both. You can set up a free email account through Yahoo , Microsoft or Gmail .

What if I need help searching for available jobs, applying online or would like to contact the hiring manager?

If you have questions or need assistance, please email us at [email protected]

What is the interview process?

A Tiara Recruiter will contact you to set up an interview. Most interviews are scheduled M-F between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

What is involved in the hiring process?

Once an offer is accepted, the candidate will need to pass a background check, a physical that includes a pre-employment drug test, and complete the onboarding paperwork prior to starting employment.

Note: Tiara obtains all costs for pre-employment physicals and background checks.

Does Tiara Yachts offer visa sponsorship?

No. All hired applicants must legally be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

How can I find information about living in West Michigan, including cost of living details, community and school information?

You will find links on the local Chambers of Commerce at www.westcoastchamber.org .

Do you offer summer employment?

Summer employment is periodically available depending on current needs and budgeted funds available. Available positions can be found on our job listings page . Must be 18 or older to apply.

Internship FAQ

What are the qualifications to be an intern?

You must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university and pursuing a degree related to the internship position.

What are the dates of the internship program?

Tiara hosts a summer internship program. This is a 12-week program that runs from May to August. We are flexible to work around semester dates.

Where can I view all the internships available?

View and apply to all our current available internship openings on our job listings page .

Are internships paid?

Yes, because we want to simulate the real-world experience, all internship positions are paid.

When can I apply for an internship?

Recruiting for internship positions typically occurs between October and February for the following summer.

How does the hiring process work?

Once you have submitted your application/resume, a recruiter will review your information. They may contact you to discuss your interest and next steps if your qualifications match the available position.

Are there housing opportunities available?

There are plenty of great places to live in the area. However, Tiara does not provide assistance with housing. Some local colleges do offer housing throughout the summer, such as Hope College.