Boulder Boat Works

The New Economy and the Introduction of the CRT

Andy (Left) and Chris are the faces of Boulder Boat Works

What is the best way to make it in a down economy in the fly fishing business? The best way is to understand what your customer’s wants and needs are as best you can. Andy Toohey and Chris Schrantz of Boulder Boat Works have taken advantage of a slow 2009 to develop a new niche in there Boulder based factory. The result is the new Convertible Rive Taxi “CRT”. This boat is built on the same Polymer Hull that has made their pro series boat the talk on rivers, shops, and bars alike. A small shop on the outskirts of downtown Boulder has come up with some insights and wisdom into the future of fly fishing.

On a recent tour of their facilities I had the chance to get to know the guys behind the screen and catch up on the industry buzz. When I entering the factory I was greeted by two yellow labs full of energy at 9 am, Andy quietly greeted me and passed me off to Chris while the phone continued to ring in a back office.

The entrance to BBW, close enough to Boulder to ride your bike into the office.

Chris and I sat down, coffee in hand, and chatted about where the CRT came from and why there is a demand for a more affordable boat. He explained that “Last year was not our best, we really felt the slump here, as many folks in the industry have, but rather than blow out our inventory of boats for just over wholesale we decided to dream up a more affordable option. Most importantly, we did not want to sacrifice any of the craftsmanship or quality of a Boulder Boat. So, we use our same hull that the pro boats have and changed up everything else. The CRT comes in at one third less cash than the pro guide model.”

Templates hang from the ready to put the finishing touches on the boats.

In a time when Hyde and Clakacraft are struggling to sell any boats at full retail value Boulder Boat Works is having a banner year. “The new CRT’s are in high demand and we are trying to meet the needs of our customers, but we can only get so many built a month.”

The "off limits room" only the BBW Staff and these dogs have the privilege to see what happens behind that door.

The idea behind the CRT is to have a light durable drift boat that has the versatility to be configured to match the needs of any size angler, to trim the boat based on the load for the day or the trip. These boats blend traditional western design with lightweight aluminum parts in a perfect marriage that will last for generations of angling.

A newly finished boat is ready for pickup and its madden voyage.

Their simple factory consists of three main rooms, one of which was off limits to me, due to the sensitive technology that is being used to produce these hulls. There is the main office, the assembly room and the secret stash all of which have boats everywhere. Four Colorado craftsmen are responsible for most of the work that goes into these boats. Andy is proud to say that “the boats are made from US parts and are built entirely in shop, the only thing that comes from overseas are the bolts.”

The spray room this is where the finishing touches come together.

This might seem like small contribution to get the US economy back on track, but it speaks volumes on what Boulder Boat Works stands for. By comparison 2010 is shaping up to be one of the best years that they will have had as a company. In a time when sales are hard, especially on extravagant fishing gear Boulder Boat Works has taken the time to produce what they consider to be the best performing, most affordable, and versatile drift boat on the market.