Mike Batcke, owner of StealthCraft Boats, shares his family story of running a boat company with a focus on drift boats, power boats, and rafts. We discover the advantages of a boat with a headlight and power anchor.
Mike tells us how their technology and design evolved throughout the years to keep up with their customer’s preferences and the different waters, becoming a top choice for anglers today. What separates StealthCraft Boats from its competitors? Listen to this episode to find out.
Click below and listen to the Podcast about StealthCraft Boats with Mike Batcke:
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(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
StealthCraft Boats Show Notes with Mike Batcke
04:50 – Mike does some upland hunting. We just had Nick Larson from Upland Bird Hunting Podcast recently in episode 373.
06:25 – Their main hub is in Pere Marquette – kind of like West Yellowstone of the mid-West. Their North branch is the Baldwin Creek Lodge.
12:00 – All their rafts are built in the US, everything, even the materials.
14:20 – StealthCraft started in 1996 with Mike’s uncle, Jim Johnson. Read more about their history here.
18:45 – We had Roger Fletcher on, who’s also a great boat-maker, in episode 177. We talked about the history of drift boats.
20:00 – The haul is the entire bottom of the boat. The transom is the back. StealthCraft boats have one of the widest hauls in the motorboat world.
22:50 – According to statistics, the most sold drift boat around the country is the 14.6 Low Pro Hyde
23:30 – Stealthcraft builds 2 boats a day. They build mostly aluminum motor boats. They have 50 employees.
27:45 – Their Superfly Boat hasn’t changed in 10 years in design.
31:00 – SteathCarft put lights and power anchors on drift boats which some people hate but a lot of people love.
41:30 – River Masters designed the first skiffs
55:55 – The Hooligan is what they sell the most lately
1:01:00 – Noone’s hardly building oars and it’s one of Mike’s biggest frustration.
You can find StealthCraft Boats on Instagram @stealthcraftboats
Facebook at Stealth Craft Boats
YouTube at Stealth Craft Boats
Website at StealthCraftBoats.com
Videos Noted in the Show
Related Podcast Episodes
WFS 260 – Down Home Boatworks with Dave Zielinski – The Cicada Chaser
WFS 177 – History of the Driftboat with Roger Fletcher (Drift Boat Series Ep. 2)
Read the Full Podcast Transcript Below
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