Chaparral wows at 50th Anniversary dealer meeting

I spent most of last week down in Key Largo at the Chaparral & Robalo dealer meeting as the company pulled out all the stops as it kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration.

It was in 1965 that Buck Pegg started Chaparral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and about a decade later that he moved the company to its current Nashville, Georgia, headquarters. Company president Jim Lane joined shortly thereafter.

And of course there were plenty of highlights from the past 50 years,and awards and recognition from Mercury, Volvo Penta and others. The event was even capped off with a fireworks show.

But the thing that really stood out — and continues to impress me — is the focus on the future. Chaparral continues to roll out impressive new products in new categories, adding new models to the Vortex jet boat line and a new line of outboard-powered deck boats.

This is what matters in an industry where we are hungering for new ideas and new buyers — and far too many brands are lamenting the lost past.

You can read more about Chaparral in our October issue, and see our photos live from the event on our Facebook page.