Holiday Mfg

[trouthog]

i have an old Holiday river boat, just wondering if any one has any info they could pass down... i know they were in yellville, on hwy 235 some place, company started in 1970, & closed in mid to late 70's, and thats about were the road gets cold.. more histroical than anything for me. any any suggestions for who could do a little fix'n up on the old girl? i like old stuff, i grew up in one, i think its cool to have one, & one day when i have the cash to upgrade i will, but for now i'm just enjoying fishing! any help would be great, any facts would be super cool...i would love to keep a little history a live & pass it on to my 3 little boys..thanks

[Dutch]

What kind of fixing up are you talking about?

[trouthog]

it was painted, its an ugly dark green, wanted to have it done in white & have a full transom put on & get rid of single motor mount board... its not fancy, i know gary wright, he has offered to led his wonderful knowelage to me & help.. i may take him up on it but i have no place to do it.. my garage is too small. i may give is try as weather get better.. but then i'll be fishing more! lol

[trouthog]

Well after much asking and searching I have found and spoken to the one of the builders of my boat! It was cool!

It was a couple of brothers named bill and Kenneth smith. Kenneth lives on 235 just up past the yellville water tower. The old boat plant was about 2 miles from there.. The holiday company stated out building fiberglass shower and tub enclosure's. Kenneth told me the built mostly lake boats at one time, on only a few river boats, my serial # is 1009, being the 9th boat built...

What's even cooler is well , this is sad, around 76-77 he thought, the company was sold to his brother in law and about a year later is burnt... They lost everything but the transom clamp. Which was sold to Gay Roary who started Shawnee, and is still in use building the supremes and Shawnees floating the same river...

Now for me this is not only super cool but super important, as time goes on this is local history. History that is slowly being lost. As our friends, family, favorite guides age, and pass so does the greatness, the rich history, the great stories, tall tales , best people, wise men we will ever know...

Elmo hurst , bill Johnson, Sam Walton, were all good men.. Bill was like a grandfather to me.... I was lucky enough to know Elmo, am able to call is son my friend, meet Sam Walton all because of Bill Johnson. Due to great men like Bill I meet and got know and learn a little from guys like Rex, Alvin and some I have forgotten... But theses are guys that took time to talk to me and teach me something! Which I not only am thankful for , but still remember to this day... Alvin has long passed, god rest his sole, I thank god for men like him!

For all you that at or may not read this.... Rex, thanks, I know I am missing a bunch, most you I haven't seen in 25 years, but I haven't forgotten a lot of you guys that used to put up with me at Hurst fishing services. Because of you, I always try to help anyone I can, weather at the river or a tourists at Walmart ... I remember being that frustrated kid and getting a lot of help. I am still getting it today, a guide named Buzz, funny guy super cool, has helped me return and get back into it with my boys very quickly... Richard cross, the zig jig creator has been wonderful!

The zig jig if don't know is awesome! I just ordered 5 dozen and a rod from him! Super cool guy! I grew up,on the river graduated from cotter and can't believe I am just now hearing about them..

Sat was a slow day for me but I have never ever caught a brown till I fished the zig jig, sat I got this one & Sunday b4 I caught one this one is 16" and the the one last week was 14.. Not monsters, but I'm catching good fish I have never caught b4, and I'm learning to use, it does have a small learning curve, but once u get it.. It's on!

[fishinwrench]

That's a cool old boat. There are a few (very few) of those old square-nosed wood & glass jons up here on LO,. Was Holiday the only company that made those?

[Greasy B]

Great boat, you can definitely see that it’s a predecessor to Gay Rorie’s Shawnee, especially the strong rocker. I was under the impression that back in the day most is the major bass boat manufacturers in northern Arkansas built River jons on the side.

[trouthog]

I dont know there has been a ton of river boat company's over the years.. And as greasy b said almost all made a river boat at some point.. I just seen a campion on Saturday when i was out... That was a first for me. I guess the guy used to work there an they would let them build them in there off time.. Thats cool! This is nothing fancy, im fixing it up, and there is another post on under this on building a custom boat that a member asked me to post some pic so i did.. If u want to see the rest of the project stages check that out.. Im trying to decide on a color to gel coat.. Im thinking back to original green..

[trouthog]

greasy b what kind is that?

edit *

never mind i see the shanwee sticker now...

[Greasy B]

I believe I have one of the last boats Gay Rorie built. Was on a waiting list for about a year and a half, Gay retired not long after we picked it up.

[trouthog]

i haven't seen him in close to 30 years...i was a little boy last time i seen him.. he is a heck of a boat builder.. it must a heck of thng to see so much of what you made all over the place..