New Member
 

Hello fellow Mariah lovers. My name is Mariah PD, and I am very happy to find you all. I was the Customer Service / Warranty Manager for Mariah Boat's Inc. from 1992 - 1998. My employment began at Mariah in June 1989, and I was present when the first boat's rolled of the line in Pittsburg IL. I hope to be able to bring some "inside" knowledge to this forum and help anyone in any way that I can. I will check the forum at least every other day, so be patient with me and I will always get back to you.

Happy Boating!!!
MariahPD

oh boy! Will you ever be a 'welcomed' member here !! :yes_grin:

Let me be the first to say "welcome aboard"!!!

When you get a moment, here's a few quick instructions to get you settled in.

'Pin' yourself to our Member Map by following "Wet Willy's" tutorial at the link below:
http://www.mariahownersclub.com/foru...read.php?t=913

Here's the link to show you how to upload images to our gallery:
http://www.mariahownersclub.com/foru...read.php?t=107

Here's how you add your boat information beneath your username:
http://www.mariahownersclub.com/foru...read.php?t=612

Welcome Mariah PD.

I just posted about stopping by the old Benton plant yesterday. Pretty depressing. Godfrey Marine is letting things go to Hell.

Rend Lake was running pretty high!.

Welcome aboard!!! I can't explain how happy I am to have an ex-employee here to share stories and information from the original Mariah.

Things seem to be pretty slow for Godfrey right now as most boat mfgs. are as well. Godfrey has spent a lot of money on the building itself but nothing has been done outside like the parking lot you mentioned. I remember when the dirt work started for the building, seems like a hundred years ago now. I live 12 miles west of the old Mariah plant and go by there often, it is sad to see it the way it is now after seeing it in all of it's glory. I have a lot of pictures of the "old days" and I will try to dig them up and get them posted. I was looking at the plant pictures and I know almost everyone in them - I am on the forklift in the warehouse picture, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time lol. Thanks for helping me walk down memory lane!!

MariahPD

You and your co-workers from the past made an awsome product. I drove from Toronto to New Jersey to purchase my Z222. Welcome aboard!!

welcome aboard. we are all very interested in hearing some of your stories and sharing your pictures down memory lane :rolling_laugh:

Awesome ! As you have already heard ... Welcome to the Forums!

I will definately be watching for any updates you have to post up here.
:wink_thumbup:

Thank all of you for the kind words, it is truley appreciated. What made Mariah and it's boat's so special was the people who made them or as we always said the family. The family was led by Jimmy Fulks who had a vision and made it a reality that we all can appreciate. I look back now with so many fond memories of the people and friends there again "family". I was not with Mariah at the end but I can assure you that closing the plant and all of the affected employees was on Jimmy's mind as he cared for each and everyone like they were his own children. In my honest opinion there is not a finer or more fair man than Mr. Jimmy Fulks, he wanted his employees to give their very best at the task at hand and it showed in the boat's we produced. I know that Jimmy has been a big influence on me and he will always have a special place in my heart and memories.

MariahPD

Mariah PD:

Where did they build the Chariot Trailers? Was that owned by Jimmy Fulks also?

Chariot was owned by Jimmy Fulks too. According to what I've read, they manufactured them at a different facility, I'm sure MariahPD can verify this.

Paul,
Chariot was originally based in West Frankfort in the old Mark Twain Boat's building. All of the Chariot trailers were built there. Jimmy Fulks was a partner in this venture. Chariot also made the stainless hardware (swim ladders, bow rails, windshield supports) that were used on all of the Mariah Boat's starting somewhere around 1996. When Chariot trailers quit production it was purchased by Sam Wink owner of Prestige Trailers who continued to make Chariot Trailers from his DuQuoin, IL. facility. Trailer parts for Chariot Trailers are still available from Prestige Trailers. The stainless and alum. fabricating unit was moved into Mariah and continued to supply stainless and alum. parts for Mariah's production needs. Building all of the alum. and stainless in-house was a huge benefit and a very intresting process to see evolve. This was one of Jimmy Fulk's dreams to be a self sufficent mfg. and not depend on suppliers and be assured of high quality standards in every step of the building process.

MariahPD

Great to hear your stories MariahPD. This will just make this site even much more interesting to visit.

Thanks Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. That is an interesting little story about the trailers. I will have to try and remember this for future posts or information in general.

Sitting around chatting around the virtual camp-fire telling stories. :)

Hi, Mariah PD;

It is great to have some with your background on the site.
First let me thank you for many years of trouble free boating, 8yrs on a ‘95’ Talari 210 and now 2yrs+ on a Z275st! I bet it was great to see the R and D as the plant grew.
I live a couple hours north of you in the Home of the White Squirrel. I am sure many questions are to come; so I will ask one I am sure many would like to know. Do you know who Mariah had to make their signature gold emblem keys? If we knew who to contact, I am sure we could flood them with enough orders they may consider producing some.

I can’t wait to see some of the old pics. I will be watching your post with interest!

I will have to do some checking to see who the vendor was. I will post back on this as soon as I can contact a former employee. I have a W key if anyone is in dire need of one.

MariahPD

WetWilly ,

The Original Mariah came with a gold Mariah emblem key. They made 4 different cuts and each key had a W, X, Y, or Z inscribed on the key. So every old Mariah was keyed to one of these lettered keys. If you have one of each, you can start any old Mariah out there!

Interesting. I never noticed a letter on mine. I'll have to look closer.

Mariah Keys thread <- includes a picture of mine.

Ditto.. I have a remade key as well. BUT ... I was also surprised to get a 3rd spare key made up at a little key/engraving store near the cottage. :wink_thumbup:

Honestly, I would LOVE to have a Mariah Logo'd key ... even if it wasnt cut

:D