Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

I was returning from a business trip from Nashville. I've noticed the Mariah Factory off in the distance in the past. Since I was by myself, I decided to take the exit and go check it out.

It was pretty depressing. There was a row of flags poles with no flags. The parking lot was crumbling. Through the fence I could see boat molds scattered about. The sign said Godfrey Marine, Illinois, but there didn't seem to be much going on.

It was sad to see when I think look at the pictures of the factory during it's heyday and 500 people were employed. It makes you realize that nothing lasts forever. I can only imagine the impact of the closure had on this little town.

That's very cool, it is pretty sad to think about it, especially if you see how much work and dedication went into that place... There will be some true "inside" stuff coming soon to the board, and it'll make you really appreciate it. Mariah contributed so much to the community, it is a true shame.

However, located pretty close to Benton is Crownline Boats, and I heard many of the old employees took jobs there when the plant closed.

It is depressing to think about it but we're doing a very good job of keeping the original Mariah memories alive so that they wont be forgotten anytime soon. Our new member "MariahPD" is apparently just the start of an evolution for this board. Sooner or later some of the ex-employees and/or management of the original Mariah were going to find us and become part of the club. This 'inside knowledge' will answer many of the questions that so many of us have asked in the past. Just look at our membership numbers and how sharply they have increased this year. The interest in the Mariah name is still out there! All this & we're not even one year old yet means we are doing something right.... :wink_thumbup:

PaulF: Did you snap any photos of the exterior while you were there ? I would be interested to see what you saw. I tried Google maps to have a birds eye view, but it isn't detailed enough to give you a clear enough picture of it.

Yeah I think we have done pretty good over the "almost" year that this board has been around.

It is comforting to be around others that share the exact same passion for these well built boats of the past.

I know as soon as I read the back of the business card handed to me by my mom saying she found a Mariah boat for sale north of us. I was beside myself for a moment. I think I said something along the lines of ... " are you kidding me.. a MARIAH !??! There is a Mariah boat for sale... lets go look at it now"

Rest is history ;)

I don't have a camera on my phone, but did wish I had a camera that the time.:(

Thanks for sharing Paul. Probably better you didn't have a camera as it would have been that much more depressing for us to look at, heh.

To echo chris's comment, we have a ton of items on Mariah Boats Inc. coming soon that will for sure put you all in awe!

Looks like I may have to finally click on that good 'ol donate button after all :D

Are ya sure yur not part Scots laddie? Is the hand quiverin' when you reach towards the "Donate" button?? :rolling_laugh::rolling_laugh:

Ummm yah ... by blood im a scots ...:D

I was going to smack the button .. as a good faith thing. Just cuz im a nice guy.. and I have freeloaded the page for the last year :)

Hey guys, here is a copy of an e-mail I sent to Chris sometime back to tell him what I seen when I once visited the Mariah plant. It is a shame what it is now.

Chris,

Yes, I got to see Mariah boats going down the line starting with the bottom hull sitting open, to the end where they were being polished. It was very interesting. While cleaning off the scum line of the Talari (I usually do this on the last swim of the day because I’m neurotic that way!). I felt some blisters on the bottom of the boat. When I loaded the boat I looked underneath but couldn’t find any. I then backed down the ramp and floated the boat so it would set on the trailer crocked. I found many blisters on the left side and a few on the right where the boat set on the bunks. I called Mariah and since I lived so close they ask if I would bring the boat for inspection as part of their quality improvement.
When I got to the plant a gentleman in shirt and tie met me and gave me a short tour. The main building room was 150 to 200 feet long and about 75 feet wide. It had two building lanes, each with an overhead hoist on a pair of huge I-beams that ran the length of the building. Each lane contained several boats in increasing stages of build. The boats varied greatly in type and size indicating they didn’t build in groups by size or type. The other room I saw had rolls of carpet and vinyl with machinery at the other end. After the tour they had me back my boat under the hoist at the end of the line. They hooked a line to each of the transom ties and a loop that came down from one side through the bow tie and backup to the hoist. I ask if they were going to lift the boat by only those three points. One of the guys laughed at my nervousness and said this in how they load all the boats and that he lift the entire boat by only one if he wanted. He said they super reinforce those points to lift with. When they lifted a boat 3000+ pound boat 5ft by those three points and it didn’t make a single cracking or popping sound I knew it was a solid boat!
It had 15 to 20 blisters on the left and about 5 on the right. They didn’t make repairs at the plant but had a local guy do their warranty work. I am sure they gave him supplies because the gel coat was perfectly matched. Aside from the gas it didn’t cost me a penny.
I felt this was an indicator of Mariah’s quality and customer service. Look at the dedication we owners have to a boat from a company that is no longer in existence. Imagine how it would be if they were still around!

John W.

Just a thought. I'm sure there is a local newspaper in Benton, IL. Why not post an article in the paper inviting employees to join our forum. I think their knowledge would be worth the admission.

i have vcr tape pack away a tour of the plant from 2000 . i try and find it and send in

VCR ? ... what is this vcr thing u speak of ...? :D

You could probably take the vcr and put it onto dvd or possibly into an .avi file as well.

I have a copy as well, it'll be on the site soon... as will MANY new things...
just give me some time to figure the technical end of it out!

I live a couple of hours away for Benton. I dont get that way very often but it may be worth the road trip. When I go I will take plenty of pictures.

Hello all! Heard about you all through word of mouth here in Benton and just signed up! I am an original employee from 91 to 98. I worked in upholstery from 91 to 95 and then in the warranty/customer service dept from 95 to 98. I'm well versed on all aspects of original Mariah's and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. P.S. I've still got some really cool Mariah decals, flags, banners etc....

what kind of decals do you have? I am very interested in getting some of the old decals if you have them please let us all know thanks :yes_grin:

Welcome to the club mmiller19!!! I love seeing old employees on here! They all have such great info and a true passion for the Mariah company and people. I still can't get over the respect and commitment you have for Jimmy and the products you produced. It definitely shows in the boat! I'm seriously glad to have another one of you aboard! It really helps with some of our outstanding questions/issues. Thanks for joining!

If you have extras (no desire in keeping) of those banners, decals, etc., would you be interested in selling/auctioning any off to the Mariah Owners Club members? If you have emotional ties and don't want to get rid of anything, please accept my apologies and understanding. I thought you might be "advertising", but maybe you're just "rubbing it in"!?!?! :yes_grin:

Sorry, didn't mean to rub it in. Not really looking to get rid of anything major. The only things that I have that I would part with are some of the 1" steering wheel emblems, and a couple of the small round 3" Mariah shields, and several of the different colored model names. (Barchetta, Talari, Jubilee, Davanti) I doubt anyone would want any of this stuff but if you do let me know.

You don't happen to have any "Shabah" decals, do you? I'd be interested in them, if so.

I know you weren't rubbing it in, but you have to remember how hard it is for us to get these items! You're sitting on a goldmine!!! I'm sure we all understand your desire to keep them though!

Thanks again for joining the club! I hope you'll visit often because I'm sure you'll be a great resource for a lot of us, and all our questions/issues!!

I would like to get the steering wheel emblem if at all possible and 1 of the shields if I could thanks and just PM me for shipping and price :)

Yes,sadly the building is vacant again..It was Godfrey Marine Illinois..we made Hurricane deck boats snd Polar offshore fishing boats...Godfrey is an outfit out of Eklhart,IN They also make Sweetwater,Aqua Patio pontoon boats and Polar Craft fishing boats I was there for 4yrs. in gelcoat and loading depts. There was a few old Mariah people there...The '09 dealer meeting did not go so well I guess....they decided to take all the production back to Elkhart One thing they left us was a 25'x30' pool smack dab in the middle of loading to water test the Polar's...

Re: Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

I am a new member but have never owned a boat. What I have done is be around Jimmy in the early days when he was building his first boats in a small garage (Ford dealership from the '50's) on rt 37 in Johnston City, IL. Several bankers and business people in the area were involved in getting everything off the ground. I remember the dealer meetings when Mickey Mantle was in Southern IL. He stayed in a motel in Benton. Can anyone tell me the month or year he was here? I had some items signed that I am giving to my kids and can't tell them when they were signed.

Re: Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

There are a few old Mariah employees along with his son Rance here so hopefully one of them will chime in with at least a year for you. You could also PM our Admin Chris (ShabahZ250). He has quite a bit of documents/photos etc and he's interviewed a few people so possibly he might have that kind of information.

btw...welcome aboard!

Re: Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

Does anyone know what the final boat that rolled off the line was? Thought it would be interested to know.

Re: Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

The production records that Chris (Shabahz250) has might show which boat was the last one off the line.

Re: Drove through Benton, IL. yesterday...
 

I only have records up to January of 1996... the rest of the records are not in my possession, but i keep trying...

Also, Mickey Mantle was very much a part of Mariah's history through the early to mid 1990's. I don't have any specific dates, but Jimmy and "The Mick" were very close friends.