The Matthews Boat Company - Linda Higgins

Even most of us who aren’t Port Clinton natives are familiar with the Matthews name, due to the vision and perseverance of one Scott Jeremiah Matthews. He founded the Matthews Boat Company in 1890, in Bascom, Ohio. The company made small, slim boats available to the boating public, these were open in design, with mahogany and wicker fittings. Their 2½ hp [horsepower] gasoline engines, then a new concept, were made by the Lozier Company and allowed the boats to move at 5 mph! 

In 1900, Lozier had Matthews build a 31-foot boat, Beulah, boasting a 6 hp, 2-cycle engine. It traveled from Toledo, Ohio to Plattsburg, New York, at 8 mph. This was considered a real feat because gas-powered engines were known to explode, making the engine stop or clog. Sometimes they might not ignite because of the wrong air mixture, or the gas mixture might cause vapors that spewed oil and dirt over the boat.

In 1912, William Scripps, president of Scripps Motor Company in Detroit, asked Matthews to build a 35-foot boat capable of crossing the Atlantic. Detroit traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, making it the first gas-powered boat to cross the Atlantic. Then, in 1913, Matthews built the 110-foot Aeldgytha, the largest boat that the company would build. It was the first of its size with American-built diesel engines, and needed fewer crew members than a steam-powered yacht of that size, being far less labor-intensive.

Matthews also designed a leverage system that made it possible for just one person to operate a clutch for a reverse gear, as well as the throttle and spark. He installed this system, as well as electric light and steam heating systems, on his personal 74-foot boat, Onward, which he launched in 1905. He and his family made a successful 9,000-mile trip in this vessel, prompting a group of Port Clinton businessmen to offer Matthews free land here on which to build his company.

Now based here, Matthews also began to supply the U.S. Navy with subchasers during World War I. By World War II, the company was building LCPs and LCVPs, with and without ramps, as well as launches, subchasers and other small boats for the war effort. These were built from the detailed prints, drawings and parts lists supplied by Higgins Industries. Higgins supplied over half the wartime vessels through Matthews and other boat builders, but incomplete records make exact numbers unavailable. The U.S. Navy is on record, however, as having purchased $7,827,000 in major war contracts from Matthews during World War II.

Meanwhile, due to the excellent Matthews reputation, Charles Ringling and J.W. Packard had bought some of the early boats. Matthews also built production-line boats for less affluent yachtsmen. Well-constructed and attractive, the boats had a solid following. However, by 1924, to keep the company’s talented employees working without the layoffs typical of the boat-building industry, Matthews introduced the world’s first production cruiser. This same basic design remained from 1924 through the 1960s, with a few improvements and changes, including length. Different models were offered, but all were based on the same hull design. Matthews no longer offered custom building after they began production boats, but they always tried to follow customers’ requests for personal adaptations.

When Scott Matthews died in 1956, his son Carl continued to run the company until 1965, when he sold it to Charles Hutchison. In 1969, Matthews built its first fiberglass boat, 45 feet in length and identical to their signature wood boats. By 1971, four sizes were being built, and at that time Matthews was the only fiberglass production power boat in the U.S. warranting the Lloyd’s of London certificate of approval.

Unfortunately, the change to fiberglass was not timely enough to beat the competition. It also was difficult for the loyal Matthews employees, true woodworking craftsmen, to make the change to fiberglass. Then, as costs rose too quickly, partially because of the 1970s oil embargo, the factory closed in 1974. Matthews Boat Company declared bankruptcy, but with its boat-building history and excellent reputation intact, its legacy remains.