Art Carlson

1970

Art Carlson

Bob Hammond, founder of the Glastron Boat Company, became close
friends with recently appointed California distributor, CJ "Bud" Aronis and
made numerous trips to California, Florida as well, which were the two most
innovative fiberglass boat producing states in the U.S.During one of these
trips that year, noticing the outstanding design and workmanship of a small
local company's boats, Bob arranged for Aronis to introduce him to Art
Carlson, owner and designer of the Carlson boat company. Art Carlson
had an eye for detail and execution of a high quality product and had a
small shop in Garden Grove California, in the Los Angeles area.

Bob Hammond approached Art Carlson with the idea of selling, and
becoming head of a new entity called Glastron/Carlson that could produce
such a line as well as the Glastron-Molinari race boats. Final agreement
was reached in March 1969 and the company initially started marketing the
Carlson boats while the new 1970 model designs were being developed
for the operation, and the wooden Molinari prototypes built in Italy were
tested and raced before beginning tooling .. the Glastron-Molinarirace
boats were made at Glastron/Carlson plant. The first Molinari was a single
engine, later that year the twin engine Molinari fiberglass boat was made
and introduced.

In the year of 1969