The most innovative shallow water boat company

Over the years, Action Craft has achieved it's goals, and still continues to set new standards today by being the most innovative builder, with the finest fit and finish, and highest resale value in the industry.

A family business founded by Paul Guard, and his parents, John and Irene Guard. Action Craft is still owned and operated by the company's founders.

Now other members of the Guard family have joined the family business. Today, the members of the Guard family that are involved with Action Craft include, John and Irene Guard, Paul Guard and his wife Robin, their son John (age 14) who loves working at the boat plant as a summer job. Paul's daughter, Jennifer, has worked for many years at Action Craft, and is now active in the marketing department, and manages the annual Action Craft Owner's Fishing Tournament. Ron and Brenda Horton have contributed much to the company for many years, own stock in the company, and although not directly related are considered part of the family.

1981 A New Company Is Started by the Guard Family
The new company, Action Manufacturing & Supply, Inc. is started in Cape Coral, Florida, with plans to build a line of boats. Fiberglass water treatment equipment was produced and sold in order to generate cash flow while the new boat building operation was getting started. The water treatment division is still operating today. (actionmfg.com)

1981
The First Action Craft is built
The first two models of Action Craft boats were built in 1981, using molds for a racing boat hull acquired through an agreement with Ritchie Sutphen, of Sutphen Marine Corporation. A 17 foot sport boat, and a 17 foot flats boat were first built and introduced in to the market. The sport boat model was quickly dropped from production. It didn't take long to realize that serious shallow water fishing boats were the future success of Action Craft.
The philosophy continues today at Action Craft, that performance should never be sacrificed due to poor hull design, and today's high performance Action Craft's are still true to their racing heritage.

1981 Improved "Stu Apte" FlatsMaster Model Introduced
To improve it's 17 foot flats skiff, Action Craft worked with legendary angler Stu Apte, and introduced the new and improved "Stu-Apte" FlatsMaster. At Stu's suggestion, many new improvements were made, such as a self-draining cockpit, no-wood floor, improved rod racks, and most importantly "Softly Rounded Chines" to reduce fish spooking hull slap.

1983 No-Wood Core Materials First Used
Structural PVC foam core sandwich construction was introduced, increasing strength, and reducing weight.

1983 Molded Fiberglass Hull Stringer System
Action Craft began using an all Fiberglass, no wood, foam filled Hull Stringer System.

1984 Vacuum Bagging Technology First Used
Action Craft's first use of Vacuum Bagging, a technique used in building the cockpit sole with Structural Core material. The process virtually eliminates chances of air voids or soft spots in the cockpit floor.

1985 New rod rack design
Improved under-gunwale horizontal rod rack design incorporates a lip on the outside edges to help hold rods in place. Action Craft continually monitors the fit of rods to make sure rod racks work properly.

1985 Action Craft, Inc. is Incorporated
The marine division of Action Manufacturing was split-off and separately incorporated as "Action Craft, Inc." to manage marine operations.

1985 The Original Pocket Drive
Action Craft introduces "Pocket Drive", the recessed "step" in the hull bottom that allows higher engine mounting, a higher transom, and reduced draft, while improving shallow water access.

1986 Original In-Cockpit Bench Seat
The first in a flats skiff, an In-Cockpit Bench Seat with fold-down back rest, for greater comfort and back support. This fishing friendly feature folds down flush to extend the rear casting deck.

1987 New Biaxial Fiberglass
Action Craft begins extensive use of unidirectional and bi-axial fiberglass reinforcements for higher fiberglass content, greater strength, and reduced overall weight.

1987 First Coastline Introduced
A new and more simplified 17 foot deck cap was introduced in order to offer a lower priced entry level type product that was simpler to build and more affordable to own. Lower priced components and materials were used. This did not result in a product line that would meet Action Craft's strict standards, and the Coastline series was temporarily discontinued.

1985 Control Tower / "Tarpon Tower"
The first flats boat offered with what Action Craft was calling a "Tarpon Tower", an elevated platform with controls and steering up top. An angler could run the boat from on high, giving him a better, higher vantage point to scan potential productive fishing spots. At the time, Action Craft was just way ahead of the game in offering it. Now, many years later this feature is more prevalent in shallow water boats, and is getting even more popular.

1986 One-piece Hull Liner
Action Craft developed the "Uni-Hull" process of building a shallow water skiff with a one-piece liner throughout the entire hull. This was the first time a Uni-Hull design was used in construction of a line of shallow water fishing skiffs. This system is still used today in all of Action Craft's elite series of Flyfisher and FlatsMaster boats. No other skiff builder offers the premium design and proven construction method. This is one of the main reasons why the design and construction of an Action Craft still goes un-matched by any other skiff builder in the industry today.

1990 New Plant Completed
In June of 1990, Action Craft moved into it's new 25,000 square foot boat manufacturing facility in Cape Coral, Florida.

1991 New "No-Squeak" Hatch Design Introduced
All Deck Hatches were re-engineered to offer a more water-tight seal, with new rubber gasketed lids, and improved drain channels. The noises that could spook fish when deck hatches were stepped on, was virtually eliminated. No detail is too small for Action Craft's commitment to continual product refinement.

1992 Recessed Cockpit Grab Rails
Action Craft is the first in a flats boat to put built-in recessed grab bars on each side of the cockpit. This feature was admittedly quickly copied by others builders.

1992 Improved Coastline, Series Re-introduction
The need for an affordable line of flats skiffs was still apparent. Action Craft re-thought it's strategy, using a new concept that would allow Action Craft to fill that need by offering a higher quality Coastline at a lower cost, by standardizing production, simplifying the construction, and limiting options, instead of using lower cost hardware and components.

1994 Improved Cockpit Bench Seat
Paul Guard invented a new and improved 3-piece fold-down-flush back rest hinge. The new design provides better support for the back rest when folded down, and eliminates the gap between the back rest and aft casting deck in the folded-down flush position, thereby making the back rest an extension of the aft casting deck. There was also a full width dry storage compartment added beneath the seat.

1997 Improved Pocket Drive
The "Improved" Pocket Drive® was developed to enhance performance. The new shape directs more water to the prop in hard turns, which reduces propeller cavitation even with the engine partially trimmed-up.

1998 Qui-Dry Hull design
The new "Qui-Dry" hull is introduced. This design virtually eliminates hull "Slap" which spooks fish in shallow water, while giving you a drier ride in rough and windy running conditions. Qui-Dry gives you just what it says, Quiet so you catch more fish, and Dry so you don't get wet.

1998 Improved Live Well system
A new improved designed live well plumbing system was developed, incorporating a totally flush slotted panel with all fittings being recessed behind it. Air induction was put into the intake feed water by use of a venturi fitting, with aerated water put in near the bottom of the live well tank. Nothing protrudes into the live well that could allow bait to be stuck in a corner, or snag your cast net.

2000 Action Craft attains a U.S. patent on the "Qui-Dry" hull design.

2001 New FlyFisher "Hybrid" Series
Action Craft introduces the new "FlyFisher Hybrid" Series of Fishing Skiffs. A lightweight poling skiff offering all of the advantages of a full featured Flats boat. Built using Kevlar and Carbon fiber extensively throughout construction, makes them lightweight and easy to pole. The modified-vee hull with Pocket Drive® gives a smooth ride when the wind kicks up, and the Qui-Dry® design allows quiet poling in shallow water, along with an extremely dry ride in rough water. When compared with other lightweight skiffs, Action Craft's wide beam provides a very safe and stable fishing platform.

2002 New Coastal Bay Series Introduced
Introduction of the new 2110 Coastal Bay model in January 2002, the first of our new Coastline "Coastal Bay" series boats. The 1910 model followed in September of 2002.

2003 The 2310 Coastal Bay hit the market in September of 2003

Action Craft's Innovative Features and Benefits, refined for more than two decades, are still un-matched in the industry by any other skiff!

Action Craft's Blast From the Past

Below you will find a collection of old Action Craft advertisements that we have collected. There have been many Action Craft Models over the years, Here are some pages from old brochures that we dug up for you to view.....