Burger Boat history

Between 1870 and the turn of the century, the Burger brand name appeared on almost 100 new vessels, including steamers, tugs, scows, schooners, and barges.

In 1886, Henry took his nephew, George B. Burger, into partnership forming the Burger and Burger Shipyard.

In 1887, envisioning the decline of new wooden sailing ships; they purchased the only dry dock in Manitowoc to begin a ship repair business.

LIZZIE METZNER – 80' Schooner, 1888

In 1889, Burger launched CORA A, the last full-rigged schooner built on the Great Lakes.

In 1890, Burger built and launched the 201' ferry INDIANA for the Goodrich Transportation Company, the largest and by far most successful passenger steamship company on the Great Lakes.

Ten years earlier, in 1892, nephew Henry B. Burger Jr. formed a company in his own name — Henry B. Burger Shipyard — just across the river from his uncle.

Burger’s first motor launch was the 85' cruiser, VERNON JR., built for Vernon Siever of Chicago, Illinois, in 1901.

In 1902, after almost 40 years in business, Henry B. & George B. Burger sold their shipyard to the Manitowoc Dry Dock Company, which would later become the Manitowoc Company; the world’s largest builder of cranes and commercial ice makers.

When Henry died in 1914, his wife and four children, Henry C., George M., Walter, and Caroline assumed ownership and management of the shipyard.

In 1915, they incorporated as Burger Boat Company.

In 1938, Burger built the country’s first all-welded steel auxiliary ketch, the 81' TAMARIS.

Burger started another trend that gained immediate popularity when, in 1940, it launched the first flush deck cruiser, the 65' PILGRIM. PILGRIM has been fully restored and, to this day, can still be seen cruising the waters of the Great Lakes and the eastern seaboard.

After the war, Burger devoted its efforts to producing pleasure yachts, building luxury cruisers and auxiliaries, and later introducing a line of custom and semi-custom yachts in 1949.

Because of Burger’s reputation for innovation and fine yacht building, the Reynolds family of Reynolds Metals Company approached Burger in 1952 to work with an experimental new material, aluminum.

The collaboration produced America’s first all-welded aluminum vessel, the 36' cruiser VIRGINIA, in 1956.

In 1957, the first all-welded aluminum, shoal draft, centerboard yawl, the 58' DYNA, was built for Mr.

In 1959, the company was reorganized.

In 1977, Burger built what was to be the largest aluminum yacht ever built in the United StatesA. at that time, the 125’ ARARA for the Illinois Tool Works.

However, in October 1986, due to declining health, Henry E. Burger sold the company to John McMillian, a then-current customer building an 86' yacht.

In April 1989, McMillian sold Burger to United Shipbuilders of America, a newly created subsidiary of Tacoma Boat Building Company.

Fortunately, on Friday, February 5, 1993, 26 months after the closure, the Burger brand was reborn when businessmen David Ross and Jim Ruffolo purchased the assets of Burger Boat Company and reopened the shipyard.

In 2006, a new 500 metric ton capacity MARINE TRAVELIFT® and launching well were erected, making the historic Burger shipyard into a world-renowned showpiece.

On August 16, 2007, Burger Boat Company announced the retirement of David Ross, then co-president with James (Jim) M. Ruffolo, who undertook the full responsibility of president.

In 2008, Burger launched two yachts: INGOT, a 153' (47m) Tri-Deck, and TÒ-KALÒN, a 101' (31m) Enclosed Bridge Motor Yacht.

In 2009, Burger launched SYCARA IV; a 151' (46m) Fantail Motor Yacht.

The 142’ (42.7m) Motor Yacht SEA OWL and the 140’ (42m) LADY GAYLE MARIE were launched in 2010.

In late 2017, Burger delivered NORTHLAND, a 103'-6" (31.5m) steel and aluminum explorer yacht designed by Luiz de Basto of Miami, Florida.

In 2018, Burger delivered another new and innovative project, BLUE BOAT HOME, to her excited Wisconsin owner.

Burger’s second 48 Cruiser, BLUE, which features a De Basto Designs interior, was delivered to her new home in August 2019.