Skeeter Marks 75th Year With Limited-Edition Model

Skeeter Boats is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a limited-edition FXR APEX bass boat in a gold-and-black color scheme.

Holmes Thurmond founded Skeeter Boats, now a division of Yamaha, when he developed the first-ever boat designed for bass fishing, the Kilgore, Texas-based company said in a statement. The company was also one of the first to use fiberglass in boatbuilding, in the 1950s.

“Mr. Thurmond understood that time on the water is valuable, whether our customers are tournament fishing or just cruising with family during the weekend,” said Jeff Stone, senior vice president of Skeeter Products.

Skeeter is credited with the first vee-hull pad design and bass boat rated for a 150-hp engine.