Chris-Craft, a wholly owned subsidiary of Winnebago Industries, opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Fla. The new building increases the company’s production capacity by 50 percent and spans more than 70,000 square feet, allowing for the full build of boats from start to finish.

Using the latest manufacturing equipment and technology, Chris-Craft will build six models from 24 feet to 28 feet in the facility. The expansion also allows the company to expand their model offerings as it looks to continue to meet future customer preferences.

Site preparation for the new building began in November of 2021 followed by an official groundbreaking in February 2022. The company anticipates the building will add more than 200 jobs to the community and is currently looking to hire in the Sarasota area.

Originally based in Michigan, Chris-Craft has been manufacturing boats in Sarasota since 1988. Chris-Craft was purchased by Winnebago Industries in 2018.