G-W Invader
Encyclopedia
G-W Invader is a line of small recreational power boats that were manufactured by Arne Gray and George Wooldridge of Sharpsville, Indiana
, United States
.
. The Invader hulls
and decks
were constructed of fiberglass
over a wood structure or frame. Models were available in a variety of colors as well as unique color combinations at an added cost to the customer. G-W went on to increase the models and styles of boats. Arne Gray sold his portion of G-W Invader boat factory to George Wooldridge before he moved to Tampa, Florida
where he lived until he died in 1997. Transfer of ownership after sale to Mr. Wooldridge has been mentioned but not substantiated. Roger Harmon bought the company in 1985, and later sold it in 1995 to a Muncie, Indiana
-based investment firm. G-W Invader expanded and moved into a new factory in Tipton, Indiana
in 1993, a building formerly occupied by Pioneer Hi-Bred
. Shortly after the expansion, they filed bankruptcy
. G-W Invader ceased production of boats after 1997.
Roger Harmon later started Harmon Boats Fiberglas Specialists LLC in Sharpsville and Cicero, Indiana
.
. Power was exclusively outboard engine
. Seating was either a bench seat or 2 bucket seat
s.
unusual for recreational boats of the time.
or could be mounted with an outboard motor
. This model had a squared nose
Sharpsville, Indiana
Sharpsville is a town in Liberty Township, Tipton County, Indiana, in the United States. It is part of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, Sharpsville's population is 607.-Geography:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
G-W Invader, (sometimes listed as GW Invader), began production in 1967 with its 10-foot and 16-foot boats. The "G-W" indicated the last names of the founders. The initial designs of 10 and 16 footers were that of sport racing boats with a very low profile, low weight, and shallow draftDraft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
. The Invader hulls
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
and decks
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
were constructed of fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
over a wood structure or frame. Models were available in a variety of colors as well as unique color combinations at an added cost to the customer. G-W went on to increase the models and styles of boats. Arne Gray sold his portion of G-W Invader boat factory to George Wooldridge before he moved to Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
where he lived until he died in 1997. Transfer of ownership after sale to Mr. Wooldridge has been mentioned but not substantiated. Roger Harmon bought the company in 1985, and later sold it in 1995 to a Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
-based investment firm. G-W Invader expanded and moved into a new factory in Tipton, Indiana
Tipton, Indiana
Tipton is a city in and the county seat of Tipton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1993, a building formerly occupied by Pioneer Hi-Bred
Pioneer Hi-Bred
Pioneer Hi-Bred is the largest U.S. producer of hybrid seeds for agriculture.- History :In 1926, farm journal editor and future U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace, along with a group of Des Moines, Iowa businessmen, founded the "Hi-Bred Corn Company". At the time, most corn farmers saved part of...
. Shortly after the expansion, they filed bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. G-W Invader ceased production of boats after 1997.
Roger Harmon later started Harmon Boats Fiberglas Specialists LLC in Sharpsville and Cicero, Indiana
Cicero, Indiana
Cicero is a town in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, United States, north of Indianapolis. The population was 4,812 at the 2010 census...
.
10 foot
The design of the 10-foot model gave the appearance of a racing boat with extremely shallow V-hullV-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
. Power was exclusively outboard engine
Outboard motor
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom and are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft...
. Seating was either a bench seat or 2 bucket seat
Bucket seat
A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people. Bucket seats are standard in fast cars to keep riders in place when making sharp or quick turns...
s.
- Length: 10 feet, 3 inches
- Beam: 61 inches
- Weight: 250 lbs
- Maximum HorsepowerHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
: 40hp two stroke, 50hp four stroke - TransomTransom (nautical)In naval architecture, a transom is the surface that forms the stern of a vessel. Transoms may be flat or curved and they may be vertical, raked forward, also known as a retroussé or reverse transom, angling forward from the waterline to the deck, or raked aft, often simply called "raked", angling...
height: 16 inches
13 foot Banchie
Manufactured beginning in the 1970s, it has a more conventional V-hull and seated 5 people with a rear bench seat and 2 bucket seats up front.- Length: 13 feet
- Beam: 70 inches
- Weight: N/A
- Maximum Horsepower: N/A
- Transom height: N/A
14 foot
This model attained a top speed of 74 miles per hour (33.1 m/s) with a 100 hp engine according to the companies sales pamphlet.- Length: 14 feet, 1 inches
- Beam: 62 inches
- Weight: 350 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 95
- Transom height: 20 inches
14 foot V hull
Designed with the more conventional V-hull.- Length: 14 feet, 1 inches
- Beam: 62 inches
- Weight: 350 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 95
- Transom height: 20 inches
15 foot V hull
- Length: 15 feet, 1 inches
- Beam: 63 inches
- Weight: 385 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 100
- Transom height: 20 inches
15 foot tunnel hull
This model had a tunnel hullTunnel hull
A tunnel hull is a type of boat hull that uses two typically planing hulls with a solid center that traps air. This entrapment then creates aerodynamic lift in addition to the planing lift from the hulls. Many times this is attributed to ground effect...
unusual for recreational boats of the time.
- Length: 15 feet
- Beam: 81 inches
- Weight: 550 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 150
- Transom height: 25 inches
16 foot
The design of the 16-foot model had seating for four individuals. It was available as a sterndriveSterndrive
A sterndrive or inboard/outboard drive is a form of marine propulsion. The engine is located inboard just forward of the transom and provides power to the drive unit located outside the hull.-Operation:...
or could be mounted with an outboard motor
Outboard motor
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom and are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft...
. This model had a squared nose
- Length: 16 feet
- Beam: 72 inches
- Weight: 475 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 160
- Transom height: 20 inches
18 foot Bravo
- Length: 15 feet, 1 inches
- Beam: 81 inches
- Weight: 550 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 150
- Transom height: 25 inches
180 ESS
- Length: 18 feet
- Beam: 92 inches
- Weight: 2250 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: 205
- Transom height: N/A
Rivera 220 Sport
This was an inboard model and came in the color gold or silver.- Length: 22 feet
- Beam: 81 inches
- Weight: 2750 lbs
- Maximum Horsepower: Inboard, horsepower N/A
- Transom height: N/A