The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 16, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 May 1990 — Page 15

Summer

Rinker family builds boats in Syracuse

By JENNIFER WOODWARD Staff Writer

It all began in 1945 when John Rinker and his father decided to start their own business as a local boat manufacturer. The company began as a five person operation hand-building wooden racing boats with outboard engines. The company has now grown to a total of 210 employees and is still headed by the Rinker family. John Rinker, owner, works in research and design. He spends most of his time on the

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FIRST STEP — The first step to building a boat is the spraying of the fiberglass. Here workers are in the process of creating the basic hull of the boat. (Photo by Jennifer Woodward)

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Conservation officers are gearing-up to keep drunk boaters off the water

Indiana conservation officers are gearing-up for their summer effort to get drunk boaters off the water. Officers in the Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Law Enforcement recently spent two days in a training session covering such topics as sobriety tests and handling intoxicated boaters. It’s all part of the DNR’s OWWI (Operating Watercraft While Intoxicated) Task Force, which will be in operation this summer. “We had 41 conservation officers attend the training session,” said DNR Director Patrick R. Ralston. “The OWWI Task Force wil be working hard this summer to make certain people operating boats on Hoosier waterways are sober.” The OWWI Task Force is funded by federal dollars. Indiana

road visiting dealers and attending various boat races. Lori Egolf is the eldest of the three daughters that work within the company and adds, “I have a cousin and an uncle who also work here.” Egolf has been working at her father’s company since her graduation and is currently vice president and director of management. Rather than to fall into the age of computerization within the manufacturing industry, Rinker boats are still hand-crafted. An average assembly process will take approximately 12 hours to

Conservation Officers will be putting in extra time to concentrate on reducing alcohol and drugrelated boating accidents. The officers will travel in clearly marked OWWI Task Force boats and vehicles. Fifteen people died in Indiana boating accidents in 1989, and ten of the deaths were alcoholrelated. For more information about the OWWI Task Force, contact Dean Shadley of the DNR’s Division of Law Enforcement at (317) 232-4010. Vitamin supplement A researcher at the University of Scranton has found that vitamin C supplementation may help in the prevention and treatment of such diabetes complications as cataracts and nerve disorders

manufacture one boat. On the whole, Rinker will build 76 boats a week and 3500 a year. The only computerization one will find at the plant is a computercontrolled router used to cut wooden sheets for seats and other parts needed for exacting curves and sizes. ■**' The company feels that the craftmanship has helped them to become a leading force within the market. Boat designs are drawn out with pencil and paper. Also boat molds, the layers of fiberglass for the hulls and tops, painting, curtains, seat cover-

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June 3-9 is National Safe Boating Week

■ By JENNIFER WOODWARD Staff Writer

June 3-9 has been declared as National Safe Boating Week. The first safe Boating Week was designated in 1958. Since that time the number of recreational boats has grown from 5 million to over 17 million nationwide. It is expected that in 1990, nearly 70 million Americans will be on the waters. Every year, more that 1000 people lose their lives due to recreational boating accidents. According to the National Transportation Safety Board Figures, the number of boating accidents exceeds the number of fatalities in airline accidents, commercial shipping accidents, and rail accidents each year. One of the leading problems, is intoxication. It has been determined that more than 50 percent of the boating accidents that result in death can be traced to alcohol use. Under normal conditions, the motion, vibration and engine noise of the boat, combined with the effects of the sun, wind, and glare, cause the boat operator to suffer serious impairment in coordination and reaction time. With the combination of alcohol, the National Safe Boating Council warns that this is

ings, padding and stitching of the seats, carpeting, and the final polishing are all done by hand. The people who build these boats are familiar with every inch. Many times there will be greasepencil notations seen on the boat throughout the process, noting items that need to be changed or adjusted. Not only is Rinker known nationally, they are also known internationally. They have sold boats to 10 different foreign countries. “We send our boats from sea to shining sea,” explains Egolf. On any given week they will receive a variety of requests for information on becoming a dealer. About once a week they will even receive a request from a foreign country. Rinker boats can be seen nationally advertising in boating magazines. Last year they were even advertising on cable television’s ESPN network as a sponsor on the pro water skiing circuit. Egolf explains that the typical buyer is a blue collar worker between the ages of 27 and 50 years. These buyers are now taking the time to enjoy life, and boating can create a relaxing recreation. “We have a good quality reputation,” notes Egolf. The boating industry is experiencing a decline in buyers. However, of the 150-200 boat manufacturers Egolf feels that they are an exception. Sales have been up and they have experienced a steady growth throughout the decline. Hand-craftmanship is the key to the Rinker success. What began as a small operation has continued to grow with the same ideal. The Rinker family and the people who work within the company take pride in their handiwork and it can be seen every day on the blue waters throughout the world. Greater risk Women smokers who use oral contraceptives have a risk of heart attack 10 times higher than women who neither smoke nor use OCs

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a definite dangerous mix. The council advises the boater heading home at the end of the day to slow down. The council and the U.S. Power Squadrons suggest applying the designated driver concept to boating - one member of the party abstaining from alcohol to operate the boat. However, any intoxicated person, whether the operator or a passenger can be a risk on water. Kosciusko County Conservation Officer Dave Anderson states that intoxication is one of the leading problems on area lakes. This summer, state and local officers will be patrolling area lakes as a part of the Government Task Force, Operation Watercraft While Intoxicated. A person who is charged with a Class C Misdemeanor, legal intoxication while operating or dangerous operation, may pay a fine, go to court, or even be arrested. However, any alcohol offense is an automatic jail sentence. Other leading problems concer-

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HAND-LAVING FIBERGLASS — Rinker boats takes pride in building their boats by hand. Employees will use up to 10 layers of

Buckeye and Molly to be at Wild Rose Moon Festival

Buckeye and Molly will be hauling their cart full of contraptions and animals all the way to the Loveway riding grounds for the Festival of the Wild Rose Moon on June 2 and 3. Buckeye and Molly are really Judee Sweet and Jan Sutton, two modern day pioneers. Forging a

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BACKWOODS WOMEN — Pioneer mother and daughter Buckeye, left, and Molly pose with some of their critters in front of their cabin.

ning boat operation include inattentiveness and inexperience. Officers ask that boaters be cautious and reasonable in regard to the rate of speed. On a lake over 300 acres there is no set speed limit. However, after legal sunset, the speed limit is reduced to ten miles per hour. There are only five officers patrolling the 96 lakes within the county. Boaters must operate at their own risk in a sensible manner to prevent injury to themselves and others. Those interested in learning how to be a cautious and safe operator can sign up for boating classes offered at Patona Bay and the Barbee Conservation Club. The Barbee Conservation Club will be sponsoring classes June 11-14, 7-9 p.m. The classes are open to people 12 years and older. Registration deadline is June 8. The Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners Association and the Department of Natural Resources will sponsor classes June 20-22, 7-9 p.m. It is open to people 12 years and older (parents are welcome).

path of living history, the pioneer mother and daughter team travel around the state teaching modern-day Hoosiers about their ancestors. Dressed like early Indiana settlers, Buckeye and Molly bring the past to life for thousands of people who visit them each year.

Welcome Home 1990 PARADE OF HOMES NORTH I )P| |C\eaST Xfe KOSOUSKO COUNTY spw “' June 9-17 Whether looking for a new home or ideas for remodeling or decorating, you won’t want to miss the 1990 Kosciusko Parade of Homes. Admission: $4.00 ages 13 and up, SI.OO ages 6-12, under 6 free Hours: 3:00-8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday 1:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Food provided by the Association Ladies Auxiliary Take US 30 to SR 15. Turn north on SR 15 to CR 350 E at the Uniroyal Plant. Go east past the Airport to Parker Road. C*MI "® | ThelMkEMttMls A " Wl '

Wed., May 30,1990 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

fiberglass to create strength and rigidity within the hull. (Photo by Jennifer Woodward)

Their down-home ways of sharing traditions with the young and old alike help to keep mid 1800 s alive. Buckeye and Molly have no hard and fast agenda for the festival. Buckeye says they’ll pick up on the crowd and do their own “thing.” Their thing may be turtle races or sharing the memory bag. The memory bag hangs around Molly’s waist. It’s filled with special objects that matter a lot to her — nature and family trinkets and knickknacks that Buckeye and Molly made together when Molly was small. Buckeye doesn’t wear a memory bag. She says, “By time you reach my age, the bag would turn into a trunk or a box. ’ ’ Festival-goers might find the woodswomen just sitting and

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talking. But, whatever they’re doing, Buckeye and Molly are certain to be entertaining. “They get a crowd around them where ever they go,” said Sue Peterson, festival coordinator. The pioneer mother and daughter have traveled to the festival before. “We had a real special time, made a lot. of friends and saw a lot of oM friends,” said Buckeye. “It was as hot as the devil.” “It (the festival) is just like going home — going up there,” said Buckeye. Buckeye and Molly have been a team for 10 years. They originally worked at a living history museum in Northern Indiana. When the museum closed for the season, they decided to take their show on the road, and they haven’t stopped yet.

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