Draco (boat builder)

Draco was a Norwegian manufacturer of motor boats . Production was stopped in 1993, but the Draco brand has been offered in a new design since 2014.

history

The company was founded by Kåre Drangsholt in Flekkefjord in 1963 . Together with his wife Vibeke, he made Draco one of the most successful motorboat brands in Europe in the 1970s . Together with the engineer Jan Herman Linge they developed the models Sportling, Stirling and Styling. The athlete marked the beginning of the specific Draco design that shaped the brand until the 1980s . Kåre Drangsholt drowned in 1983 at the age of 42.

In 1992 the company had to file for bankruptcy and was bought by the Swedish motorboat manufacturer Windy that same year . Only a few Draco boats were sold by Windy after that.

Model range

The Draco boats were named for their length in feet and their design. Examples: The 1700 Daycab was 17 ft (5.2 m) long with a small cabin, and the 2500 Flyfish was 25 ft (7.6 m) long with a flybridge . As far as known, the production period is given in brackets.

Draco 2700 Tricab

• 1700 models: Daycab (1970–1972), Topless (1971–1987), Suntop
• 1800s models: Daycab (1980–1990), Sunbee (1978–1985), Suntop (1980–1988)
• 1900s models: Suntop (1988–1993)
• 2000 models: Daycab (1975–1990), Dracula (1976–1980), Sportcab (1980–1984), Sportling (1970–1977)
• 2100 models: Daycab (1985–1987), Sportcab (1971–1984)
• 2200 models: Topaz (1990–1993)
• 2300 models: Suncab (1975–1990)
• 2400 models: Styling (1985–1989), Summerwind
• 2500 models: Crystal (1990–1993), Flyfish (1973–1979), Twincab (1975–1986)
• 2700 models: Sterling (1987–1994), Tricab (1983–1987)
• 2900 models: Star (1986–1989)
• 3000 models: Saloon (1974–1978), Sunbridge (1978–1984)
• 3400 models: Opal (1990–1993), Zircon (1990–1993)

present

In 2014, Windy brought the Draco brand back to life. With the models Draco 22RS and Draco 27RS modern bowriders are offered. Both are powered by an outboard motor and can reach speeds of over 40  knots . The Draco 27RS model was voted European Powerboat of the Year 2015 in its category and was awarded at the boot trade fair .

Web links

• German company website on dracoboats.de
• Website on flatsea.no

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 10 dream ships for (almost) every budget. bild.de, January 18, 2015, accessed on June 22, 2016 . 
2. ↑ passion. Boats. Draco! Retrieved June 25, 2016 . 
3. ↑ Bengt-Erik Iversen: KÅRE DRANGSHOLT: Ildsjelen bak Draco-eventyret. In: batliv.com. Båtliv, January 10, 2006, archived from the original on April 29, 2014 ; Retrieved June 24, 2016 (Norwegian). 
4. ↑ Espen Stensrud: Ny på daycruiser Draco shape. Båt Magasinet, archived from the original on August 13, 2011 ; Retrieved June 24, 2016 (Norwegian). 
5. ↑ Draco Modeller. Retrieved June 25, 2016 (Danish). 
6. ↑ Trendsetter from Norway: Draco 27 ​​RS. boote (magazine), accessed June 25, 2016 . 
7. ↑ Trendsetter from Norway: Draco 27 ​​RS - Part 3.boote (magazine), accessed on June 25, 2016 . 
8. ↑ Draco 27RS - European Powerboat of the Year 2015! (No longer available online.) Boot (trade fair) , archived from the original on June 25, 2016 ; accessed on June 25, 2016 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.