HOWB 119 – Interview | Gayle Brantuk, Glen-L Marine Proprietor; 60 Years of Selling Boat Plans! 01.19.14

Today’s interview is with Gayle Brantuk , proprietor of Glen-L Marine in Bellflower, CA. Gayle is the daughter of Glen L. Witt who started the business in 1953. At the age of 95, Glen still visits the office to see how the company and employees are faring.

During the interview, Gayle tells the fascinating story of how her father wanted to build his own boat (to save money), but had a hard time finding amateur boat building plans. During WWII, Glen was in the Army Air Corp, learned drafting, and took a correspondence course from the Westlawn Naval Design School. Shortly after leaving the army, Glen started applying his skills to designing plywood boats and selling plans and frame kits to amateur boat builders all over the world.

Today the company sells plans for over 300 boats ranging in size from 6ʹ – 55ʹ, and made from wood, steel and fiberglass.