Leecraft

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Flashpoint,
Here's a quick history for you:

Louis Collins and Mike Cullen came up with an idea for a new ModVP design. But they didn't have a factory or equipment to build a plug, molds or hulls, so they went to their friend David Lee of Lee Craft, and hired him to do the work.

They did some testing of thier own theories using a Stoker, but when it came time to build the Mirage, they began with a wooden plug built by David Lee and one of his employees: a young Brad Collins.

They went into production and built about 15 of these early Mirages. But the enterprise was not financially feasable - especially when trying to divide the profits three ways.

The partnership folded and the molds remained at David Lee's Cullman Alabama plant. After gathering dust for many years, David Lee - even though he didn't own them - sold those molds (we assume in lieu of storage fees, but that's just a guess).

I heard that Eagle One purchased them, but I am not certain about that.


Later, Brad Collins started his own plant known as "Mirage Boats of Texas" with the help of renowned plug and hull designer Tom Drozd. The first hulls were 12 foot boats for Sport C, SST45 and Mod C, called "Tom Cat's". (I bought one and met the builder for the first time a year later - he sure was CUTE!) A year or so later they created a better performing 18 foot ModVP "River Racer", which is a completely different hull than the original 18 foot Mirages built out of the Lee plant.


Hope that helps!

David and Chad Lee are still good friends with the Collins family. If you ever want more details, I'm sure David could fill you in some.

So Val, how long after you thought Brad was "cute" did you marry him?

I remember Bradis Tomcat factory as I bought one and picked it up at the factory then drove it back to Wisconsin. Chuck Zolokoske won the SST45 nationals driving it for me at Kankakee in I think 1984. I sold the boat to OMC/Fred Miller & it went somewhere in South America.