Our MTI Tour

[Dr. Jeff]

Out MTI Tour:

I was fortunate to get an invite to come and tour the MTI Facilities in Wentzville, so I jumped in the trusty mini-van, called Rocky to meet me, and we were off.

For those of you that don’t know the MTI story, let me give you a brief history of how middle America became home to one of the hottest boat builders in the country.

Randy and his lovely wife Cherell are both from the St. Louis area. Randy was a professional offshore powerboat racer for almost a decade, winning just about everything there was to win.

Toward the end of his racing career, he was asked by some of the royalty in Dubai to assist with their race teams and boat building. According to Cherell, what was supposed to be a few month stay, turned into 8 years in Dubai. There, they assembled the best R&D team from around the world, and quickly made a reputation for themselves of turning out fast, user friendly boats.

Randy & Cherell moved back to Missouri in 1997 bringing with them years of invaluable experience and information about building fast, reliable and user friendly boats. Randy told us he decided to take the best features off all the boats he had been able to help design and test in Dubai, and package them together in on boat. Two years later, the first MTI rolled off the line, and they’ve been getting bigger and better ever since.

The building in Wentzville is just over 42,000 square feet, and everything except the lamination is done in house. The shells are laminated and sent to MTI from a plant in Green Bay. As we walked around the facility, not only was it like being a kid in a REALLY expensive candy store, but quality of work going on from graphic design, to paint, to rigging, to interiors and even over the top stereo systems was incredible.

The most impressive thing in my eyes was the attention to detail. The Corvette boat was in the shop getting some repair work done on her, and the level of detail in this boat is just incredible. Randy hooked up with Gary Stray of Supercat Rigging on several of these custom builds, and the outcome is just something you have to see to truly appreciate. I thought I was going to loose Rocky at this point in the tour, he didn't want to leave the Corvette boat.

All in all, it was easily the highlight of my week. Jonah was kind enough to take an hour out of his busy day to show us every inch of the huge facility, and even let us crawl through a few of the boats. Randy and his wife Cherell were very down to earth and friendly and made us feel right at home. I can’t say enough about how impressive these facilities are and the boats coming off the line are truly one of a kind.

We can’t wait to see what Randy and Team MTI bring to LOTO for our Poker Run, but I’m certain it will be impressive.

I’m sure I screwed up some of the details and dates about the history of MTI, but hey, you try to concentrate when you’re surrounded by a warehouse of boats you can only dream of owning!

Thanks again to Randy, Cherell, Jonah, and the rest of Team MTI!!!

[Dr. Jeff]

Almost there!

Randy, Cherrel & Rocky

[Dr. Jeff]

Quick little 36 with a KILLER sound system!

[Dr. Jeff]

I think I need one of these! [smilie=crazy]

[Dr. Jeff]

Rocky's favorite, the Corvette boat. Sorry for the crappy pics, my lens got dusty.

[Dr. Jeff]

More dusty pics of the corvette boat

[Dr. Jeff]

Facility Shots

Graphic for Pro Football players boat.

[Dr. Jeff]

Got lots of shots of Hammer Time, she was in getting some work done. Just incredible paint and interior on this ride!

[Dr. Jeff]

More Hammer Time

[Dr. Jeff]

:mrgreen:

[Dr. Jeff]

Jawz - 55' 150+mph Quad 1075's! :shock: [smilie=crazy]

[Dr. Jeff]

Wow!

[Dr. Jeff]

Jonah showing us some of the graphics they've designed.

Crazy ass paint booth, you can put a semi in this thing.

Paints

[Dr. Jeff]

Incredible interior on this boat.

Randoms

[Dr. Jeff]

Rocky having size envy again.

Rocky drooling on the new interior.

Rocky being careful after he dropped and broke his iphone from the bow of one of the boats. [smilie=hah]

[Dr. Jeff]

Thanks again to Randy, Cherell and Johan, it was a fantastic day for us, and a truly impressive operation!!! [smilie=042.gif]

[Reggie]

Great pix !!
I am pi$$ed you didn't take your favorite turkey farmer from Iowa with you...
I really think you do need one of those. ;)

[Dr. Jeff]

Great pix !!
I am pi$$ed you didn't take your favorite turkey farmer from Iowa with you...
I really think you do need one of those. ;)

If I knew you were buying I would have brought you along!

[Reggie]

If I knew you were buying I would have brought you along!

I would have bought all the drinks you could drink [smilie=265.gif] for a tour like that...:mrgreen:

[dond]

We need to get a bus and have a field trip for the whole class!

[can_play007]

Great Pic's I've always wanted to see there operations especially when they are being rigged......

Fortunately I have been able to see a bunch of the well known boats being painted for MTI like "Hammertime" by Mark at Visual Imagination, https://www.visualimaginationinc.com/

The only bad thing is it's before they go back to get rigged and that's where it all comes together, they definitely have some awesome boats...[smilie=appl] [smilie=trink39]

[SoonerJake]

I can see a MWBP themed one in the future!! Just write it off as advertising.

[Bajapit]

Where is the Pix of Rocky dropping the down Payment on the Corvette Boat?

[the bear]

Will Randy accept the MWBP Card? Maybe a 10% discount?

[the bear]

If not the discount maybe a free engine upgrade with the card???????

[eddie]

nice pics, place looks cool!

[LOTOC Mike]

:shock: :shock: :shock: I want one!

[baywatch]

Cool, I drive past there a couple times a week and always wonder what the inside looks like. Once in a while I see one on a trailer out back from HWY 61 and that alone puts a smile on my face. Very Cool!!!!

[Wilks]

The ultimate in performance boats. Thanks for the pics.

[LiquidLightning]

Nice pics, what an opportunity. Can't wait to see what they bring down!

[Dr. Jeff]

Will Randy accept the MWBP Card? Maybe a 10% discount?

I'm pretty sure I can talk him into taking $25 off the purchase of a new 55. Just think, the card would be free then! :mrgreen:

[Shallow Minded]

Great pic's! I've met Randy a couple of times and he's always been a class act and taken the time to talk shop even though I'm clearly in the wrong tax bracket to even think about buying something... YET. :roll: Ha, 170+ in that 36 footer... that had to be a helluva ride! Thanks for posting! Quint

[shipshape]

That place is crazy glad to see the corvette pics. It was in the paint booth when I was there is winter. The 55 was almost finished when I was there. Did you happen to look at the trailer? It is the coolest trailer I have ever seen. It has tires that run up the tunnel of the boat so if you are on a shallow ramp you can load it easy.:) :cool:

[Lakerat]

We need to get a bus and have a field trip for the whole class!

You know this is a good idea, I would think if "DJ" could plan and put together a couple of field trips around an event or in the dead of winter, I for one would make the trip from Wichita. I am positive there would be several that would come.

DJ, think about it - Maybe MTI, Black Thunder, Cobalt, and any others in the area, - Formula?? Not really sure of any other MFGers in the area

Just and idea ;)

[livinglife2]

Sweet pics [smilie=trink39]

[speedracer]

I love Hammer Time! I think we saw that down at Grand last summer, sweeet!!!!!

[ASH]

Great opportunity DJ........I am jealous!!!!!!!! Thanks for the pics.

[Bajapit]

Rocky must have stayed their,, Hello Rocky are you their??? [smilie=crazy]

[Rockstar42]

Rocky must have stayed their,, Hello Rocky are you their??? [smilie=crazy]

Yeah I am here...DJ had to pull me out kicking and screaming. I offered to trade him my vette which was in the parking lot for the vette boat.....He gave me a hat:mrgreen:

It was awesome to see that place!! I tell you what you can really appreciate the work that goes into those boats when you see the processes they go through...It almost makes it understandable for them to be the price they are.

Thanks again to everyone there for the experience and to DJ for the invite!!!!

[Video Bob]

WOW! Thanks for the pics. Those boats do more than a bottle of Viagra!

[Bajapit]

You know what is Kinda sad, They depreciate faster than they go.

[bills2k]

Randy and Cherrill, and Cherrill's parents (Clark and Judy Grunninger) are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Too bad Randy didn't treat you to some of their favorite pizza while you were in town! I would have delivered!

[diverdwn]

Boat photo are Great ....... Bill if you want to deliver a pizza I'll take one
I'll be at home in Washington, Wednesday and Thursday and at the lake Friday-Sunday:mrgreen:

[injun]

[smilie=wow.gif] i can see it now the MWBP banner would look good on both side of the MTI

[Bajapit]

I wonder if they would take a .38 in on that Corvette Boat????

[the bear]

I wonder if they would take a .38 in on that Corvette Boat????


I think it would depend on how much boot you want....

[Reggie]

I wonder if they would take a .38 in on that Corvette Boat????

Straight across ? I don't know why they wouldn't.. ;)

[ridin hood]

I wonder if they would take a .38 in on that Corvette Boat????


Hell, they should have to pay you money!! [smilie=crazy]

[Crown w/ limes]

All I can do is stop and stare when I've seen an MTI at the lake........that is awesome you were able to take a tour and go behind the scenes. :shock:

[Bajapit]

You guys are to much.:mrgreen: I really wonder if they would take my boat on the trailer?:shock:

[Hammer01]

Randy and Cherrill, and Cherrill's parents (Clark and Judy Grunninger) are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Too bad Randy didn't treat you to some of their favorite pizza while you were in town! I would have delivered!

This is so true. The entire family is a circle of boating enthusiasts who are very gracious and nice people. We met the whole family at their condo area on a weekend in LOTO and they truly love boating. Clark has been a high speed enthusiast who always built great motors out of the St. Louis/Pontoon Beach area. It was always fun to see the wives say the guys could go play on the go-fasts and they would suffer in the big cruiser for the day. Nice family who definitely know how to build great boats and service their customers to the fullest. Great to see that your word and great service can survive even the toughest of markets, my hats off to Randy and the MTI family.

[dykstra]

way cool

[momike]

And they are made in Missouri!

[RJewell]

I was employed by MTI for a while a couple years back, Its an amazing feeling to walk into work and see all the boats, Randy was a super nice guy, as well as everybody that worked there..

-Ryan

[glh64]

They are terrific machines, thanks for the pictures.

We enjoy ours a lot.

[the bear]

They are terrific machines, thanks for the pictures.

We enjoy ours a lot.

Ive seen your threads on other sites, you have an amazing machine!!

[arriva2450]

I work across the street from there and actually installed the glass in the building. Its always awesome seeing the boats come and go and hear them running. Randy was around when the building was being built and was a real nice guy.

[3600cat]

They are terrific machines, thanks for the pictures.

We enjoy ours a lot.


But do you drink Drambuie????:mrgreen: [smilie=trink39]

[glh64]

But do you drink Drambuie????:mrgreen: [smilie=trink39]No I tried but it's not my bag.... Too sweet... I am more of a Kettle One and Soda guy.

I posted a couple vids on you tube of a ride in DOI last week for you MTI fans; My post count does not allow me to insert links so just do a search for MTI 42 Champlain under member name glh64 on you tube and you guys can have a look they are a lot of fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKp6oprp5o

[the bear]

It looks great behind the F650....

[Swede]

just a little poster. These pics were from the Poker Run shootout.
http://www.performance-images.com/Posters/Calenders-and-Posters/MTI48Calendar/681188964_4VYPt-XL-1.jpg

[05gtxsc]

is this the dirty duck for sale???
http://loz.craigslist.org/boa/1443415320.html

2001 MTI, 23 hours on 1100 HP newer engines, sexy and fast boat


•Location: Stillwater
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[the bear]

I may be wrong, but that is the first Dirty Duck that has the full cabin, it is really nice, and I think it was the first themed type MTI, but I could be wrong.....

[catmando]

They are terrific machines, thanks for the pictures.

We enjoy ours a lot.Another beautiful pic for my wallpaper. :)

[bustag]

I may be wrong, but that is the first Dirty Duck that has the full cabin, it is really nice, and I think it was the first themed type MTI, but I could be wrong.....

Yes it has a full cabin. It belongs to Mike Bergum. He's up here on the Croix with us.