GEKKO HISTORY. FROM THE BEGINNING.
1994
GEKKO IS BORN.
Formed in July of 1994, Gekko was founded by Mark Overbye who started Moomba Sports in 1989. A life-long water sports enthusiast and tournament skier who still competes today, Overbye's passion evolved into a vision for tow boats embracing strong performance and purist elements wrapped with inspiring appeal.
1995
BOAT TESTS:
GEKKO NOTCHES TOP RESULTS, SETS PERFORMANCE LEGACY IN MOTION.
Gekko's introduction of the GTS 20 at WaterSki Magazine's 1995 boat tests set the company's legacy of performance in motion. Ahead of every other builder, Gekko's best rated wakes and blistering performance ratings in WaterSki's 1995 Buyer's Guide, the industry bible, launched Gekko as a world class player.
1996
WAVE OF RAVE REVIEWS SWELLS.
Ski Boat Magazine also finds the GTS 20 capitivating and puts it on the cover. Inside was another glowing review and excellent performance results. Over the next several years Gekko impresses editors and boat testers from numerous titles such as PowerBoat, TrailerBoat, Boating Life, Boating, Go Boating, Waterski, Wakeboarding, Wakeboard SBC and others as its journey in winning followers gains momentum.
1996
GTS 20 CATAPULT RUNS 55 MPH.
"Powermongers and slalom purists, this is your boat. 55+ mph and low, soft slalom wakes"
-WaterSki Magazine
WaterSki says it best and it's hard to improve upon. Built for speed jockeys, the GTS 20 Catapult combines a great hull design with big HP and it's a winner. Wow, 55 mph!
1997
GEKKO PRODUCES INDUSRY'S FIRST WRAP.
A new, all white GTO 22 was produced and sent to a top graphics producer in Minneapolis, MN. Working with Gekko, GML's graphics team produced a full color 100% wrap featuring timely flame art blending a checkerboard fade. A true show stopper, the boat drew big crowds from day one. Wicked cool, this boat is still plying the waters of a northern Minnesota lake.
1998
GEKKO EARNS #1 TRACKING, WORLD CLASS TOWBOAT STATUS.
WaterSki Magazine's 1998 buyer's guide test team developed a hoard of electronic testing devices, including a fancy tracking gyro. It attached to the steering wheel to test how much driver input was necessary to keep the boat tracking true while in a course while a top ranked skier ran a minimum of 6 passes. Gekko's tracking score bested over 50 other boats from 23 manufacturers. In addition to earning #1 tracking status, Gekko's wakes, performance and ergonomics were rated world class.
1999
GEKKO INTRODUCES BAZOOKA WAKEBOARD BOAT.
Exclusively designed for wake sports, the Bazooka's sport-specific design included integrated ballast tanks, special tower, a unique fill/ drain system, oversized platform and enlarged cockpit. This boat set the pace for the emerging wakeboard boat category.
2001
GEKKO G3 UNVEILED AS INDUSTRY'S FIRST CAD/CAM TOWBOAT.
Incorporating state-of-the-art aerospace design and production technology, the Gekko G3's curvy architecture, touch pad, keyless dash, perfect symmetry, concept-car like styling and innovative features was a towboat industry first.
2001
US TRADEMARK OFFICE PROTECTS GEKKO DESIGN.
Gekko's innovative hull design is protected by a US Copryright issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
2002
GEKKO APPROVED FOR RECORD CAPABLE EVENTS BY AWSA.
Gekko earns the highest approval rating by AWSA, opening the door for Gekko boats to be used in tournaments and record capable events.
2003
GEKKO INTRODUCES REVO SERIES.
Revolutionary in technology and design, Gekko's REVO series sets new standards. Powerboat Magazine waxed enthusiastically, "We were immediately taken by the design...Our testers think the wakes are perfect". Two V drives, the REVO 7.1 and REVO 6.7, plus the REVO 6.7i direct drive complete the series.
2004-5
GEKKO BLESSED WITH STRONG MEDIA COVERAGE.
Titles across the planet including Go Boating, Powerboat, Boating, SBC Wakeboarding, WaterSki, Wakeboard speak Gekko and the following grows.
2005
GEKKO PULLS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.
There are few settings as spectacular as Albarella, Italy for a World Class venue and Gekko was the exclusive towboat for the 2005 European Barefooting Championships.
2006
GEKKO PULLS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Gekko pulled the World Barefooting Championships held at Lake Silverado in Washington state, cementing Gekko's status as a World Championship Towboat.
2007
GEKKO MERGED WITH CHALLENGER.
Gekko joins the Challenger portfolio of boat companies. Gekko founder Mark Overbye leaves the company in 2008. From 2008 to 2011 the marine industry falls off a financial cliff as unit volumes for nearly all builders are cleaved in half or worse.
2013
GEKKO FOUNDER REACQUIRES GEKKO.
Mark Overbye reacquires Gekko's assets and sets out to reestablish production. A complete overhaul of the line results in the development of new interiors, towers, trailers, dashes, graphics and a renewed vigor to build top quality, inspiring products built on Gekkos legacy of performance and passion.
2014
PARTNERING WITH INDMAR, GEKKO'S VENOM SERIES DEBUTS.
Gekko's Venom Power Series is a collection of Indmar's best engines ranging from 330 HP to 550 HP, powering Gekko's 2014 line up. The Venom collection is backed by an available 5 year warranty and Indmar's top rated customer service.
2015
PARTNERING WITH LARSON, GEKKO STEPS INTO TOP TIER MANUFACTURING.
State of the art manufacturing, a 545,000 sf factory, 200+ boat building craftsmen boasting up to 5 generations of experience and market leading techologies are now woven into Gekko.