The Racine Boat Manufacturing Company (RBMC) of Racine, Wisconsin, was founded in November 1893 by Fred Martin, right after he left the Racine Hardware Manufacturing Company. Martin did not stay long; he left after about a year to start the Racine Yacht and Boat Works.
RBMC built a wide range of boats ranging from steam and gasoline yachts and launches, to schooners and other sailing craft, to canoes.
Peter Thompson, who would later form the Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company worked for RBMC from 1889 until the 1903 fire.
The RBMC factory burned down in 1903. Rather than rebuild in Racine, the company moved across Lake Michigan to Muskegon, Michigan.
The company went out of business in 1916.
RBMC offered canoes built using traditional lapstrake construction (Indian Paddler, Canadian Paddler, and some 16/30 decked sailing canoes) and started building canvas covered canoes 1901-1902.
- McGreivey, Jack. Is it a Racine? Or is it a Racine? Wooden Canoe 116:10-13 (April 2003)
- Wheeler, Steve. 2002. The Racine Canoe, Part 2: The Racine Boat Manufacturing Company 1893 to 1916. Wooden Canoe 114:6-13 (December 2002).