Idaho State Journal Article by Hurley A. Hamilton 1970

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BANCROFT - This community of about 416 residents received a new lease on life when MNK Enterprises Corp. moved in from Orem, Utah, two months ago. The local movement for school consolidation with Soda Springs or Grace and the possible rerouting of Highway 30N over the Fish Creek Mountains and through Grace have threatened the continued existence of Bancroft as an incorporated community of southeast Idaho. Without the schools, which, together with the LDS Church, provide the main sources of civic and social life to the western part of Caribou County, many residents feelthat the town would soon die. If the highway were also moved, then the chances of the survival of Bancroft would be further hindered.

Jim Gessford, president of MNK Enterprises, wanted to move his operations from Orem to a more quiet and less congested area. He was influenced to come lo Bancroft and take a look at the area by Bob Summers, music director of Bancroft schools, and owner-manager of the Aqua Sport Shop and Lodge on Lake Alexander, just west of Soda'Springs. Gessford liked what he saw. The community was small and quiet, yet large enough to provide adequate labor for his factory. The climate was to his liking and at nearby lake Alexander his boats could be tested and demonstrated. 

Gessford purchased the old Call Garage and moved his complete operation to Bancroft including molds, boats, trailers, equipment, and machinery, before many of the local townspeople were convinced that he really intended to come. He renovated the old building, set up his equipment, and today is tack at building boats only two months after the move. MNK Enterprises produces a fiber-glass boat which reportedly Is unique when compared with anything on the market today, 

Gessford spent three years perfecting a process whereby he could build a boat of minimum weight, yet maximum strength. The boats have a skin of fiber glass. This is strengthened by the addition of a honeycombed, specially-processed material ot cardboard. Each component has no strength ty itself, but \vhen treated with resin spray from the Glas Craft Automated Spray System, the result is great strength. 

Other comparable 16 - foot model boats would weigh from 900-1000 pounds. MNK "Pony" boats weight 420 pounds. A 250- pound man could dance and jump on the deck of a finished boat without damage or blemish to the fiber glass finish. It is almost impossible to. sink the boats. Cut in one-foot squares, the honeycomb process would enable every piece to float. The boats are actually made backwards. -The molds are first prepared by cleaning and polishing. Then llie paint is sprayed Into the molds. Fiberglass, ply. wood, honeycomb, and then fiberglass again are applied in order. The deck and the hull are made in separate molds, then laminated together when both parts have had sufficient time to cure. 

Gessford designed the boats and builds all his own molds. He produces nine different models, including outboards, inboards, and jet-powered boats, They come In 36 colors, both solid and metal flaked. The boats are light weight, will not warp, show no weathering, and the color is permanent. 

After being laminated together, the crafts are moved to another room where the steering system, metal trim, and hardware are installed. The carpeting and upholstering are the last to be put on the boat before inspection. II there are any defects or blemishes in the workmanship the factory name of "Pony" will not be applied. A boat must meet all standards of quality or it will not be sent lo the retail dealer. Rejects may be sold as factory "seconds" direct from the factory wlthoul the "Pony" label. 

The boats are built as family runabouts and ski boats. They are raced, though, and have the record of never ilnishing less than third In a race. In September, the boat Is expected to take a shot at the world record for jet beat class. At present the factory Is putting out about one boat In three days. By the time the 1071 models come out in September, the company hopes to be putting out a boat a day. Eventually it will increase production to three boats a day. With expansion, the Bancroft boat factory will be the most modern operation of its kind in the fiberglass business. Future plans call for expansion into other products such as a fiberglass door and siding. When in full operation the plant will employ about 20 people. With the additional products, more workers will be employed and Gessford plans to do all his hiring from the local people.