LandCraft has been a family-owned business for over 46 years, and we'd like to thank our dedicated associates, customers and vendors for these great years. Check out some of our company news below!

April 2024

As always, Spring and Summer are our busiest times of the year! Our office staff is busy answering calls and emails, so please be patient as we work to accommodate each customer. If our phone lines are busy, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call. We're always quick to review and respond to emails sent in at https://www.land-craft.com/contact.

The boat repair industry is short-staffed and there aren't many high quality repair shops out there, so we're in constant high demand. This unfortunately means that there may be service delays at certain times during the peak season. Our team is hard at work accommodating customers on our repair schedule, and continuing to assist new customers.

• Structural repairs take priority over cosmetic repairs during peak boating season.
• Please email the service department at https://www.land-craft.com/contact and include photos of damage along with the year/make/model of your watercraft. This will help us process your service request faster.
• There are still manufacturer parts delays. This may prolong the repair turnaround time on certain makes/models.
• Please note, we only provide an estimate once a watercraft is dropped-off at LandCraft and scheduled for repairs. We can, however, provide a free verbal quote and our team is here to schedule repair services once you're ready to proceed.

May 1, 2022

It's one of our busiest times of year! We're hard at work accommodating customers on our repair schedule and wait list, and continuing to assist new customers calling in, walking in, and emailing. Our team is working around the clock to accommodate all boaters that need us during the peak boating season.

A few quick notes to help speed up the process if you're looking for repair work:

• Please email the service department photos of damage along with the year/make/model of your watercraft. This will help us process your service request faster.
• There are still manufacturer parts delays, especially personal watercraft parts (Yamaha, Sea Doo, Kawasaki). This may prolong the repair turnaround time on certain jobs.
• Structural repairs take priority over cosmetic repairs during peak boating season.

Please note, we only provide an estimate once a watercraft is dropped-off at LandCraft for repairs. We can, however, always provide a free verbal quote and our team is here to provide repair services once you're ready to proceed.

December 24, 2021

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Keith and the team at LandCraft®

The crew has been hard at work in 2021. From relocating to our new larger location in Lockport, continuing to accommodate customers that have patiently been waiting on a wait list, and streamlining production - it's been a busy year!

We've been expanding our workforce, and we are providing shorter turnaround times with our streamlined production in a larger facility. Our office is also fielding calls from across the country for our services. Currently in the shop we have boats from customers in Salt Lake City Utah (Hi Marc!), Traverse City Michigan (Hi Steve!), and Springfield (Hi Tim!).

We're hard at work, even between the upcoming holidays!

A new location and larger facility to better serve you!

May 1, 2021

We've been looking for the right property and planning a relocation for a very long time, and the time has finally come! LandCraft is excited to announce that we are opening at our new Lockport Illinois facility on Monday, May 3rd, 2021. Our new address is: 1604 Caton Farm Rd., Lockport IL 60441. We are located at the NW corner of Weber Rd and Caton Farm Rd.

It's been our goal to have a larger, state-of-the-art facility to better serve our customers and accommodate more boats, and we can finally accomplish this. Our new facility has been completely remodeled inside, and the exterior remodel is in process over the coming months (see the rendering to the left). Two 16' wide doors and a truck-sized spray booth have been installed to accommodate all expressway trailerable boats - from wakeboard boats and fishing boats to high performance go-fast boats!

Our facility has grown, our team is growing, and we are working towards providing Chicago's shortest wait times and industry-leading repair turnaround time. The production flow and processes will be cutting-edge at LandCraft's new facility. 

Please note, to manage workflow we are by appointment. Give us a call at 1-708-385-0717 or contact us online!

Click here for DIRECTIONS!

September 1, 2019

On Sunday September 1st at approximately 5:30 pm ET we left St. Joseph Michigan for Chicago, following Jake Beckley and Charles Tillman in their Row4Kids 2-man rowboat. Keith from LandCraft provided his services and vessel as the chase boat with safety/medical crew and a total of 12 passengers to follow the rowers across the lake.

A second vessel was a part of the action for a few hours at the beginning and end of the row to get NFL and drone footage. It likely slowed the rowers down a bit to have a film crew out there, but the footage will be remarkable.

While on the lake, we encountered 4 different, mild weather patterns and had favorable conditions for the majority of the row. With the time of year and Fall weather patterns starting to take shape, we truly got lucky with 25 hours of favorable lake conditions.

The rowers and the chase/medical boat team safely arrived in Chicago on 9/2 at approximately 5:30 pm CT, 25 hours after the row began the day prior. Jake and Charles did it!

In the news:

Check out some photos from the row event:

April 14,2019

LandCraft is taking part in the second Row4aCure event, now known as Row4Kids as it's combining the efforts of The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation and The Beckley Foundation.

The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation provides assistance to critically ill children and their families. Since 2005, Charles Tillman's charitable efforts have impacted the lives of thousands of critically and chronically ill children and their families.

Childhood cancer research gets very little federal funding. The Beckley Foundation raises funds for childhood cancer research, which goes to a team of local researchers at Rush University Medical Center who are working to find a cure for rare childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma. 

Please consider donating to Row4Kids and the great causes that The Beckley Foundation and Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation are each rowing for in 2019. Follow the journey on social media, and watch for news coverage as the row date nears.

Pictures of our work are included below, and pictures from the row will be coming soon!

November 28, 2017

Keith is featured in Voyage Chicago Magazine in the Chicago's Most Inspiring Stories section! What an honor to be contacted at LandCraft to discuss the business and have Keith's story published.

Check out the article here and be sure to show Voyage Chicago Magazine lots of love for supporting small businesses!

October 3-4, 2016

Row4aCure contacted us on September 9, 2016 in need of paintwork on a row boat that was built to take a 65-mile solo trek across Lake Michigan. The Row4aCure organization was established to raise funds for childhood cancer research, specifically finding a cure neuroblastoma. While working with this group we learned that childhood cancer research receives very little funding compared to other forms of cancer research, making this a noteworthy cause to support. 

Our team took on the project, and we also supported the rower (Jake) on his trek across the lake. LandCraft followed him in a support boat, and here are details from the event:

Jake was scheduled to row on September 30, 2016 but was delayed due to a slow moving low pressure system across the region. On the 30th there were strong winds and 10 foot waves... not a good day to row. Per NOAA and Coast Guard recommendations, the row was rescheduled for the evening of Sunday October 2nd... but at 7pm EST, we headed out into unexpected lingering fog and large swells, so we had to delay the row for safety reasons until the nighttime fog cleared.

On Monday October 3rd at approximately 8:50 am we left St. Joseph Michigan for Chicago, following Jake Beckley and the Row4aCure boat. The lake was still settling after days of strong winds and large waves. After a few hours of rowing the winds became calm and the lake took on a glassy sheen giving Jake optimal rowing conditions. Shortly after sundown on Monday evening, at approximately 10pm, heavy winds out of the East/Southeast came upon us quickly creating 4 foot chop with 6-8 foot waves eventually taking over by about 1-2 am. After hours of Jake fighting the waves, and after calling the Coast Guard station for confirmation of weather conditions (winds and waves expected to increase), we called Jake to our boat. The weather conditions became too hazardous for the row to safely continue - it would become nearly impossible to safely rescue Jake and the Row4aCure boat had we waited much longer to bring Jake aboard and secure the rowboat to our vessel.

With strong winds and waves to our stern quarter and hull side, we had to continue to travel at idle speed with the Row4aCure boat (which had to be secured twice after coming loose in the intense lake conditions). We arrived safely at Dusable Harbor at approximately 5:30 am on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. 

In some of the photos from the row (see below), you will be able to see the damage the Row4aCure boat suffered in the harsh conditions we faced.

On October 14, 2016 we attended the Row4aCure after party and fundraising auction, celebrating with the people that contributed to this campaign for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. A special thank you goes out to Senator John Proos for securing a boat slip for us in St. Joseph, and Dusable Harbor for providing us with unexpectedly needed safe refuge upon our return.

Check out some photos from the 2016 row event:

January 14-18, 2009

LandCraft Marine was at the 2009 Chicago boat show to offer free consultation services as well as display some of our work. From fiberglass and gel coat repair to custom boat entertainment systems, our portfolio was a big hit! Thank you to our many loyal clients for visiting our booth, and thank you to the many new customers we met at the show!

Spring/Summer 2009

See our ad in Chicago's 2009 Westrec Marina Catalog and use the special offer code to receive FREE OVERNIGHT shipping on boat electronics orders. See this promotion for details.

Also, be sure to visit our booth at Chicago's Burnham Harbor in June 2009 for Westrec's Boaters Day!

March 2007

With the Hammond Marina closed for the 2007 season while casino expansion takes place, we understand that you have either temporarily or permanently relocated your boat. Many of our Hammond customers were accustomed to our dockside repair services, but we also repair on-site at most Chicago and NW Indiana marinas as well. So give LandCraft Marine a call and we will repair your boat wherever you have it docked! We will be glad to continue the same great service to you and your boat. If your boat is trailorable we always offer year-round in-shop repair services at our facility in Crestwood, IL.

January 2006, Number 345

"The calendar year may say January, but it's a good time of the year to think about the upcoming boating season, a sure way to raise your spirits while contending with the snow and weather. You say your boat's not ready for the new season? Read this.

It's time to introduce you to LandCraft Marine, 13626 Cicero Ave. Their phone is 708-385-0717. LandCraft has been in business since 1978, providing fiberglass, gel-coat repair and other marine services, including repairs of wood on boats. This service-oriented business also provides insurance claim processing.

After many years in the industry, LandCraft has proven reliability and a high degree of customer satisfaction to ensure repeat business.

To see pictures of their work and get money-saving coupons, look them up at their web site, www.Land-Craft.com.

So if you put your boat away with structure cracks or damage to the body that you intend to fix next year, well, it is next year and LandCraft can handle the repair chores. They will repair torn or worn-out seats, color matching, refinishing and add decals and striping to get your boat to look like new.

And that's not all. LandCraft can repair rotted wood decks and floors and upgrade your boat's audio system. Why not get started now so you can enjoy the boating season [save money, and beat the repair rush] when it arrives this spring.

We think you'll find this just one more reason why we say, Smart Crestwood Shoppers Shop Crestwood."

Crestwood Advisor - January 2006

August 20-21, 2005

The crew at LandCraft spent a relaxing day on the lake after a long and hot summer of hard work. We had a great time and enjoyed a barbecue on the lake and the great Air Show.

September 19, 2004

We spent an evening aboard a benefit cruise for a fallen police officer's family. We met up with many great people and celebrated in remembrance.

January 21-25, 2004

Thanks for coming out to visit us at the Chicago Boat Show! The event was a success and LandCraft welcomed many new customers and business clients.