As the founder of Phoenix Boats, Gary Clouse, has established a legacy for innovation and performance. Gary hails from the small mid-west town of Mansfield, MO.  His love and passion for the sport of fishing began at an early age while fishing on the small rivers and ponds near his home.  Gary had the support of his parents from the very beginning.  In fact, Gary owned a bass boat before he owned a car.  His father  bought it from a bank where David Barnett was the President.  Ironically David, later moved to Tennessee where he worked for Gary at Stratos from 2002 to 2006.  “I remember his dad coming into the bank and asking about a boat we had repossessed,” states Barnett.  He said, “If you will take my son to the lake and show him how to drive the boat,  I will buy it!”  It was a 16’ conventional hull bass boat with a 35 HP Mercury.  It wouldn’t run over 30 MPH, but it got him hooked on bass fishing.

Gary’s first job in the bass boat industry was for a local boat deal in Branson, Missouri.  Gary later moved to Tennessee where he began working for Stratos Boats.  With Stratos, Gary gained valuable boat manufacturing experien

ce that he utilizes today to produce the best boats on the market with Phoenix.

After Stratos was bought out in 1999, Gary was hired on with Triton Boats.  By the end of the 1990’s Triton was one of the leading bass boat companies in the world.  After 6 years, Genmar purchased Stratos and reunited Gary with the company that gave him his start in the bass boat industry.

His experience with business start up helped initiated the rise of Phoenix Boats.  His dedication to the angler surpasses all expectations of what a performance boat should be.  The expectation for innovation and quality have bonded with the admiration and desire of anglers everywhere.  Gary’s vision of what a bass boat should be is shared by Elite anglers, such as Aaron Marten and Greg Hackney, but most importantly the grass root anglers knowing they own the best boat on the water.  Gary’s passion for the sport is intoxicating and his passion for perfection is never ending.