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Foss Foam Products of Florida, Inc. is the world’s leading producer of sailboat rudders, having manufactured over 50,000 rudders since 1978. As a family-owned company, Foss Foam has been an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for numerous sailboat companies for over 46 years. This long-standing expertise enables us to produce a wide range of replacement rudders as well as rudders for new sailboats. With over 300 molds from dozens of manufacturers in our inventory, we also have the capability to create molds for models we do not currently have.
Foss Foam Products of Florida, Inc.: A Legacy in Foam Manufacturing
In the 1960s, Chuck Foss began formulating and producing foam products in Costa Mesa, California, starting with surfboard blanks. He then developed a twenty-pound-per-cubic-foot density foam ideally suited for rudder fabrication. Under the name The Foss Company, Chuck Foss built most of the rudders for manufacturers in the western United States.
In 1978, Bob Walker and his wife, Maxine, founded Foss Foam in Clearwater, Florida. They started the business without any guaranteed customers, but quickly began producing rudders for most sailboat manufacturers in the Eastern U.S. Over the years, Foss Foam Products of Florida, Inc. has become the world’s leading producer of rudders.
In 1987, Bob and Maxine’s son, Al Walker, joined the family business, allowing his parents to retire in 1994. In 2000, the Walker family relocated the business to Williston, Florida, in the North Central Region, about 25 miles west of Ocala and Gainesville. Since the move, Foss Foam has experienced steady growth.
Al Walker has since been joined by his son, David, who now leads production and quality control. David has made significant contributions to the growth and stability of Foss Foam Products of Florida, Inc. As the heir apparent, he will ensure that Foss Foam continues to lead the sailboat rudder manufacturing industry in the future. Our commitment to quality and expertise remains unmatched. While many companies cut corners to maximize profits, we are dedicated to producing the best rudders money can buy.