Joel Schmidt’s creation came about after he sat beside his ailing father, joking about burying him in a fishing boat. His company, Glory Boats, makes customized caskets for those who love the outdoors and reeling in some fish. Their slogan, “Celebrating the lives of outdoorsmen,” captures this message.

The boats, listed at $2,800, come in three different colors: Woodland camo, marsh grass and pink camo. Schmidt explained he wished he had the idea of the pink camo before his mother died several years ago. She was an avid lover of the outdoors, just like his father and him, he said. He described her as a tomboy who loved to fish and hunt, and thinks the pink camo model would have been a wonderful resting place for her.

Now, Schmidt and his team go to various outdoor shows, promoting their sentimental product. Many folks have approached him about other outdoor-based designs, such as deer stands and duck models.

Schmidt, however, believes there is a generational issue with the caskets. The oldest person to purchase a Glory Boat was 77, he said. Most of their sales come from people under age 60. Older generations, like that of his father, prefer to be buried in a more traditional, formal casket, he added.

Summer months are the company’s busiest by far, and when he isn’t working on the boats, Schmidt is a professional photographer. He has been in the photography business for nearly 25 years, doing a lot of work with local schools.

Although the Glory Boats company is rather small right now, it is receiving inquiries from people across the United States, Schmidt said.