The Auto-Marine Shop was the heart of the mechanized Rainy Lake transportation system for much of the 20th century, offering repair, maintenance, storage, and new motors for every watercraft from little fishing boats to the opulent cruisers of the the well-heeled summer residents. 

James DiOnne opened the Shop in 1914. After working with DiOnne for two years, George Finstad purchased the Shop in 1924. Many of the machines were built and adapted in those early days to uniquely suit the job of marine boat and motor repair. George continued on this pathway for the next 50 years, creating a unique array of special tools for a multitude of tasks. His legendary creative expertise with the resources of the Shop extended far beyond the marine world at his front door. During World War II, George and his tools even helped keep an International Falls paper machine operating! 

Clara and George Finstad were married in 1926 and became partners in the Auto-Marine Shop venture for the rest of their lives. Clara did the paperwork and George fixed the motors, except on windy days when the whitecaps would break over outboard motors, Clara’s oven often baked a half-dozen wet magnetos instead of pies! 

The Shop held one of the original Johnson Outboard Motors franchises and George was a long-time member of the Outboard Marine Corporation service advisory board.

The Auto-Marine Shop was the heart of the mechanized Rainy Lake transportation system for much of the 20th century, offering repair, maintenance, storage, and new motors for every watercraft from little fishing boats to the opulent cruisers of the the well-heeled summer residents.