When was Fiberglass first used on boats

[weheritage]

Would like to get information on when Fiberglass was first used on boats. Was it used in WW II on mine sweeps, subchasers and/or PT boats. Leeway built in 1942 has fiberglass decks and cabin top. It appears to be original. If not it was a terrific rework.

[KNOCKABOUT]

Cape Cod Shipbuilding claims to have built the first commercially viable consumer oriented one-design glass boats in the period directly following the war. That said, I believe they serviced military contracts during the war, so perhaps some fibreglass was used. In any case, call Mystic seaport - you'll get your answer in five minutes. Those cats are quick and knowledgeable.

[Ian McColgin]

Get the book "Heart of Glass" for details of the false starts (like what amounts to papermache) and the incredibly adventurous spirits of the likes of Ev Pearson.

[Steve Paskey]

Good Old Boat did an article on this in 1999, and there's a whole book on fiberglass boats -- "Heart of Glass."

Here's the article: http://www.boatus.com/goodoldboat/BirthofFiberglass.htm

From the article:


According to Dan Spurr, editor of Practical Sailor, and the author of a forthcoming book on the history of fiberglass sailboats, Heart of Glass, "It probably was a fellow named Ray Greene in Toledo, Ohio. He built a fiberglass and polyester sailboat in 1942, probably a Snipe. So a sailing dinghy was the first fiberglass sailboat." After a pause he adds, "But you have to watch your terms."

It turns out there were several earlier boats made of fiberglass and various plastic resins, but most of them were too brittle for practical use. Dan says it was the development of polyester resin that started the fiberglass boat revolution. In part, this problem of terms revolves around the separate, but parallel, developments of fiberglass and plastic resins.

And here's more:


Back in Toledo, Ray Greene, who had studied plastics while a student at Ohio State, had been working with Owens-Corning on fiberglass composites. He had made composite boats as early as 1937, but was searching for just the right plastic to use for boats. He received a shipment of the polyester resin in 1942 and produced a daysailer.

Others followed suit. Dan says, "B.B. Swan made a small fiberglass catboat in1947. Carl Beetle built fiberglass boats at a GE plant in Pittsfield, Mass. He exhibited his fiberglass boat at a show in January 1947."

The first sailing auxiliary made from fiberglass appeared in 1951. "It was called the Arion, a 42-foot ketch." states Spurr. "It was a one-off design by Sidney Herreshoff. Then Fred Coleman's Bounty II came out in 1956."

[rbgarr]

I went aboard ARION about a month ago after attending the Herreshoff Museum's symposium in RI. Beautiful hull shape and really solid laminate schedule.

[sv Lorelei]

I second the recommendation of Dan Spurrs book. It's a good read. One of the things I hadn't realized was the number of different laminates that were used (to varying degrees of success) and resins, prior to the polyester/fiberglass combo that was to dominate the next 50+ years. And some very good personality profiles of some of the characters in the business.

[mmd]

My Gibbs & Cox Marine Design Manual - GRP states, "From the time, about 1940, when the first experimental structures were developed..."

[JimConlin]

Community Boating in Boston still has a fleet of Mercuries built by Capa Cod Shipbuilding before 1950. They're used hard.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I got a 1954 Dyer Dhow

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Ray Greene in Toledo may have been the first to make fiberglass hulls, during the WW II. Winner Mfg. Co of Trenton, NJ is generally credited with being the first production builder of fiberglass pleasure boats, starting in 1946. They built some boats for the Navy before this.

Daniel Spurr's book is a must read and I also recommend the newly published book called "Tail Fins and two-Tones" by Peter Hunn. It presents the history of pleasure boats of fiberglass and aluminum.

Cheerio!

Andreas

[Wild Wassa]

This background about the first uses of fibreglass on boats has been very timely and I thankyou all for it and agood question 'weheritage'. I'm holding courses in fibreglass repairs at our yacht club at the moment and this will add a bit of interest.

In fact this info is perfect.

Warren.