The Clipper Marine Company, was founded originally in Sausalito, Ca. Their goal being to build trailerable 'glass
boats.In so doing, they were the first to use the swing
keel in a
small boat. The
boats were all designed by W.I.B
Crealock who has been a long time associate of
Pacific Seacraft. The first dozen or so boats were all 21's, with cast iron keels. As soon as the production got rolling in '72 or '73, the assembly line was moved the down to Santa Ana. The plans then were redrawn, and soon a
bilge keel 23 was being produced. This was one of the first of the Clippers to use high-performance NACA foils, and it is supposedly a good performer.
The 26 MK I with a doghouse, and later the MK II flush deck were enlargements of the original plans for the 21. These were all pretty good sellers and so the decision was made to produce a 30 and a 32 with an optional
ketch rig. The 30 and the 32 were built heavier than the preceding models. The
mast is beefier with about a 25% greater cross section and thicker walls. The hull and
deck are a full 1/2 inch thick. The hull is 1/2 inch hand laid glass and the deck is 1/4 inch glass over 1/4 inch fir
plywood with another 1/4 inch of hand laid glass below. Fibre glass construction was in its infancy in 1975 and so not knowing for sure it's ultimate strength, they built it hell for stout. In 75 the 30 had the
engine well forward in the
cockpit just behind the main sheet traveler with only lower
cabin windows and no forward
hatch in the main
cabin. The later models in 76 had the upper windows and the 2nd
hatch just aft of the
head as in the 32. The rig on the 26 and 30 is nearly identical, the 30 having a six inch higher
mast and more sail area. They added two feet to the 30, a mizzen and an aft cabin to make the the 32. The 32 was the largest trailerable boat produced up until that time.
Meanwhile, they started also producing more of a raceing type in the 1/4 tonner ( a 26 footer with a high aspect fixed fin keel, and a cutter rig) It has some of the sweetest lines for a Clipper that Crealock designed. And with so many sail options One would be hard pressed to find
storage if they were all on board at the same time.
Also a couple of other 24 and 26 foot designs all based on the original 21 hull design. And Crealock was involved in the redesign of each one. After this the company started to slide downhill. But in about 1976 there was decision made to produce a 37 foot spartan, capable but still economical blue-water cruiser type boat, and Crealock commenced a completely new design. The drawings were completed, and a hull
mold was started. But the owner and CEO
rode off into the sunset one night with the company bankroll, and the company filed bankruptcy. The mold for the 37 and the drawings were returned to Crealock, and after making some minor design changes, the first of the Crealock 37,s were produced Cruising Consultants who subcontracted their
work out and then later by
Pacific Seacraft. And from then on they have been one of the most sought after sub 40-foot cruising boats.
history
By my count that is four 26 footers. And I don't think we know what all four of them looked like. Bob, have you measured the actual LOD of your boat?
Could one of the molds ended up in somebody's hands after CM banko and, voila, Bob has one of those?