10 Iconic American Sailboat Brands That Disappeared (And Why We Miss Them)

If you walk the docks of any marina in the U.S., you’ll spot plenty of old fiberglass beauties from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Names like Pearson, O’Day, and Cal once ruled the waves—but today, those companies are gone. What happened? Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at 10 American sailboat brands that were once household names but no longer exist.

---

1. Pearson Yachts – The Fiberglass Pioneers

Back in the 1950s and 60s, Pearson was the name in production sailboats. Based in Rhode Island, they were among the first to take a gamble on fiberglass—back when most people still thought it was a strange “plastic” fad. Pearson’s Carl Alberg and Bill Shaw designs were rugged, straightforward, and perfect for families who wanted both cruising comfort and club-race potential.

So what went wrong? The 1991 recession crushed new boat sales, and Pearson—by then heavily leveraged—went bankrupt. Still, their legacy lives on: thousands of Pearsons are still sailing, and owners swear they’ll outlast us all.

---

2. O’Day – Sailing for the Masses

Founded by Olympic gold medalist George O’Day in 1958, O’Day was like the Ford of sailboats. Affordable, accessible, and built in huge numbers. From the 14-foot O’Day Day Sailer (over 12,000 sold!) to 39-foot family cruisers, O’Day boats got a lot of Americans into sailing.

But corporate buyouts and financial trouble in the 1980s spelled doom. By 1989, O’Day was bankrupt, leaving behind tens of thousands of boats and a reputation for making sailing fun, simple, and attainable.

---

3. Alcort – The Sunfish Creators

If you ever learned to sail at summer camp, odds are it was on a Sunfish. That little lateen-rigged board boat was born in 1952 thanks to Alcort—founded by Alex Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger. Alcort made sailing cheap, easy, and addictive.

The Sunfish became the world’s most popular sailboat (over half a million sold!), but Alcort didn’t survive. They were bought by AMF in 1969, and eventually the Alcort name disappeared. The Sunfish, however, lives on under new ownership—proof that a good idea never dies.

---

4. C&C Yachts – The Racer-Cruiser Kings

Though Canadian by birth, C&C dominated the U.S. racer-cruiser market in the 1970s and 80s. Their sleek lines, cored hulls, and Bill Tripp-inspired speed made them legends. If you wanted a boat that could win races on Saturday and take the family cruising on Sunday, C&C had you covered.

But like many brands, rising costs and a shrinking buyer base in the late 80s sent them into receivership. The name bounced around under new owners, but by the 2010s it was gone for good. Today, vintage C&Cs are cult classics in yacht clubs everywhere.

---

5. Hunter Marine – The Mainstream Innovator

Hunter, founded in Florida in 1973, aimed squarely at the average American family sailor. They added clever features like the stainless cockpit arch and the B&R rig (no backstay!) to make boats simpler to sail and more spacious inside.

By the mid-2000s, Hunter was selling a third of all new U.S. sailboats. Then came the 2008 financial crisis. Parent company Luhrs Marine went bankrupt in 2012, and although Marlow Yachts bought the tooling and tried to revive the line, the original Hunter Marine was history. Still, thousands of Hunters keep cruising, proving their design philosophy worked.

---

6. Morgan Yachts – Charter Boat Workhorses

Charley Morgan’s Florida boatyard cranked out everything from America’s Cup contenders to the famous Out Island 41—an absolute legend in the charter industry. Big, beamy, and built for comfort, the Out Island series was the floating condo of the 70s and 80s Caribbean.

Catalina Yachts bought Morgan in 1984 and kept a few models going, but eventually phased out the brand. The Morgan name may be gone, but if you’ve ever bareboated in the islands, there’s a good chance you’ve set foot on one.

---

7. Cal Yachts – The Lapworth Speed Machines

Designed by Bill Lapworth and built in California, Cal Yachts were known for their speed. The Cal 40, introduced in 1964, was revolutionary with its fin keel and spade rudder—and it dominated offshore racing for years.

Cal produced nearly 18,000 boats, a staggering number, but by 1989 the brand shut down. Rising costs and corporate reshuffling killed it off. Today, Cal 40s are still winning races 60 years later, proving just how far ahead of their time they were.

---

8. Columbia Yachts – The Big Fiberglass Builder

In the 1960s, Columbia was the world’s largest fiberglass sailboat builder. From the 22 to the mighty Columbia 50, they were churning out boats in massive numbers. Sparkman & Stephens even designed some of their models, adding serious pedigree.

But after multiple ownership changes and relocations, Columbia faded by the mid-1980s. While the name briefly reappeared in the 2000s, it never regained its old glory. Columbia’s real legacy? They proved fiberglass could scale up—making big-boat ownership possible for regular sailors.

---

9. Ericson Yachts – The Bruce King Beauties

Founded in 1963, Ericson Yachts produced stylish racer-cruisers designed by Bruce King. Known for quality construction and sweet sailing performance, Ericsons like the 27, 32, and 35 were staples in marinas across the U.S.

Ericson’s mix of comfort and raceability made them popular, but by 1990, the company folded under market pressure. Pacific Seacraft picked up some of the designs, but the Ericson brand itself vanished. Today, Ericsons remain beloved on the used market for their timeless looks and solid build.

---

10. Irwin Yachts – Big Boats for Everyone

Ted Irwin founded Irwin Yachts in 1966 and quickly became one of America’s biggest builders. Known for roomy center-cockpit cruisers like the Irwin 52 and 54, they appealed to liveaboards and charter companies alike.

Irwin also built race winners, but the company’s bread and butter was comfort and volume. Sadly, financial troubles caught up with them, and the yard closed in 1992 after more than 6,000 boats. Today, Irwins are still out cruising the world, often as floating homes.

---

Why These Brands Vanished

So why did so many great names disappear? A few big reasons keep coming up:

• The 1990s and 2008 recessions decimated new boat sales.
• Rising production costs made it hard to build affordable boats in the U.S.
• Changing lifestyles—with fewer people taking up sailing—shrunk the market.

Some brands were swallowed by bigger companies, others just couldn’t survive. Yet their boats are still out there, carrying families, winning races, and keeping the legends alive.

---

Final Thoughts

These brands may be gone, but they shaped modern sailing. If you own a Pearson, O’Day, or Ericson, you’re sailing a piece of history. And every time someone lists a Cal 40 for sale or a Morgan Out Island shows up in a marina, it reminds us of a golden age of American boatbuilding.

Question for you: Have you ever owned one of these classics—or do you still sail one today? Drop your story in the comments below. 👇

Because while the companies may have vanished, their boats (and the memories they created) are still very much alive.

---

📌 If you enjoyed this sailing history dive, share it with a friend who loves old boats—or that one buddy who’s still restoring their 1970s Pearson in the driveway.