When Detroit Went Sailing: The Forgotten Story of Chrysler Sailboats

When muscle cars met mainsails—and it actually worked for a while.

If you thought Chrysler only made cars that roared down the highway, think again.
Back in the 1960s and ’70s, the same company that gave us the Hemi engine decided to try its hand at something a little quieter: sailboats.

Yes, for over a decade Chrysler built a whole line of fiberglass sailboats that are still out there today—floating relics from an era when America’s big automakers believed they could build anything.

From Mopars to Mastheads

By the late 1950s, Chrysler had its fingers in everything—cars, outboards, snowmobiles, and, yes, boats. The company’s marine division grew fast after it bought the Texas-based Lone Star Boat Company in 1965 and a Canadian outboard plant in Ontario soon after.

At one point, Chrysler Marine was pumping out thousands of boats a year, plus engines ranging from tiny 3.6-horsepower kickers to roaring 150-horsepower outboards.

And just like Detroit’s cars, their boats came in all shapes and sizes—from nimble 15-foot daysailers to 30-foot cruising yachts you could (sort of) sleep on.

The Sailboats That Made Chrysler Famous (at least on the water)

Here’s a trip down memory lane for anyone who’s ever seen a faded blue “Chrysler Marine” badge at the marina:

⚓ Buccaneer 18 – The People’s Racer

First launched in 1968, this 18-foot dinghy was Chrysler’s big hit. Fast, forgiving, and easy to trailer, it became the family racer of choice for thousands of new sailors. Over 4,000 were built, and Buccaneer racing fleets still exist today across the U.S.

One sailor joked, “The Buccaneer was the Camaro of the sailing world—fast, fun, and occasionally out of control.”

⚓ Mutineer 15 – The Family Fun Machine

If the Buccaneer was the Camaro, the Mutineer 15 was the Dodge Dart. Compact, simple, and wildly popular, nearly 8,000 were built between 1971 and 1980.

It was a perfect entry-level boat—room for four, a little cuddy for the cooler, and light enough to tow behind a station wagon. Many are still in use, and Mutineer class regattas pop up from Michigan to Florida.

⚓ Chrysler 22 & 26 – Small Boats, Big Comfort

These were Chrysler’s first real cruisers—designed by none other than Halsey Herreshoff, grandson of the legendary yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff.

The Chrysler 22 had a clever pop-top cabin, swing keel, and the kind of space that made it feel twice its size. Its big brother, the Chrysler 26, offered even more room below.

One owner fondly said, “She’s not the prettiest boat at the dock, but you can’t beat the room for the price.”

Both boats were built like tanks—solid fiberglass hulls so thick you could probably beach them without flinching (not recommended, but still).

⚓ The Big One: Chrysler 30

The CY-30 was Chrysler’s final and largest sailboat—30 feet of solid fiberglass and ambition. Sleek lines, full headroom, and plenty of teak trim gave it a big-boat feel. Unfortunately, it arrived just as Chrysler was running out of gas—financially, that is. Only a handful were ever built, but they’ve earned a small cult following among vintage-boat lovers.

What It’s Like to Sail a Chrysler Today

Ask any Chrysler owner and you’ll hear two things:
“She’s heavy… and she’s indestructible.”

These boats are famously overbuilt. The hulls are thick, the decks solid, and the cabins roomy. On the water, that translates to a feeling of safety and stability. One owner described sailing his Chrysler 26 as “like driving an old Cadillac—big, comfortable, and steady in a crosswind.”

But there’s a catch: that same weight makes them sluggish in light wind. On a calm day, you’ll be passed by kids in a Sunfish before your coffee even cools.

Still, in a blow, a Chrysler will plow through chop like a much bigger boat. Sailors often say, “She feels like a 35-footer in bad weather.”

As for maintenance, these boats have their quirks. Chrysler was never known for quality with their cars or boats. The most common upgrades owners make are to replace aging rigging, reseal leaky chainplates, and reinforce old rudders. But with a little care, these boats can outlive their owners—and many already have.

Built to Last, and They Did

In the 1970s, fiberglass boatbuilding was still a new science, and Chrysler erred on the side of more resin, more glass, more strength. That’s why, decades later, so many of their hulls are still around.

Practical Sailor magazine once called them “the tanks of the 1970s”—a perfect description. These boats aren’t fancy, but they are forgiving. Beginners love them, veterans respect them, and bargain hunters still scour Craigslist looking for them.

Prices? You can still find a Chrysler 22 or 26 for under $5,000—sometimes even less if you’re willing to do some polishing and re-rigging.

One sailor summed it up perfectly: “A Chrysler 22 is the best $3,000 you’ll ever spend if you want to learn real sailing without real debt.”

The Fall of Chrysler Marine

Sadly, Chrysler’s boating dream didn’t last. By the late 1970s, the company’s automotive troubles caught up to it. As Chrysler begged for government loans, the U.S. Treasury told it to ditch the non-core divisions, including Chrysler Marine.

By 1979, the factories were shutting down in both the U.S. and Canada. Bayliner bought up the assets, and the engines were rebranded as Force outboards—which later ended up under Mercury. The sailboat molds, however, were scattered to the winds.

A small Texas company called TMI (Texas Marine International) kept a few designs alive under new names, but the Chrysler name was gone for good. By 1983, Chrysler Marine was a memory.

Still Afloat: The Owners Who Keep the Legacy Alive

Here’s the funny part: though the company vanished, the community never did.

Today, there are active online groups like the Chrysler Sailors Forum and the Buccaneer 18 Class Association, where owners swap parts, stories, and sea tales. There are still fleets of Mutineers racing on inland lakes, and you’ll occasionally spot a lovingly restored Chrysler 26 gleaming in a marina slip.

These boats have become conversation starters. At every dock party, someone points and says, “Wait—is that a Chrysler?” followed by a grin and a story that usually starts with “My dad had one of those back in the ’70s…”

Why People Still Love Them

There’s a lot to love about a Chrysler sailboat:

Affordable nostalgia: You can still buy one for less than the cost of a new outboard.
Roomy and solid: Perfect for weekend cruising and learning the ropes.
Community support: Enthusiastic owners’ groups share manuals, parts lists, and even blueprints.
Timeless charm: Like classic cars, they turn heads—and start conversations.

They’re not the fastest, or the prettiest, but they feel right. They capture that era when Americans dreamed big and fiberglass could do anything.

Will Chrysler Ever Build Boats Again?

Realistically, no. Chrysler’s marine days are long gone, and the brand has plenty to handle just keeping its cars on the road. But the designs live on. The Mutineer and Buccaneer classes are still recognized one-design fleets, and a handful of builders have revived those molds over the years.

In a way, the boats did outlive the company. They’re still being sailed, raced, and restored five decades later—which is more than most modern production boats can claim.

Nickels Boat Works in Flint Michigan was still building Mutineers and Buccaneers as of a few years ago. It’s not clear if they are still producing boats or not right now with their website showing everything as “out of stock”

A Legacy Worth Remembering

When you look back at Chrysler Marine, it’s hard not to smile. It was a time when Detroit engineers thought, “Why not build a sailboat?”—and then actually did it. They applied car-industry thinking to boat design: affordability, mass production, and accessibility.

And it worked. Chrysler put thousands of new sailors on the water—families, weekend cruisers, and backyard dreamers who might never have owned a boat otherwise.

So the next time you walk through a marina and spot a faded Chrysler Marine badge, take a closer look.
You’re not just looking at an old fiberglass boat—you’re looking at a piece of American history.

⚓ Final Thoughts: Still Worth Owning?

Absolutely. If you find a Chrysler sailboat in decent shape, grab it. You’ll get a sturdy, forgiving boat with more soul than sparkle—and a connection to one of the quirkiest chapters in U.S. boating history.

As one proud owner put it:
“She may not be fast, but she’s mine, and she’s still afloat after fifty years. Can’t say that about my old Plymouth.”

Have you ever owned a Chrysler sailboat—or learned to sail on one?
Share your stories in the comments below.
Let’s keep the memory of Chrysler Marine alive one boat at a time.