1951 fiberglass Carl F. Beetle Swan catboat:
Solid fiberglass hull and deck 14.66′ length overall (LOA) 12.5′ length on deck (LOD) 6′ beam 18′ aluminum mast Gaffe sail and rigging Thru-deck mast step with no shrouds or stays Single mainsheet and gaffe pole halyards Centerboard with lever Wood tiller Adjustable Motor mount
Own a unique piece of boating history!
This rare, antique, 1951 Carl F. Beetle Boat Company “Swan” catboat was apparently the first production fiberglass sailboat to ever be built. In Daniel Spurr’s book “Heart of Glass: Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Built Them”, (pages 53-58) he states “Although Taylor Winne and Gar Wood Jr. made the first production fiberglass boats- runabouts and dinghies- Greene and Beetle, for whatever it is worth to those who value such things, were first in sail.” However, the public’s reluctance to accept fiberglass boats at that time in history eventually led to financial exhaustion and Carl F. Beetle sold the company in 1951.
This boat is in good, restorable condition. The hull is solid. It has been partly sanded and repainted The cockpit sole has been sanded down to bare wood and stained. Included is the single axle Sears galvanized trailer with spare tire in the photos. This boat should be particularly appealing to any individual with a serious interest in sailboat history. It was last registered in CA in 2003, still has the registration number, and apparently is no longer in the CA DMV computer system. I do not have an original title for the boat, so it will be sold on a bill of sale. Located in Palermo CA. Asking $2500, please bring your best offer and thanks for your interest.
