Heart of Glass

Dan Spurr was for 12 years the editor of Practical Sailor newsletter, the “Consumer Reports” of sailing and one of the most respected boating publications, noted among other things for its new and used boat reviews, which have been published in book form as Practical Boat Buying. He is a former senior editor of Cruising World magazine and author of two highly regarded IM boating books as well as two critically acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction. He bought and refurbished his first fiberglass sailboat (a Pearson Vanguard) in the 1960s, and has since renovated three other boats including his current C & C 41. He is now the editor of Professional Boatbuilder magazine. AUTHOR HOMETOWN: Bozeman, Montana

A coalescing of forces - 1939-1945; the first polyester-fibreglass boat - 1942; an industry is born - 1946-1949; the New England connection; Bill Tritt - from boats to spars to cars; the first production auxiliary sailboats; the Pearson cousins; end of the 1950s - a boom industry; the early 1960s - famous converts; the early 1960s - the newcomers; north of the boarder; Florida -home of the muscle boat; the late 1960s - mass production; glass goes offshore; trendsetters - innovative designs that shaped the industry; after 50 years - an industry overview or toward the millennium.