Allied Boat Company: The Fiberglass Sailboat That Changed Everything

The first fiberglass sailboat to sail around the world was not a giant custom yacht or a famous production cruiser from one of the big names. It was Apogee, an Allied Seawind 30 ketch sailed by Alan Eddy, and its circumnavigation helped prove that fiberglass sailboats could survive real offshore passagemaking. In this episode, we look at the history of the Allied Boat Company of Catskill, New York, the early transition from wooden sailboats to fiberglass boatbuilding, and how the Allied Seawind became one of the most important cruising sailboats in offshore history. We also trace the boats and designers that made Allied such a respected name among classic sailboat fans, including the Allied Seawind 30, Seawind II, Seabreeze 35, Luders 33, Princess 36, Mistress 39, Greenwich 24, and the Sparkman & Stephens Allied 42 XL-2. With designs connected to Thomas Gillmer, Bill Luders, Arthur Edmunds, Sparkman & Stephens, and George Stadel, Allied built serious fiberglass cruising boats during one of the most important eras in sailboat history. If you love classic sailboats, bluewater cruisers, circumnavigation stories, old fiberglass boats, and the history of offshore sailing, this is the story of the little company and little ketch that helped change everything. Need a consult? Click here to drop a message: https://ladyksailing.com/consults/ Want to help support Lady K Sailing? Click here to become a Patron: http://www.patreon.com/ladyksailing Or here to make a one time donation: http://www.ladyksailing.com/team-k Follow Lady K on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyksailing Or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyksailing/