"Own a unique piece of boating history! This rare, antique, 1951 Beetle Boat
Company "Swan" catboat was among the first production fiberglass sailboats to 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.
The boat has a solid fiberglass hull and deck and a varnished wooden sole. The specifications are 14.66' length over all (LOA), 12.5' length on deck (LOD), 6'
beam, 18' aluminum mast with new halyard and new snap shackle, 11.5' aluminum
boom with dumb sheave for outhaul line. It comes complete with a marconi sail
in excellent condition with three battens and one row of reefing points, 2
bronze oarlocks, centerboard with lever, aluminum tiller (as was the original),
motor mount, new rudder, and a sailbag.
The boat has just been refurbished. The rudder is new and
constructed of wood covered with epoxy and fiberglass before painting. The boat
has been repainted inside and out, and the cockpit sole sanded down to bare wood
and revarnished.
Also included is the single axle roadworthy Continental trailer with spare tire
in the photos.
This boat should be of particular interest to any maritime museum, yacht club,
or any other maritime organization or individuals with a serious interest in
boat history."
Email Larry at lhsapp@comcast.net
or phone (912) 554-3872
