Overview

A groundbreaking history of the revolution that gave boating to the middle class. When Ray Greene built the first crude fiberglass dinghy in 1942, no one--not even Greene himself--knew that he had fired the opening shot in a boating revolution. Here, for the first time, is the rich and colorful history of how such men as Charley Morgan, Everett Pearson, Dick Bertram, Hobie Alter, and Rod Johnstone, working on a shoestring and often out of their garages, transformed boating. Here too are the legendary boats that built an industry--classics like the Pearson Triton, Boston Whaler, Bermuda 40, Cal 40, Hobie Cat, Morgan Out Island 41, Bertram 31, Magnum 27, Grand Banks trawlers, J/24, and others. ""Heart of Glass is a true masterpiece, a wonderful and exciting journey through the world of fiberglass from World War II to the present.""--Michael Aronow, author of Don Aronow: King of Thunderboat Row ""A masterly book.""--Bernadette Bernon, Cruising World ""This excellent history is the most comprehensive I have seen.""--Everett Pearson, chairman of the board, Tillotson-Pearson International ""For anyone who loves boats, this is a must-read!""--Charles Morgan, yacht designer, founder of Morgan Yachts ""I read it cover to cover in one sitting. This is the most important boatbuilding book published in the last 20 years.""--Robert H. Perry, yacht designer ""Reads like a novel, and like Dorothy's Tin Man, has given fiberglass a heart.""--Boating ""An amazing tale.""--SAIL

Full Product Details

Author:   Daniel Spurr
Publisher:   McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Imprint:   McGraw-Hill Professional
Dimensions:   Width: 18.50cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.10cm
Weight:   0.779kg
ISBN:  

9780071435468

ISBN 10:   0071435468
Pages:   400
Publication Date:   16 March 2004
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

Dedication Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Ideas Inspired by War: 1939 - 1945 2 Ray Greene and the First Polyester-Fiberglass Boat: 1942 3 An Industry Is Born: 1946 - 1949 4 The New England Connection 5 Bill Tritt: From Boats to Spars to Cars 6 The First Production Auxiliary Sailboats 7 The Pearson Cousins 8 The Boom at the End of the 1950s 9 The Switch to Glass 10 New Boatbuilders 11 Boatbuilding in Canada 12 Florida: Home of the Muscle Boat 13 Mass Production Arrives 14 Glass Goes Offshore 15 Innovative Designs that Shaped the Industry 16 A 50-Year Overview: Recessions, Conglomerates, and New Technologies Appendix 1 Milestones in Chemistry, Fiberglass, and Composite Boatbuilding Appendix 2 Selected Company Profiles Notes Index

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Author Information

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

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