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The Clipper Marine Company,
was founded originally in Sausalito, Ca. Their goal being to build trailerable
'glass boats.In so doing, they were the first to use the swing keel in a small boat.
The boats were all designed by W.I.B Crealock who has been a long time associate
of Pacific Seacraft. The first dozen or so boats were all 21's, with cast iron keels. As
soon as the production got rolling in '72 or '73, the assembly line was moved the down to
Santa Ana. The plans then were redrawn, and soon a bilge keel 23 was being produced.
This was one of the first of the Clippers to use high-performance NACA foils, and it is supposedly a good
performer. The 26 MK I with
a doghouse, and later the MK II flush deck were enlargements of the original plans for the 21.
These were all pretty good sellers and so the decision was made to produce a 30 and a 32 with an optional ketch rig.
The 30 and the 32 were built heavier than the preceding models. The mast is beefier with about a 25% greater cross
section and thicker walls. The hull and deck are a full 1/2 inch thick. The hull is 1/2 inch hand laid glass and the deck is
1/4 inch glass over 1/4 inch fir plywood with another 1/4 inch of hand laid glass below. Fibre glass construction was in its infancy
in 1975 and so not knowing for sure it's ultimate strength, they built it hell for stout. In 75 the 30 had the engine well
forward in the cockpit just behind the main sheet traveler with only lower cabin windows and no forward hatch in the
main cabin. The later models in 76 had the upper windows and the 2nd hatch just aft of the head as in the 32.
The rig on the 26 and 30 is nearly identical, the 30 having a six inch higher mast and more sail area.
They added two feet to the 30, a mizzen and an aft cabin to make the the 32. The 32
was the largest trailerable boat produced up until that time. Meanwhile, they started also producing
more of a raceing type in the 1/4 tonner ( a 26 footer with a high aspect fixed fin keel, and a cutter rig) It has some
of the sweetest lines for a Clipper that Crealock designed. And with so many sail options One would be hard pressed
to find storage if they were all on board at the same time. Also a couple of other 24 and 26 foot designs all based on
the original 21 hull design. And Crealock was involved in the redesign of each one.
After this the company started to slide downhill. But in about 1976 there was decision made to produce a 37 foot spartan,
capable but still economical blue-water cruiser type boat, and Crealock commenced a completely new design.
The drawings were completed, and a hull mold was started. But the owner and CEO rode off into the sunset one
night with the company bankroll, and the company filed bankruptcy. The mold for the 37 and the drawings were
returned to Crealock, and after making some minor design changes, the first of the Crealock 37,s were produced
Cruising Consultants who subcontracted their work out and then later by Pacific Seacraft. And from then on they
have been one of the most sought after sub 40-foot cruising boats.
History of the CLM hin number
After Going out of business at 1919 Occidental in Santa Anna California, CLM was restarted as Classic Marine, manufacturing Inboards and Cabin cruisers, at Old Placerville Rd in Sacremento California. Starting up on December 27, 1993 and once more going out of business on September 19, 2001.
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