Cascade Yachts
Cascade Yachts was a pioneering U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from 23 to in length. It was founded in 1954 in Portland, Oregon by a group of local sailors interested in experimenting with fiberglass sailboat construction. History. In 1954 the company was launched by five sailors under the name Yacht Constructors. The first design, the Chinook, came from the desk of well-known Philadelphia naval architect Frederick Geiger, adapted from a wood design. The first five were launched in 1956-1957 to the founders, and began winning local races and gathering attention  in the press. Eventually 70 were produced, making it arguably the first production fiberglass sailboat. Robarta A. Smith, a former Sparkman & Stephens designer, would later design a series of boats for the company: Like many early producers of fiberglass boats, the company's production methods resulted in yachts that were heavier than later builders. Experimenting with fiberglass, at that time a relatively novel material for boat construction, the founders made test samples that were shot at from with various firearms to test the material strength. The test samples repelled .45 slugs and became the foundation of the company's reputation  for producing bulletproof yachts. In various cases Cascade Yachts have been dropped off slings, fallen off a trailer at highway speed, and submerged in a mudslide, and suffered little consequential damage. Many Cascade hulls were sold in various stages of completion for owners to finish the interiors. In 1989 the company's assets were sold to a new owner who continued production under the name Cascade Yachts. In 2007 the company was sold to Russell Mead and moved to Warrenton, Oregon.