When did fiberglass boat building begin?

Fiberglass boat building began in earnest after World War II. The advancements in materials and manufacturing processes that emerged during the war, particularly in the use of fiberglass reinforced plastics, made these materials more widely available and economically feasible for boat building. The post-war period saw a growing interest in recreational boating, which spurred production and innovation in boat designs.

Prior to World War II, materials such as wood and metal were predominantly used for boat construction. While there were some experimental uses of fiberglass before the war, it wasn't until the post-war era that fiberglass became a mainstream material in the industry, leading to its widespread adoption in the 1950s and beyond.

The 1950s marked the beginning of a fiberglass revolution in boat building, with manufacturers leveraging this lightweight, durable material to create a variety of boat types, resulting in increased production rates and lower costs. This trend established fiberglass as a dominant material in the marine industry, a status it maintains to this day.