American Fiberglass Corporation, originally based in Norwalk, CT USA, was the builder of the AQUA CAT catamaran, one of the most successful small boats of it's day. The AQUA CAT, because of it's ingenuity of design, it's exciting performance and reasonable cost, brought large numbers of people to the sport of sailing who may never have had inclination or means do so.\r\n\r\nThe company began with Art Javes, the boats designer, and Billy Mills, whose faith in the project, provided the financing that allowed it to go forward.\r\nIn 1962, Mills offered to invest $200,000 for a 75 percent stake.\r\nHe said his goal was to sell the business in 10 years for $1 million. Nine years, 11 months and 14 days later, the company was sold for $1.5 million. \r\n\r\nDuring that time, about 1,000 AQUA CATS were built a year.\r\nIt is thought that nearly 25,000 AQUA CATs have been sold. \r\n\r\nThe Aqua Cat was the first boat that Hobie Alter sailed before he brought out his own line of catamarans in the late 1960's. Art Javes said of Alter. "I met him at a boat show in Anaheim, California. He had the neighboring booth, selling his surfboards. I introduced him to the AQUA CAT. A while later he called me and said, ‘You’re going to hate me,’ and said he was going into the catamaran business. I said I didn’t mind. Having another catamaran around would only help people get the idea that sitting on a boat is better than sitting in it." \r\n\r\nAmerican Fiberglass became a division of General Recreation Corp. \r\nIn 1976, David Stanton, who had been president of the company, purchased some of the assetts to form American Sail, Inc.\r\n\r\nAmerican Sail Inc. (See our <A HREF="https://sailboatdata.com/builder/american-sail-inc-usa">Builders Page</A>)\r\n7350 Pepperdam Avenue\r\nCharleston SC 29418