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The history
of McLaughlin Boat Works (MBW) dates back to the 1960’s
in San Diego California with two passionate sailors, Earl Elms
and Herb Shear. Operating under the name Chubasco (storm on the
water), Elms and Shear designed the original Snipe mold used to
build the famous McLaughlin Snipes that dominated the World Championships
for over 30 years.
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Eventually, California
Snipe sailor and veteran boat builder Mike McLaughlin, who had
worked at Chubasco most of his life, purchased the Snipe molds
and moved the operation to Tennessee in response to the relocation
of the International Snipe Headquarters to Chattanooga. Mike McLaughlin
further expanded the company's success and helped distribute the
McLaughlin Snipe on a worldwide spectrum.
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Steve Sherman,
Indiana lake sailor, and father of three boys (two of whom presently
work at McLaughlin) purchased the company from Mike McLaughlin
in ‘86. Thus began the materialization of his life long
dream of contributing to the sport of sailing and in particular
the Snipe class.
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Steve's
commitment to innovation and continual improvement combined with
his natural curiosity and "hands on" approach led the company
to successes in many classes. At one time the company built the
Lightning, Day Sailor, Windmill, Highlander, Thistle and Tanzer
16. MBW has always taken pride in pushing the forefront of foam/composite
technology, such as being one of the first, outside of the aerospace
industry, to use a vacuum bag in performance sail craft back in
the early 1980's. That history of innovation and continual improvement
are evident today in our new dust and climate controlled production
facility
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in 1990, at the request of families from the St. Petersburg Yacht
Club, Mclaughlin began a new tradition building its first International
Optimist Dinghy. Today, Mclaughlin specializes in the Optimist
and has become one of the leading manufacturers in the World.
As Steve Sherman puts
it, "the Optimist is the single most important element in keeping
sailing alive and healthy in the world today.
From the tens of thousands of children that learn to sail
each year around the world will come the sailors, Olympians, instructors,
coaches and commodores of tomorrow's society. My dream of contributing
to sailing has come true by a hundred fold."
Over the last 10 years,
MBW has also built a strong financial foundation by diversifying
into other product lines that require upper end fiberglass work.
These include architectural ceiling domes, play ground
equipment, enclosures for hospital diagnostic and computer controls,and
industrial robots.
Holding true to the original ideas of Elms and Shear, MBW continues
as a business run by sailors for the benefit of sailors. You cannot
build a successful company without good people. MBW has assembled
a group of like-minded sailors who believe that if you provide the
finest in customer service and the best product money can buy the
rest will take care of itself. This is why MBW is the premiere partner
with the United States Optimist Dinghy class organization (USODA)
and supporter of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA). |
Steve Sherman, owner and head engineer from
McLaughlin Boat Works, working with Luis Horta, IODA Chief Measurer.
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Spencer Wiberley, Tom Coleman, and Steve
Sherman posing with the 2500th IOD95 hull built at McLaughlin.
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