Description
The Glastron Alpha, a pioneering 15-foot fiberglass daysailer introduced by the innovative Texas-based boatbuilder Glastron in the early 1970s (with production spanning ~1970–1975 and fewer than 100 hulls built), stands as a rare footnote in the company's powerboat-dominated legacy, blending Sunfish-like simplicity with enhanced stability and speed for solo or tandem coastal racing and instruction in bays, lakes, or Gulf waters. Measuring 15 feet LOA with a 5-foot beam and 6-inch draft (centerboard up; 3 feet down with minimal lead ballast for a featherweight 225-pound displacement), it features a hard-chine hull for early planning and a lateen rig (triangular mainsail ~85 square feet on a single curved aluminum spar, SA/D ~25 for zippy acceleration to 8–10 knots reaching in 10–15 knots breeze) with a pivoting centerboard and kick-up rudder for beaching or gunkholing. Hand-laid solid fiberglass construction emphasizes durability and low maintenance, with a self-bailing cockpit seating 2–3, hiking straps, and optional oarlocks for rowing; no cabin or auxiliary power was standard, underscoring its pure sailing ethos, though some owners added a small outboard bracket. Hailed as "Sunfish on steroids" for its forgiving helm and responsive tacks, the Alpha thrived in Texas yacht club fleets but faded as Glastron pivoted to runabouts.
