Lockley Newport Boats

Lockley Newport Boats, originally founded as Newport Boats in 1964 in Newport Beach, California, emerged as a prominent American manufacturer of affordable fiberglass sailboats, specializing in sailing dinghies, small daysailers, and trailerable cruisers designed for budget-conscious recreational sailors. The company quickly expanded operations with an East Coast factory in Gloucester, Virginia, to better serve national markets, and its lineup included popular models like the Newport 17, Nauset 17, and larger designs such as the Gloucester 22 and LN-23. Acquired successively by Browning Arms Company and Elgin International in the early 1970s, it underwent a final ownership change in 1976 when Lockley Manufacturing took over, prompting a rebranding to Lockley Newport Boats; however, despite its reputation for accessible, no-frills vessels that prioritized value over luxury—often critiqued for "so-so" construction quality in later reviews—the firm ceased operations in 1988, with some molds later revived by Classic Yachts until 2000, leaving a legacy of entry-level boating that democratized sailing for generations.