CM23 Twin Keel

Hello Gary Have found ton of info. on the Swing keel but none on the twin keel. Help Thanks Rich

The twin keel was a low production sailboat for Clipper Marine. Records indicate a likely number to be 79 total in the USA plant. Maybe a few more in Mexico and even Canada. Records are pretty much non-existant on this model. The abrupt and aquard way Clipper Marine stoped producing made for little reference material today.

Your pics on another message board of the red CM23 are among the very few posted on the internet that remain. That site flushes pics after so long and they get distroid. Shame.

Post them here, and we will try to safeguard them.

Wish i knew more.

Why Crealock let CM name different models, the same name is beyond me. Same thing happened to the 32's. Different boats, same name. Jist dumb. History would hold less secrets if everything had a distinct name.

It appears CM made at least three completely different sailbosts, calling them all CM23. Not good for those of us sorting out the mess.

There was a full page posting for the CM23 in the 1987 Sailboat and Equipment Directory. It was manufactured in Canada by Sawyer Marine. Don't know if any actually were built.

Could you get us a scan of that?

Scanned form the 1987 Sailboat and Equipment Directory

Thanks for this is the first time I have seen a true scan of my sailboat. Every thing is in the right place. Thanks for the time you spent and hope everyone a happy and safe NEW YEAR. Rich

RJM wrote:

Scanned form the 1987 Sailboat and Equipment Directory

For your help, I pronounce you Member Of The Month!

Thanks. I may try to get a cleaner copy sent tomorrow if we get snowed in as expected here in Indy. I still remember getting a thrill when I first came across that posting back in 1987. I paged through the rest of the magazine hoping to see if any of the other molds were brought back from the dead. I was a dealer for CM for about 45 days back in the mid 70's. I borrowed $10,000 and ordered a 21 and a 26 to use as floor models. Within three weeks of the expected shipping date from El Paso, they called and wanted me to order several more boats to sell on speculation. I got scared and bailed out feeling I had bit off more then I could chew. They were kind enough to return my money. They were good people to work with. I used the money to buy 5 acres to put our trailer on. Kids starting popping out of my wife so quick after that, selling sailboats was quickly out of the picture. I did buy a 73 flush deck 26 in 87 that I sailed for 8 years. Clipper's will always have a special place in my heart.

RJM wrote:

Thanks. I may try to get a cleaner copy sent tomorrow if we get snowed in as expected here in Indy. I still remember getting a thrill when I first came across that posting back in 1987. I paged through the rest of the magazine hoping to see if any of the other molds were brought back from the dead. I was a dealer for CM for about 45 days back in the mid 70's. I borrowed $10,000 and ordered a 21 and a 26 to use as floor models. Within three weeks of the expected shipping date from El Paso, they called and wanted me to order several more boats to sell on speculation. I got scared and bailed out feeling I had bit off more then I could chew. They were kind enough to return my money. They were good people to work with. I used the money to buy 5 acres to put our trailer on. Kids starting popping out of my wife so quick after that, selling sailboats was quickly out of the picture. I did buy a 73 flush deck 26 in 87 that I sailed for 8 years. Clipper's will always have a special place in my heart.

Fascinating encounter !



So if you had taken delivery of the two, and increased your order to 4, the company would have flourished, and possibly be making CM50's today, sold all over the world.

By your getting that refund, checks bounced, pockets emptied, and they folded. You are responsible for the demise of Clipper Marine. lol



Or maybe not.

Great story, thanks for contributing it.

LOL. I did think it a little strange at the time that they wanted me to take delivery of the 26 with a used trailer. At the time of their demise, there were 3 unsubstantiated rumors as to what happened that lead to their disappearance form the market:1). The owner took off with the payroll. 2) After repeated violations for using undocumented aliens in Santa Anna, the feds closed them down. 3). 70% of all sailboat manufacturers folded in the late 70's because the market was saturated and skyrocketing fiberglass prices, government regulations and interest rates above 20%. I tend to go with number 3. Cheers...

21% interest rates killed lots of stuff