Charley Morgan
Encyclopedia
Charley Morgan is an American sailboat racer and designer. He is best known as the founder of Morgan Yachts.
He was born in Chicago in 1929 and raised in Florida. When he was 17, Morgan built the yacht Brisote and completed a St. Petersburg, Florida to Havana, Cuba race with Bruce Bidwell. Morgan attended the University of Tampa
and took a job with Johnson sails. In 1952 he founded Morgan Racing Sails in Tampa, FL. While making sails Morgan met yacht designer George Luzier, who got him interested in designing boats.
In 1957, Morgan, along with Charlie Hunt, designed and built Brisote, a 31 foot plywood yawl
.
After successfully appealing disqualification due to a lack of engine, he entered the Havana race and took second in Brisote's division. In 1960 Jack Powell commissioned Morgan to build the 40 foot centerboard fiberglass yawl
Paper Tiger.. The "famously successful" Paper Tiger won the SORC Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1961 and 1962.
Unable to find a builder to manufacture the Tiger Cub, a smaller version of Paper Tiger, Morgan founded the Morgan Yacht Corporation in 1962. Morgan suffered the misfortune of falling ill with tuberculosis, delaying production. Morgan asked Bidwell to join the business, delivering the first yacht in 1965. Early models included the Tiger Cub and fiberglass sloop Morgan 34. The company grossed 1.7 million in 1965.
Ownership of Morgan Yacht was sold to Beatrice Foods
in 1968, providing funds for Morgan to design and build the wooden 12-meter yacht Heritage to compete for selection as defender of the America's Cup
. Morgan acted as skipper during the defender selection trials but lost to Intrepid
.
In response to customer feedback while operating Morgan Yacht, Morgan designed the shallow draft Morgan Out Island 41, "the most popular boat over 40 feet overall ever built.". First built in 1971 the spacious boat became popular with charter companies, becoming "the standard charter boat.".
Morgan left Morgan Yachts in 1972. Beatrice Foods
sold the company to Catalina Yachts
in 1984 and sold a redesigned Morgan Out Island 41 from 1986 to 1993.
Morgan found Heritage Yacht Corporation in 1975, producing trawlers and sailing yachts. The company was forced into bankruptcy and
ownership transferred to Catalina Yachts
. He later worked for Chris-Craft
, doing design work on their trawler line.
He was born in Chicago in 1929 and raised in Florida. When he was 17, Morgan built the yacht Brisote and completed a St. Petersburg, Florida to Havana, Cuba race with Bruce Bidwell. Morgan attended the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
and took a job with Johnson sails. In 1952 he founded Morgan Racing Sails in Tampa, FL. While making sails Morgan met yacht designer George Luzier, who got him interested in designing boats.
In 1957, Morgan, along with Charlie Hunt, designed and built Brisote, a 31 foot plywood yawl
Yawl
A yawl is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an additional mast located well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom, specifically aft of the rudder post. A yawl (from Dutch Jol) is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an...
.
After successfully appealing disqualification due to a lack of engine, he entered the Havana race and took second in Brisote's division. In 1960 Jack Powell commissioned Morgan to build the 40 foot centerboard fiberglass yawl
Yawl
A yawl is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an additional mast located well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom, specifically aft of the rudder post. A yawl (from Dutch Jol) is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an...
Paper Tiger.. The "famously successful" Paper Tiger won the SORC Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1961 and 1962.
Unable to find a builder to manufacture the Tiger Cub, a smaller version of Paper Tiger, Morgan founded the Morgan Yacht Corporation in 1962. Morgan suffered the misfortune of falling ill with tuberculosis, delaying production. Morgan asked Bidwell to join the business, delivering the first yacht in 1965. Early models included the Tiger Cub and fiberglass sloop Morgan 34. The company grossed 1.7 million in 1965.
Ownership of Morgan Yacht was sold to Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods Company was a major American food processing company. In 1987, its smaller international food operations were sold to Reginald Lewis, a corporate attorney creating TLC Beatrice International, after which the majority of its domestic brands and assets were acquired by Kohlberg,...
in 1968, providing funds for Morgan to design and build the wooden 12-meter yacht Heritage to compete for selection as defender of the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
. Morgan acted as skipper during the defender selection trials but lost to Intrepid
Intrepid (yacht)
The Intrepid is a 12-metre class yacht which won the America's Cup in 1967 and again in 1970.-Design:Intrepid was designed by Olin Stephens, and was built of double-planked mahogany on white oak frames. She featured important innovations both above and below the waterline. The rudder was separated...
.
In response to customer feedback while operating Morgan Yacht, Morgan designed the shallow draft Morgan Out Island 41, "the most popular boat over 40 feet overall ever built.". First built in 1971 the spacious boat became popular with charter companies, becoming "the standard charter boat.".
Morgan left Morgan Yachts in 1972. Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods Company was a major American food processing company. In 1987, its smaller international food operations were sold to Reginald Lewis, a corporate attorney creating TLC Beatrice International, after which the majority of its domestic brands and assets were acquired by Kohlberg,...
sold the company to Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts is a U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from eight to 47 feet in length. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, California by Frank Butler .-History:...
in 1984 and sold a redesigned Morgan Out Island 41 from 1986 to 1993.
Morgan found Heritage Yacht Corporation in 1975, producing trawlers and sailing yachts. The company was forced into bankruptcy and
ownership transferred to Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts is a U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from eight to 47 feet in length. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, California by Frank Butler .-History:...
. He later worked for Chris-Craft
Chris-Craft
For the NASA flight director, see Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.Chris-Craft, Inc. is a privately held American manufacturer of civilian powerboats based in Sarasota, Florida...
, doing design work on their trawler line.