Columbia 50 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Columbia 50, introduced in late 1965, was a watershed moment in American yacht building, marking the arrival of the first large-scale production fiberglass sailing yacht. Designed by the legendary William H. Tripp Jr., this 50-foot vessel was built by the Columbia Yacht Corporation during an era when wood was still the primary material for yachts of this stature. Its debut signaled a shift in the industry, proving that fiberglass could provide the strength and luxury of custom builds at a production scale. As noted by the Columbia Yachts historical archive, the boat was often cited as the flagship of the line, combining a high-performance underbody with what was considered at the time to be the height of offshore luxury. Over its production life, which extended into the early 1970s (with later kit versions built through the early 1980s), approximately 60 hulls were completed, primarily at the company’s California facility.