American Boat Building

The American Boat Building Co. was a modest, family-oriented fiberglass boat manufacturer based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, operating during the late 1950s as part of the burgeoning post-war recreational boating boom in New England. Founded around 1957–1958, the company focused on producing affordable, seaworthy sailboats for the growing middle-class market, drawing on the region's rich maritime heritage and proximity to naval architect Carl Alberg. At the time, East Greenwich was a hub for small boatyards, and American Boat Building specialized in trailerable cruisers and daysailers, emphasizing durable construction and classic lines over high-volume output. The company is best remembered today as the original builder of the iconic Sea Sprite 23, a design that helped launch Alberg's reputation for practical, no-nonsense yachts. However, like many small yards of the era, it struggled with competition from larger firms like Pearson Yachts and dissolved in the early 1960s (around 1961–1963), passing its molds and designs to successors that extended the Sea Sprite's legacy for over two decades.