Alsberg Brothers Boatworks
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Boat building |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Terry Alsberg, Peter Alsberg |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Santa Cruz, California , United States |
| Products | Fiberglass racing sailboats (Express 27, Express 34, Express 37) |
Alsberg Brothers Boatworks was a U.S.-based boat builder located in Santa Cruz, California, known for its expertise in designing and producing fiberglass racing sailboats. Established in 1982 by siblings Terry and Peter Alsberg, the firm operated until 1988. Prior to founding the company, Terry Alsberg gained experience with Moore Sailboats.
The enterprise was initiated by the Alsberg brothers to manufacture the Express 27, one of the pioneering sailboats crafted using the vacuum bag moulding technique. This model, created by Carl Schumacher, was aimed at the ultralight racing segment and competed against boats such as the Moore 24 and Olson 30. Unlike earlier vessels that performed well downwind but were less effective upwind, the Express 27 offered balanced capabilities in various sailing conditions. The design proved commercially successful, with a total of 117 units produced.
In a 1985 Latitude 38 interview, Schumacher explained their design objectives: "Terry and I sought to develop a boat as light as a Moore 24 but extended by two feet, ultimately choosing a length of 27 feet to fit a single-speed (Barient 10) jib winch."
Following this achievement, Alsberg Brothers broadened their product range by introducing two larger Schumacher-designed models—the Express 34 and Express 37—which were developed as advanced iterations of the Express 27 design.
Although the company completed 210 boats over six years, it discontinued operations in 1988 due to economic downturns in the early 1980s U.S. recessions and difficulties with pricing strategy. Founder Terry Alsberg reflected on this challenge: "We had been constructing custom boats but pricing them as production models," which impacted financial sustainability.
Boats
Overview of vessels produced by Alsberg Brothers Boatworks:
- Express 27 – 117 units manufactured
- Express 34 – 28 units manufactured
- Express 37 – 65 units manufactured