Awlgrip® will start a year-long celebration of its 40th Anniversary at the upcoming Miami International Boat Show (booth M69, Miami Beach Convention Center) as well as the next Yacht and Brokerage Show in Miami Beach (Yacht Pavilion 74-75, Collins Avenue). The events will run from February 14 to 18.

Awlgrip finished 100-metre mega yacht Attessa IV (ex Evergreen Yacht)

The company was born out of humble beginnings in 1973, when an as yet un-named topside paint was used on the boat owned by the father of Awlgrip founding member David Halcomb.

The first big break came the following summer, when Halcomb managed to get eventual America’s Cup Winner, Courageous yacht, and her tender painted completely with Awlgrip. During that summer of 1974, Awlgrip caught a buzz in Newport, RI, where the Cup races were being held and the phrase “get your boat Awlgripped” was coined.

Luxury superyacht Black Pearl featuring Awlgrip paint system

The now-familiar Awlgrip brand grew from there, with the help of innovative products such as the repairable Awlcraft 2000 topcoat, 545 Epoxy primer and the Awlfair filler range.

Awlgrip was purchased by Akzo Nobel in May 2002 and integrated into a company that is strongly focused on its yacht coatings division and has greatly boosted the resources available, especially in the critical area of R&D. Today, the Awlgrip brand is an undisputed world leader in the yacht professional topsides segment. The company has worked on such outstanding vessels as the 100-metre superyacht Attessa IV (ex Evergreen Yacht), as well as the 31-metre motor yacht Black Pearl.