Eric Hall was the middle brother between Ned and Ben.  Like Ben, he attended Deerfield Academy.  In the summers he worked on hydro-foiling boats with Bill Carl’s Dynamic Developments, Inc.  Young Eric was inspired by the hydro concept and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Michigan.

His first job after college was working for Northrop Grumman on the post-Apollo Program and jet designs using composite skins with titanium frames.  For the next few years he worked for naval architect Britton Chance, Jr. on rig and deck plans for offshore yachts and 12 Meters.  Next, he worked for a German mast manufacturer and later Schaerfer Marine.  Eric Hall patented several innovative rig components at Schaerfer, including the spreader bar tang, the internal rig for rod rigging and a gooseneck for dinghy booms.  One of his designs was used by a World Champion 505 crew.

In 1980, Eric founded Hall Spars based in Rhode Island.  At the time, he picked up work around the America’s Cup.  When Ted Turner’s mast broke on Courageous in 1980, Hall was commissioned to help prepare an alternate mast.  In 1983, he made a set of spreader extrusions for Australia II.  Eric’s time at Grumman inspired autoclave composite curing for Hall Spars.  The process was used to make a spar for the maxi yacht Boomerang and rig components for the J Class, Endeavour.

Naval architects, yacht builders, professional sailors and owners recognized the innovative work of Hall Spars, and the company grew.  Eric’s brother Ben joined the company in 1984. The company pioneered the use of oven cured prepreg technology and built a suitable factor to manufacture spars.  A few of the innovations include Mastheads, Tangs, Spreaders, fittings, Goosenecks, Hydraulic mast steps, solid boom vang, auto-locks, SCR Carbon Rigging, round rigging manufacturing and Airfoil Rigging.

Hall Spars made the mast for America3 for the 1992 America’s Cup in San Diego.  Partners and employees of note who worked with the Hall brothers were Phil Garland, Scott Ferguson (currently leading the design team for American Magic) and America’s Cup Hall of Famer, Dirk Kramers.  Mast orders for maxi yachts, including Morning Glory and Windquest, soon followed.  Hall Spars also provided the rig for Alinghi, winner of the 2003 America’s Cup.

Eric has been a prolific writing for Sail Magazine, Yacht Racing, Yachting World, Seahorse and other publications.  His detailed narratives are well-written and have served as the basis for many speaking events.  He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Herreshoff Marine Museum for many years.   Lately, he has been racing a L. Francis Herreshoff designed 28-foot, centerboard sloop on Narraganset Bay often with veteran America’s Cup sailors as crew.  His boat, Blackwing is usually at the front of the fleet.

~ Gary Jobson