The sudden shutdown of Catalina Yachts has hundreds of Cat owners across Maine dumbfounded – and worried.
The sailboat manufacturer – once considered the largest such business in the world – announced last week it was closing “temporarily” amid a boardroom battle.
Florida Catalina President Patrick Turner announced the main factory was going dark til further notice.
The shutdown comes amid a company reorganization following its purchase by renowned yacht dealer Michael Reardon, who allegedly has reneged on the sale.
Reardon had also promised to buy Catalina’s sister company, True North Powerboats, known for their Downeast-style vessels – favorites of fishermen and recreationists.
But the business deal is now apparently becalmed, throwing into uncertainty for Maine boaters and fishermen Reardon’s corporate future.
A Florida court last week evicted Reardon from Catalina’s manufacturing plant.
The company’s sailboats are a staple among recreational sailors nationwide, the most common boats plying the Maine coast and the state’s inland waters.
“Catalina sailboats are one of the most popular sailboats in Maine,” veteran sailor and attorney Neal Weinstein of Old Orchard Beach told The Maine Wire. “There are hundreds of Catalina owners throughout the state, from lakes to the ocean, as they make boats from 12.5 to 44 feet.”
A key question among Cat owners is whether they will be able to maintain their boats since parts will be hard if not impossible to get.
Turner insisted that “pending orders” will be honored, but boaters are leery – and fear new orders will be spiked.
“I’m absolutely shocked that we aren’t talking more about this major announcement,” Ken Bauer of Catalina Sailboat Owners Association said Saturday.
In his statement Saturday, Turner tried to downplay the alleged bleak outlook.
“All existing boat orders remain in place and will be fulfilled,” he said. “Our dealer network remains available to assist with sales, service, and warranty matters.”
Catalinas are popular partly because they are considered everyman’s boat.
“Catalina was the first or entrée sailboat for many people as Catalina was affordable and produced sailboats of smaller sizes,” Weinstein said. “If Catalina goes out of business, it’s kind of like GM shutting down, and will leave a void.”
Reardon, founder of Daedalus Yachts of North Carolina, acquired Catalina six months ago.
He also acquired sister company True North in the same deal, as well as Tartan Yachts, Freedom Yachts and AMP Carbon Spars, making him America’s largest recreational yacht builder.
Catalina was founded in 1970 by Frank Butler, with the first model being the Cat 22, quickly followed by the Cat 27.
“Butler arguably got more people out sailing, racing and cruising than any other North American,” says George Day of BlueWaterSailing com. “His boats were and are solid, handsome, practical cruisers that represent excellent quality and long-term value.”
Catalina acquired True North in 2019, marking its entry into the Downeast-style powerboat market.
