Catalina Yachts website is gone?

[dlochner]

Here's another article on Catalina.

Catalina Yachts To Restart Production in the U.S.

Shut Down and Evicted in October 2025

open.substack.com

 

[shemandr]

It gets interestinger and interestinger. It does appear that C&T Composites is swooping in - for what? The assets are dwindling and the liabilities are growing. Yet they are there in Largo. How long? Is this new investment money?
Maybe C&T can now lease the factory, lose the liability for the un delivered boats, warranty obligations, bring back workers and start production of what? But it sounds like putting Humpty Dumpty back together to me. They are either dreamers or sharks. I can't tell.

 

[Stu Jackson]

They are either dreamers or sharks. I can't tell.

The shark was Reardon. based on earlier reports, he is tied up in lawsuits in Florida with the remainders of the former ownership, which IIRC were the family.

These new CT guys may well be dreamers, led by former President Patrick Turner.

The key issue, in addition to the logical ones, would be to assemble the talent that was dispersed when things closed down last year. Either they got new jobs (within or outside boating) or retired.

The video that I think was earlier posted here explained how Frank Butler improved boatbuilding when he started Catalina Yachts after his stint at Coronado.

Click on the Watch on YouTube if the video doesn't pop up.

 

[shemandr]

I watched the video. It was impressive with regard to the Butler/Catalina story. It’s a shame that the legacy was ruined by some bad decisions. I won’t point my finger because there’s much I don’t know. But mistakes were made.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It’s a shame that the legacy was ruined by some bad decisions. I won’t point my finger because there’s much I don’t know. But mistakes were made.

I've respected your contributions for many years, but this wasn't one of them.

Let's get real. Frank DID have a succession plan: to Gerry and Sharon and then to his family. Gerry and Sharon, after a few years, decided to retire. Gee, why not? The family, uninterested in boat stuff, decided to sell. The shark, Reardon, swooped in and screwed them Facts, not conjecture, it's in the court now.

No one ruined legacy. The legacy remains.

It remains one of the best boat building stories that enabled most of us, if not all of those reading this forum, to even have a bloody boat.

If there's anything you don't know, I'm sure we can help if you could be more specific. Really.

 

[shemandr]

I regret that my post induced anger.
Maybe it was a miss. Sometimes I post to keep the conversation lively. I guess that sometimes that doesn't go over.