A message from
Frank Butler - President of Catalina Yachts
When I founded Catalina Yachts in 1970, my
goal was not to become the largest sailboat builder in the United
States. My goal was, and still is to build good boats that are a
good value for our customers. Accomplishing this requires planning,
efficient manufacturing (a part of the process I particularly enjoy)
and well-designed boats. I believe Catalina's do well in a very
competitive market, because they are the result of listening
carefully to our customers and dealers.
When we design a new boat, we don't try to reinvent the wheel each
time. We incorporate proven features with new ideas and a lot of
boatowners' suggestions. This gives the line continuity, helps us
avoid overly trendy styling, and insures good resale value for
Catalina owners.
At Catalina we are especially proud of having the biggest percentage
of repeat customers in the industry. We are all committed to
maintaining the high level of customer confidence this represents.
The Catalina philosophy means listening to our customers and doing
our best every day. On that promise the Catalina family will
continue to grow.
Thirty-four years of Catalina Yachts
July 1969 -Catalina's
first model, the Catalina 22, is built in North
Hollywood, CA. Company owner Frank Butler hopes to build 100
boats if all goes well.
- March 1970-Catalina's
second model, the Catalina 27, is introduced following the
success of the Catalina 22.
-
December 1974-Catalina's
third model, the Catalina 30, is introduced; the trend-setting
design is an immediate sales success and wins its class in the
Newport to Ensenada Race.
-
February 1975-The
Catalina 22 exceeds Frank Butler's hopes to build 100 boats when
hull number 5,000 is completed.
- August 1979-The
"International Friendship Regatta" is held in Japan; 4 U.S. and
10 Japanese crews compete in Coronado 15s.
- February 1980-SAIL
Magazine names the Catalina 22 trailerable boat of the decade.
- March 1980-The
Catalina 38 is selected as the match-racing boat for
Congressional Cup by the Long Beach Yacht Club; Dennis Durgan
wins.
- September 1980-Catalina
22 hull number 10,000 is completed. C22s are being built at
Catalina's East and West Coast plants in England, Australia, and
Canada.
- 1982 - Catalina
Australia is incorporated with Norman Ambrose appointed sole Catalina
Yachts importer for Australia.
- January 1982-Patrick
Childress completes a 2 1/2 year, single-handed circumnavigation
in his Catalina 27.
- July 1982-The
first Catalina 36 is completed at the Woodland Hills, Ca.,
plant.
- May 1984-Catalina
acquires Morgan Yachts in Largo, Fl., which becomes the Morgan
Division of Catalina, specializing in cruising and charter boats
and building many Catalina models on the East Coast.
- May 1985-Catalina
27 hull number 6,000 is built in Woodland Hills, making the C-27
the largest class of keelboats in the world.
- October 1987-Catalina
30 hull number 5,000 is completed.
- November 1987-Single-handed
sailor Shane St. Clair sails his Capri 18 from Oxnard, Ca., to
Hawaii in 28 days.
- July 1988-Billy
Peterson supervises the installation of the largest (70 ft.)
computerized sail-plotting and cutting machine in the U.S. at
the Woodland Hills, California plant.
- August 1988-Coronado
15 skipper Alison Jolly becomes the first woman to skipper in
the Olympics; she wins a gold medal in the women's 470 Class.
- January 1989-The
first Catalina 42 is built. 100 hulls are delivered in the first
year, breaking U.S. production records.
- February 1990-Catalina
22 hull number 15,000 is delivered.
- March 1990-The
Catalina 37 is selected for the Congressional Cup, the first
time a fleet of 11 has been designed and built especially for
the Congressional Cup. Chris Dickson wins.
- September 1990-Catalina
30 hull number 6,000 is completed, setting a new keel-boat
production record.
- July 1991-The
first Catalina 28 is built.
- August 1991-Catalina's
Morgan Division completes Procyon, a 65-foot test boat for new
concepts in yacht design and construction for Olaf Harken and
Procyon Inc.
- November 1992-Catalina's
Morgan Division introduces the Morgan 38, the first all-new
Morgan model in a decade.
- December 1992-The
Catalina 270 is unveiled, replacing the C-27 and wins one of
Cruising World Magazine's "Boat of the Year" awards.
- February 1993-The
Catalina 320 is introduced at the first "Sail Expo" and is
enthusiastically received by new owners.
- February 1994-The
Catalina 400 is introduced at "Sail Expo",the only twin-wheel
boat built in the U.S.; it's the hit of the show.
- February 1994-The
Capri 16.5 introduced at "Sail Expo",a beach launchable
performance sailing dinghy for sailors with a wide range of ages
and skills.
- May 1994-The
Catalina 250 is introduced as the first water ballast
trailerable sailboat from Catalina.
- 1995 - Catalina
Australia encompasses a complimentary new company for
Sydneysiders looking for quality Catalina Yacht charters called
Ausail Yacht Charters.
- January 1995-Frank
Butler receives SAIL'S Industry Award for Leadership for
building boats that are straightforward, offer price for value,
are solid and honest...With a product analogous to the Ford in
the car business, Catalina Yachts has allowed vast numbers of
people to experience sailing, considering both the skill level
and financial wherewithal of potential sailors, that might not
have been able to otherwise, thus radically changing the sport
of sailing over the past 25 years.
- January 1995-The
Catalina 22 MKII is introduced with re-designed and enlarged
deck and new interior.
- February 1995-The
Catalina 22 is named as one of five charter members to Sailboat
Hall of Fame.
- March 1995-The
Catalina 36 mark II wins one of Cruising World Magazine's "Boat
of the Year" awards.
- April 1995-Catalina
250 Hull number 100 is built in Woodland Hills.
- May 1995-Catalina
42 hull number 500 is built in Woodland Hills.
- February 1996-The
Catalina 34 MKII is introduced with re-designed and enlarged
deck, transom and interior.
- March 1996-The
Catalina 28 mark II wins one of Cruising World Magazine's "Boat
of the Year" awards.
- April 1996-The
Catalina 380 is introduced as reflection of the
priorities expressed by experienced sailing couples and
families.
- November 1996-Catalina
400 Hull number 100 is built in Largo, Florida
- January 1997-The
Catalina 380 wins one of Cruising World Magazine's Mid-Size
Cruising "Boat of the Year" award.
- January 1998-The
Catalina 470 is introduced
- January 1999-
Catalina inaugurates the Catalina Cruisers Hall of Fame to
honour the Catalina owners who have made notable voyages aboard
their boats.
- February 1999-The
Catalina 310 is introduced and wins Cruising World Magazine's
Pocket Cruiser "Boat of the Year" award.
- February 2000-The
Catalina 310 is selected by Sail Magazine and it's readers as
one of the Top 10 sailboats for 2000
- December
2000 -Catalina 36 Hull number 2000 is built in Woodland Hills,
CA
- September 2001-The
Catalina Capri 22 is updated and is selected by Sail Magazine
and it's readers as one of the Top 10 sailboats for 2001
- May 2001 -Catalina 14.2 Hull number 5000 is built in
Woodland Hills, CA
- January 2002-The
Catalina 350 is introduced to enthusiastic reviews and results
in 100 boats sold the first model year.
- July 2002-The
Catalina Expo 12.5 and 14.2 are introduced as particularly easy
to sail for both younger and older sailors.
- September 2002 -Catalina Capri 22 Hull number 1000 is
built in Woodland Hills, CA
- January 2003-The
Catalina 387 is introduced
- July 2004 - Catalina 387 named best mid sized
cruising boat at Sydney Boat Show by Australian Cruising
Helmsmen.
- October 2004 - New Catalina 22 Sport introduced
- November 2004 - New Catalina 440 Morgan introduced