Catalina Yachts Sold

A statement released at the end of April announced that Catalina Yachts, an iconic American sailboat builder, along with its sister powerboat brand True North Yachts, has been acquired by Michael Reardon, founder and CEO of Daedalus Yachts.

Patrick Turner, the president of Catalina Yachts, said, “For over 50 years, Catalina Yachts has been a name synonymous with quality, performance, and integrity. Michael Reardon shares those values, and we are confident he will honor the history of our brands while guiding them into a strong and sustainable future.”

Catalina will continue to be based in Largo, Florida, and Reardon has pledged to retain the existing workforce. He promises that current and prospective owners should expect no breaks in service. Beyond that, the world is wide open for where Catalina is headed next.

The Catalina brand is known for its practical, cruiser-forward designs that shun fads, but Reardon’s Daedalus Yachts represents something quite different. Based in North Carolina, Daedalus specializes in high performance, carbon fiber, luxury catamarans of tomorrow, with electric propulsion powered by solar panels, wind power, and an onboard hydrogen generator. According to Daedalus, its hydrogen generators will split water molecules to isolate the hydrogen, where will then be stored in tanks. When needed to supplement the solar and wind power, the stored hydrogen will then be used in a chemical reaction to generate current to recharge the batteries.

As of press time, Daedalus has yet to launch a complete yacht, but it currently has several in the works, including the 100-foot D100. Will classic Catalinas start carrying space-age technology like onboard hydrogen generators, or will they stay grounded in their roots under this new ownership? Only time will tell. But for American sailors invested in the future of American-built sailboats, this change is certainly one to watch for at your next boat show.