Catalina History
 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 born 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
- June
2004 - First Catalina 22 Sport arrives in Australia.
|
