Catalina Sailboats

Catalina

An American yard with a feel for lasting trends

Catalina Yachts was founded in 1970; its first big hit was the Catalina 22, the first example of which, according to the yard's own history, was built back in July 1969 in North Hollywood. The company's story is closely tied to its founder, Frank Butler. The direction was clear from the outset: affordable, efficient cruising boats for a broad sailing market – not elitist exotics, but boats for the many.

Catalina 22: a small boat that became a big deal

The model that really opened doors for the brand was the Catalina 22. It became a mass-market success: the class association cites more than 15,000 examples built. That says a lot about how the yard sees itself – Catalina could handle large production runs, yet not as faceless mass-produced goods, but as a very American blend of accessibility, ruggedness and practical value. Within the scene, the 22 still stands for exactly that today.

Real cruisers instead of show boats

What has made Catalina strong over the decades is less an avant-garde design language than the ability to build genuinely usable cruising yachts for active owners. The magazine Cruising World called the Catalina 425 a very modern example of a classic cruiser, highlighting its value, integrity and clearly practical approach. That is exactly how Catalinas are often perceived: not slick, but coherent; not flamboyant, but sensible. Descriptions that go down better in the cruising scene than many people think.

A lot of boat for the money

This reputation extends to the larger models as well. The Catalina 355 won several awards in the cruiser category at Cruising World; praise went to its build quality, well-thought-out details, comfort and strong value for money. Later assessments of larger models also emphasized the practical solutions for everyday life on board.

Sailing yachts at the core, powerboats only around the brand

Historically, Catalina itself clearly stands for sailing yachts. That said, powerboats do appear within the company's orbit: today's website lists the True North 34 Outboard Express as a Catalina product, while the separate brand True North by Catalina is also active. To be precise: Catalina is first and foremost a sailboat builder; powerboats within the current group of brands fall under True North rather than forming a classic Catalina yacht line.

The situation today: brand online, production uncertain

The official Catalina website is still online, lists Largo in Florida as its address, shows current content and carries a copyright notice for 2026. At the same time, several industry media outlets have been reporting a production halt following a takeover since October 2025. In early January 2026, further reports stated that Catalina had lost the plant in Largo and effectively closed its doors. That makes the brand interesting above all for the used boat market. Whether Catalina is still operating normally as a boatbuilding yard, however, is at least doubtful as things stand today (May 2026).

Why Catalina remains relevant on the used market anyway

Wide availability, large numbers of units built, strong community structures and a long history keep models such as the Catalina 22, 27, 355, 425 or 445 attractive. These boats don't serve a fashionable niche segment, but a remarkably stable demand: simple sailing, without much fuss.

Models:

Catalina stands – or stood – for an unusually broad world of American cruising yachts: small trailerable boats and Daysailers, classic family cruisers and larger yachts for longer passages. If you're looking for a used boat that sensibly combines living comfort, solid construction and uncomplicated sailing, you'll quickly find very dependable options from Catalina. The brand is especially interesting for sailors who aren't after the spectacular, but the enduring.