Catalina Yachts, one of America’s most enduring and influential sailboat builders, has announced a temporary pause in production as the company reorganizes key areas of its operation to ensure long-term strength and stability.

In a letter to the Catalina community, company president Patrick Turner shared that the pause is a proactive decision made in response to short-term financial challenges affecting many manufacturers across industries. Rather than compromise on quality or consistency, the builder, after more than five decades of continuous production, has chosen to take what Turner described as a “responsible pause.”

“We have initiated a temporary production pause while we reorganize key areas of our operation,” Turner said. “Like many manufacturers in today’s environment, we are navigating short-term financial challenges. Rather than pushing ahead in a way that could compromise quality or consistency, we have chosen to take a responsible pause while we finalize the support needed to move forward stronger.”

Turner emphasized that the move is about ensuring the long-term health of the brand and its community. “This decision reflects our commitment to Catalina’s long-term health, not just the next boat out of the factory, but the thousands that already exist and the many more still to come,” he said.

According to the announcement, all existing boat orders will be fulfilled, and Catalina’s dealer network remains fully available for sales, service, and warranty support.

“This is not a setback in spirit; it is a reset in structure,” Turner noted. “Catalina has weathered many challenges over the decades, and each one has made us more resilient. This moment will be no different.”

Founded in 1969, Catalina Yachts has become synonymous with durable, attainable, and family-friendly cruising sailboats, with models such as the Catalina 30 and Catalina 425 earning lasting reputations among generations of sailors.

Turner closed his message by reaffirming Catalina’s dedication to its loyal owner base and the broader sailing community. “Catalina has never been just a boatbuilder; it is a family of sailors, dreamers, and doers who believe in adventure and independence,” he said. “That spirit is alive and well.”

He added that the company will continue to share updates as it moves through the reorganization and prepares to return to full production “with renewed strength.”

For more information and updates, visit catalinayachts.com.

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In a landmark move for U.S. recreational boatbuilding, Michael Alexander Reardon—founder of Daedalus Yachts and recent new owner of Catalina Yachts and True North motoryachts—has acquired three additional respected brands: Tartan Yachts, Freedom Yachts, and AMP Carbon Spars, previously under Seattle Yachts.

This acquisition consolidates several key players in American sailing and powerboat production into a single factory network. Tartan and AMP operations remain in Painesville, Ohio, while Freedom joins Catalina Yachts and True North at Catalina’s facility in Largo, Florida. Daedalus Yachts will continue building carbon-fiber super catamarans in Edenton, North Carolina. Each brand will retain its leadership, workforce, and dealer network, with back-office functions centralized across operations.

“Tartan, Freedom, Catalina, and True North each have a proud history and loyal following,” said Michael Reardon. “Together, we have the teams, resources, and shared vision to protect each brand’s legacy while driving innovation for the next generation of boaters.”

Catalina Yachts President Patrick Turner emphasized the opportunity for synergy: “By collaborating across these respected brands, we can invest in innovation and deliver boats that keep people sailing, cruising, and exploring for decades to come.”

The move strengthens America’s domestic boatbuilding landscape and opens the door for new models, refreshed designs, and sustainability initiatives. Expect a focus on reducing CO₂ emissions, sustainable materials, advanced composites, and alternative propulsion approaches.

Why This Matters

• Consolidation of Icons: Tartan, Freedom, Catalina, and True North now sit under one umbrella, creating the largest U.S. recreational yacht builder.
  
• Legacy Protection: Each brand keeps its leadership, dealer networks, and heritage, ensuring loyal owners aren’t left adrift.
  
• Innovation Potential: Shared resources mean more investment in design updates, new models, and advanced construction techniques.
  
• Sustainability Push: Expect a greater emphasis on carbon-fiber composites, reduced emissions, and alternative propulsion systems.
  
• Stronger U.S. Boatbuilding: With facilities in Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina, the group is reinforcing America’s domestic marine industry.

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Catalina Yachts has announced its most ambitious project yet: the Catalina 48, a new flagship cruiser born from a design collaboration with Tripp Design Naval Architecture. As Catalina’s first-ever production 48-footer, the yacht represents more than just a model launch. For many, it signals a shift in how America’s largest sailboat builder sees its future.

For more than half a century, Catalina has earned a reputation for building strong, simple, and affordable boats that carry families on their first daysails, extended coastal adventures, and full-blown liveaboard voyages. With the Catalina 48, the company aims to evolve that legacy while staying rooted in the values that made it a household name.

“This is not just a new boat. It’s the beginning of something bigger,” said Patrick Turner, president of Catalina Yachts. “The Catalina 48 brings together the best of who we’ve been and where we’re going. It’s American luxury, redefined for the sea.”

The yacht will feature sleek lines, expansive accommodations, and a deck layout shaped by both function and comfort. Tripp Design—celebrated globally for creating elegant, seaworthy yachts—has brought a fresh design language to the project. The partnership introduces a new dimension to Catalina’s range, one that emphasizes modern styling while keeping practical cruising needs at the forefront.

“We’re thrilled to bring a new voice to a brand with such a storied legacy,” said Bill Tripp, principal of Tripp Design. “There’s an authenticity in Catalina’s approach that aligns perfectly with our philosophy—beautiful, honest boats built for people who love to sail.”

Details of the Catalina 48’s interior are still unfolding, but the builder emphasizes generous living spaces, warm finishes, and thoughtful ergonomics intended to make long-term cruising more comfortable. Above deck, sailors can expect a cockpit engineered for handling ease and confidence underway.

As the first of several new-generation models now on the drawing board, the Catalina 48 marks a turning point for the builder. It’s American-designed, American-built, and a proud signal that Catalina is ready to shape the next era of cruising under sail.

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In a move that signals both continuity and transformation in American yacht manufacturing, Catalina Yachts and its sister company, True North Yachts, have been acquired by Michael Reardon, founder and CEO of Daedalus Yachts. The acquisition, announced April 30, marks a significant new chapter for two of the most respected names in U.S. boatbuilding.

With more than five decades of heritage and hundreds of thousands of boats on the water, Catalina Yachts has long been synonymous with quality, performance, and integrity. Now, with Reardon at the helm, the storied brand—and the Downeast-style True North powerboat line—are poised to evolve under a new but deeply aligned vision.

“For over 50 years, Catalina has stood for accessible, well-built boats that deliver real sailing pleasure,” said Patrick Turner, Catalina’s longtime president. “Michael Reardon shares those values, and we’re confident he’ll carry them forward while positioning the brand for the future.”

Reardon, who launched Daedalus Yachts with a focus on sustainable, performance-driven sailing craft, brings a modern sensibility rooted in innovation and environmental responsibility. His acquisition of Catalina and True North reflects a commitment not just to legacy, but to growth—through design, manufacturing, and investment in people.

“We’re not just preserving the legacy—we’re building upon it,” said Reardon. “Catalina and True North are iconic American brands. I’m honored to lead them into the next era of growth and innovation.”

Both companies will continue operations from their current base in Largo, Florida, and Reardon has pledged to retain the existing workforce and dealer network, while investing in new model development across both lines.

The transition also carries a strong emotional note. Jean Butler, wife of late Catalina founder Frank Butler, voiced her confidence in the new direction. “Frank believed in building boats that brought families together and gave people joy on the water,” she said. “I believe Michael Reardon understands that spirit. Frank would be proud to see Catalina and True North in the hands of someone who values the people, the product, and the passion that built this company.”

For current owners, dealers, and sailors across the country, the message is one of stability and optimism. There will be no immediate disruptions in support or service, and Reardon’s track record suggests a fresh round of energy and ideas could soon shape the future of both brands.

Founded in 1969, Catalina remains one of the largest sailboat manufacturers in the U.S., with a focus on building high-quality boats that strike a balance between cruising comfort and responsive sailing. True North Yachts, known for their classic Downeast aesthetics and offshore-capable hulls, has expanded Catalina’s reach into the powerboat market with a similarly hands-on approach to design and build quality.

Daedalus Yachts, meanwhile, has carved a niche in high-performance, eco-conscious sailing, and Reardon’s leadership there has been marked by bold design choices and a commitment to sustainability.

The coming months will likely reveal how these three brands—each with its own DNA—will integrate and influence one another. But one thing is certain: American boatbuilding has a fresh breeze on the beam.

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In the not-so-distant past, the top of the Catalina Yachts’ organizational chart listed two driving forces: owner Frank Butler and chief designer Gerry Douglas. Sadly, Butler died several years ago; Douglas is now enjoying a well-­deserved retirement. As a brand, Catalina is still producing fine cruising boats. It’s one of the last of the major American ­production-boat builders to do so.

For the 2025 Boat of the Year competition, from the new 6 Series line, the company entered a pair of nominees: the Catalina 356 and the Catalina 426 (formerly the Douglas-designed 355 and 425, respectively). The 6 Series collection includes a quintet of revamped and reimagined yachts—a collaborative result of in-house R&D with input from previous owners—ranging from 33 to 45 feet. The 446 is now the company’s flagship. 

These boats share a host of features from dependable marine suppliers, including an entire new spar and standing rigging package from Selden that reduces weight aloft and promotes tighter sheeting angles; a custom, slippery, shoal-draft MarsKeel bulb keel that replaces the previous wing keel (a fin-keel option is also available); an Edson steering pedestal that promotes better control and ergonomics; and a standard Sensar Marine boat-monitor system. 

Other across-the-board ­improvements include an upgraded construction laminate employing multiaxial fiberglass and reinforced carbon fiber in high-load areas (a balsa core is still utilized in the hull’s topsides, with a solid laminate below the waterline), an overhauled mainsheet arrangement for ease of trimming, and a larger Group 31 starting battery as well as new diesel-heater options.

Let’s start with the larger of the duo: the 426, a fully found ocean cruiser. A 42-footer has always been a sweet spot for Catalina. An earlier Catalina 42, launched in 1988, was wildly successful, with a production run of more than 1,000 vessels. Douglas took another swing at the segment in 2015 with the 425, a rather wholesome design that eschewed popular trends such as hull chines, plumb bows and drop-down transoms. To my eye, the profile remains quite fetching, with a series of hull windows and a pretty, understated sheerline that matches well with the slightly sloping, low-slung cabin top. The cockpit is spacious, with a central table and twin wheels that have space between them to access the swim platform aft.

Down below, the layout is traditional, with an en suite forward stateroom, a roomy salon with a fixed settee to port facing a set of chairs with a central table to starboard, a nice galley and navigation station flanking the companionway, and a double-berth stateroom aft.

The 356, on the other hand, has a single Lewmar folding wheel in the cockpit, and a similar layout to its larger sibling, just conducted on a smaller scale. The furniture and joiner work in both boats is a handsome blend of teak and maple, and equally inviting. 

We had the opportunity to sail both of these boats on consecutive days this past fall on Chesapeake Bay in ideal conditions: 12 to 14 knots of fresh northerly winds. I’ve always considered Catalinas to be fine performers under sail, and the 6 Series boats did nothing to change that opinion. On the 426, the Doyle sail package includes an in-mast furling mainsail and a self-tacking jib—a simple and effective sail plan. There’s no traveler, but the double-ended ­mainsheet is a solid alternative that allows good control of the main, especially when jibing. There are good sight lines when driving, particularly when steering from leeward, with a nice view of the telltales. Upwind, the 426 was fast and weatherly, making a noteworthy 7.2 knots. At one point, I ducked below, where all was peaceful and quiet, with a cool vista of the sea rushing past the hull windows.

The 356 was also a blast to steer. By coincidence, the new Jeanneau 350 was also conducting sea trials at the time, and we briefly were able to line up with it while closehauled. Considering that the 350 was outfitted with its high-performance sail and rigging package, the Catalina acquitted itself quite well. Trucking along at just over 6 knots, the 356 was slightly lower but just as quick. You can’t ask much more from a versatile little cruiser. 

Douglas once told me that, as a ­designer, one of his goals was to create boats “without bad habits.” It’s safe to say that he achieved that ambition, with the sweet-sailing original lines of ­predecessors now transferred to the 356 and 426. And with the entire packages overhauled (with some significant weight savings in the ­process), for some past and future Catalina owners, the marriage of the old and the new might prove irresistible. Consider it the best of both worlds. 

CW editor-at-large Herb McCormick was a 2025 Boat of the Year judge.

Take the next step

Price: $284,000 (356); $483,000 (426)
Contact: catalinayachts.com

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It wasn’t all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, when a 35-foot boat was deemed more than adequate for bluewater sailing. Hal Roth won the Cruising Club of America’s prestigious Blue Water Medal for his adventures aboard his Spencer 35, Whisper. World cruiser Alvah Simon roamed the planet on a 36-footer called Roger Henry. Heck, Lin and Larry Pardey’s Taleisin wasn’t even 30 feet long. In more recent times, production builders have eschewed the Midsize category in lieu of larger boats that are more profitable, but the Boat of the Year judges have a soft spot for modest-but-capable boats. For the 2025 contest, happily, they had a solid trio of nominees from which to choose.

WINNER: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 Performance
Groupe Beneteau

This new Midsize offering from Jeanneau has a tough act to follow, as judge Tim Murphy explained: “The 350 replaces the brand’s Sun Odyssey 349, which was introduced in 2014 for $150,000, and was a commercial and critical success. They produced some 2,200 units, and it was the Overall Boat of the Year Winner that year. The 350 brings the company’s popular walkaround deck down to its smallest model. In practice, this feature contributed to good ergonomics at the helm station beyond merely walking forward. It allowed you to sit aft outboard facing forward, with room for your legs. The pushpit provided a brace for your hips when in optimal ergonomic winching position. This Marc Lombard design (one of three fetching sets of lines in the fleet) looked great across the water, both at rest and in motion. Only the slightest curl of a wake peeled back from the bow as she moved through the water.”

Herb McCormick added: “I was a huge fan of the 349, but I think they’ve really upped the game with this 350. We tested the Performance version, which was tricked out with great sails, floating jib leads and so forth. This is one fine sailboat, exquisitely executed. It’s definitely a couple’s boat, but it shows what you can accomplish in a smaller footprint. Plus, it was the only boat in this category with a price tag under $300,000. Bravo.”

Finalist: Catalina 356
Catalina Yachts

Catalina has introduced the “6 Series,” an evolution in its line of sailboats derived from in-house R&D and direct owner feedback. For the 2025 Boat of the Year contest, two of the six updated models earned nominations: the 426 and this smaller Midsize entry. Tim Murphy was on the judging team when the model was originally introduced, and recalls it well: “In the 2011 Boat of the Year competition, the Gerry Douglas-designed Catalina 355 took top honors that year from the entire fleet. And for good reason. Douglas described the boat as a coastal cruiser for owners with ambitions and aspirations, and that resonated with us. The 356 takes that same wholesome premise and adds subtle adjustments, including swept-back spreaders and interior treatments. While innovation can produce eureka ideas that others go on to copy, sometimes the most wholesome boats are composed of long-tested ingredients. And here we are.”

Finalist: Hanse 360
Hanse Yachts

The prodigious German builder has been a consistent presence in Boat of the Year for the past decade, mostly with full-size go-anywhere cruisers. The 360 is something completely different, as Herb McCormick pointed out. “I was really excited to check out the 360 for a couple of reasons,” he said. “First, it’s a creation from the Berret-Racoupeau design consortium, and I’m always impressed by their approach. Second, because I’m so used to testing the larger Hanse yachts, with their voluminous interiors and tall freeboard, I was eager to see their take on a Midsize boat. I wasn’t disappointed. The two-cabin layout is very practical. With its long waterline and ample freeboard, it by far delivered the most interior space and accommodations of any boat in its class. And I’m impressed by the fact that the standard sail plan is a traditional mainsail—I’m no fan of furling mains—coupled with a self-tacking jib. It really delivered a delightful sailing experience. It’s just so good to see that the marketplace has so many fine offerings under 40 feet.”

Click here to return to the 2025 Boat of the Year main page.

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Once you get into the category of cruising boats over 40 feet, all sorts of possibilities emerge. It’s a platform that supports plenty of volume below for accommodations and stowage, and that’s also large enough for a powerful rig to take you anywhere you wish to go. The key feature is versatility.

For this trio of contestants in the 40- to 45-foot sector, there was also a strong emphasis on performance. All three of these yachts sport all the cruising amenities, but they also perform well enough that competitive sailing will be an option for the club-racing set. Indeed, this Full-Size Cruiser division supplied the judging team with some of the finest Chesapeake Bay sailing in the entire contest. And one very special boat was doubly rewarded.

WINNER: J/40
J/Boats

The judges couldn’t quite get enough of the winner in this competitive Full-Size category, as Tim Murphy explained: “For pure sailing joy, this boat unanimously also earned its place as Cruising World’s 2025 Overall Boat of the Year. We saw a big divide in the fleet between simple house systems and cutting-edge, complex power systems designed to run high-powered items, often without a genset running. Several boats in the 2025 fleet operated on multiple voltages, with complicated converters and inverters to distribute the power. But, as one of the judges pointed out, ‘Sometimes it’s nice to have just a red wire and a black wire.’ The J/40 delivers that systems simplicity in a boat that offers the widest assortment of fine-tuning adjustments to the ample sail plan, starting with the mainsheet in the cockpit sole, which is easily accessible to the helm. Whether cruising or racing—and the J/40 will handle both duties with aplomb—the sailing experience will be exceptional.”

Judge Mark Pillsbury agreed: “Designer Al Johnstone described the J/40 as a cruiser-racer, and I’d say that description is spot-on. It’s a comfortable boat to be aboard, and when the breeze is up, you have all the tools readily at hand to drive hard or throttle back and enjoy the ride—your choice.”

Finalist: Catalina 426
Catalina Yachts

The second nominee from Catalina’s refreshed “6 Series” left judge Herb McCormick feeling a bit nostalgic. “Catalina Yachts was founded and associated with the late, great Frank Butler, who was a marine-industry legend,” he said. “But both of these boats were designed and engineered by Gerry Douglas, who might be one of the more underrated American naval architects. This was a fine boat to inspect and sail, and Douglas’ fingerprints and influence are all over it.”

Judge Tim Murphy concurred: “In 1988, Catalina launched its first 42-footer, a popular design from which 1,000 boats were subsequently built. In-house designer Douglas used what he’d learned from all those boats to create an all-new design in 2015, the Catalina 425. At the time, the charm of that boat was that it altogether avoided the trendiest trends of its day: the plumb bows, the hard chines, the drop-down transoms. In this 6-Series version, the updates include swept-back spreaders and refined interior treatments. Otherwise, the new 426 retains all the proven charms we loved so well in 2015.”

Mark Pillsbury added: “We had a chance to try out the new mainsheet system on the Catalina 356, and it worked pretty well going upwind, once we played around with it a bit and got the hang of it. Rather than a single sheet and traveler, the 6-Series employs a double-ended mainsheet led to winches on the cabin top, located on either side of the companionway. Close-hauled, you can set one end of the sheet for each tack, so nothing needs to be adjusted when coming about. The 6-Series version of Catalina’s popular 35-footer has a new Edson helm-station design called the Butler Pedestal. It’s a nice nod to Catalina Yachts founder Frank Butler.”

Finalist: Dufour 44
Dufour Yachts

Only the French could’ve created the Dufour 44. In assessing the boat, judge Tim Murphy offered up a history lesson: “It’s always fun to see which design features make their way into production boats from custom or thoroughbred race boats. A little over a decade ago, Sam Manuard introduced the ‘scow bow’ in the Mini Transat 6.50 fleet. The idea was to carry extreme beam into the hull’s forward sections, providing buoyancy that kept the bow up in surfing conditions. The scow bow caught on in the Class 40 and IMOCA fleets too; since the 2018 Route du Rhum, no other design has won a grand-prix transoceanic race among the Class 40s. In the latest run of Dufours from Umberto Felci’s drawing board, we see that concept applied to cruising boats. The exaggerated volume forward is used, in this case, not for ocean-surfing conditions as much as a stable sailing platform and room for one of the most spacious walkaround island queens in a forward cabin of a boat this size.”

Judge Mark Pillsbury was also taken by the boat’s volume and accommodations: “The Dufour comes with a couple of interesting layout options. The boat we saw in Annapolis had the feel of a studio apartment, with a dining area to port opposite an inline galley, which works well for a cruising couple. A galley forward by the main bulkhead is also offered. An owner can also forgo separate head and shower compartments to either side of the companionway and instead replace the port shower stall with a desk for working aboard. I think that will be appealing to potential buyers, me included.”

Click here to return to the 2025 Boat of the Year main page.

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Catalina Yachts has just introduced its 6 Series, which includes four models that are being designed and built in the United States. The 6 Series is set to premiere at the Annapolis Sailboat Show as a 2024-25 Cruising World Boat of the Year nominee.

The Catalina 6 Series includes a 316, 356, 386 and 426. According to the builder, this series “represents the culmination of extensive research, innovative design and valuable feedback from our dedicated sailing community of owners and dealers.”

Catalina says its team started working on the 6 Series back in spring 2023, when the shipyard decided to update its keel shapes. Designers worked with Mars Metal to enhance hydrodynamics in a way that would attain superior lift and reduced drag.

The updated keel designs, Catalina says, improve speed and handling along with stability and safety, making the 6 Series models suitable for sailors of all skill levels.

Another major change with the 6 Series is the introduction of a new Selden rig that’s intended to maximize performance and ease of use. It’s lighter and stronger than previous versions, allowing for what Catalina says is more precise sail control, improved aerodynamics and increased overall efficiency.

Catalina also worked on the Series 6 models with Garhauer, Edson, Sensar, Webasto, Southco, Doyle, Lewmar and Dometic. And, the shipyard says, the development of this series was “heavily influenced” by feedback from consumers—including surveys on the company’s app.

“This feedback helped us identify the features and improvements that our customers wanted to see in our updated models,” the company stated. “We are proud to say that the 6 Series reflects the desires and expectations of our loyal sailors.

Features on the Catalina Series 6 sailboats also include: Multiaxial fiberglass for a stronger laminate and stiffer structure, including use of carbon fiber in select locations and assemblies; a Group 31 starting battery for added capacity and capability; a Sensar Marine monitoring system as standard equipment; new diesel heating options for extending the sailing season; and Butler Explorer steering pedestals for enhanced ergonomics.

Where to learn more: visit catalinayachts.com.

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Changes are afoot at Catalina Yachts, America’s largest sailboat builder. Longtime designer and company executive Gerry Douglas has announced that after 45 years with the company, he plans to retire in 2021.

Douglas’ work over the years includes more than 40 designs and the construction of some  60,000 boats built by Catalina in both the California and Florida manufacturing facilities.

Douglas said he will be on hand to finish several ongoing projects, and that a future management team is being assembled. Company founder and owner, Frank Butler, passed away in November.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do what I love every working day of my life,” said Douglas in a release issued by Catalina this week. “But what is most important to me are the relationships I’ve enjoyed with marine industry colleagues, as well as passionate Catalina owners throughout the world.”

The Catalina announcement continues:

“Douglas says a few of the high points of his career include his first boat designed in 1982, the Catalina 36, of which 2,305 were built.

“Most recently, the Catalina 545, now the flagship of the Catalina fleet, was the overall winner of the 2020 Industry Boat of the Year Award for Cruising World magazine.

“Bookended by those two designs, Douglas delivered the 445 and the 425. Over the course of his long career, his designs won more than 13 Boat of the Year awards, and multiple Best Boat awards from Sail Magazine.

“Gerry Douglas will always be appreciative to the late Frank Butler, founder of Catalina Yachts, for giving him the chance to pursue a long and fulfilling career in yacht design and manufacturing.

“His retirement plans include continuing his work on the Public Arts Commission, yacht club committees, cycling, sailing, racing, cruising and spending time in Florida and at his cottage on the coast of Maine.”

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The sailing community this week lost a giant among the ranks of production boat builders. Frank Willis Butler, president and chief executive officer of Catalina Yachts, passed away November 15, 2020 in Westlake Village, CA, due to unexpected complications from a recent illness. In making the announcement, Catalina said, “We extend our most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Frank’s family. Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult time.”

A sailing icon and industry “kingspoke”, Frank Butler introduced hundreds of thousands of people to sailing during his lifetime. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Frank have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Frank leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Catalina Yachts.

Born in California in 1928, Frank’s line of popular sailboats put more than 85,000 Catalinas on the water throughout the yachting world. His boatbuilding career began in 1962, when he contracted with a Southern California builder for a 21′ daysailer. The builder was unable to finish the boat, and gave Butler the tooling. He completed building the boat himself, found he enjoyed the process, and agreed to take over the company.

A few years later he founded Catalina Yachts, which has grown to become the largest builder of fiberglass production sailboats in the United States, a position it holds to this day.

RELATED: Cruising at 80

A key to Butler’s success in the sailboat industry was his attention to Catalina customers. Handling warranty issues himself, owners were nearly always surprised and reassured to get a personal call from Frank to discuss their concerns.

Butler was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2013. In recognition of his support of the Congressional Cup, a world match racing event, Long Beach Yacht Club awarded him the Crimson Blazer. He was also a founder and lifelong member of the Westlake Yacht Club in Westlake, CA.

Following his graduation from Glendale High School, he served in the US Navy. He met his wife, Jean, at a school dance; they recently celebrated their 71st anniversary.

Frank is survived by Jean, their four daughters, Deborah Reese, Mary Linn, Nancy Bear, and Karen Butler; three sons, David, Robert and Steve; 20 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Awakening the joy of sailing for so many people in past generations, Frank Butler’s sailing legacy will certainly continue well into future generations.

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