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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Gerry Douglas Retiring		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts
Initially Posted - 12/22/2020 :  14:01:02  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
https://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/catalinas-gerry-douglas-announces-retirement
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts
Response Posted - 12/23/2020 :  18:47:48  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Dave, does this mean it’s the end of the line for Catalina? With the passing of Frank Butler (Mr. Catalina) and his understudy, Gerry Douglas. One of the most successful manufacturer of class sailboats, the C-22 led the volume of production sailboats worldwide. The very successful C-25 and C-30. And all the subsequent boats in the 80s, 90s, 00s, etc like the 250, 350s, 400s. Quite an amazing run.
Is there a 3rd generation of marine architects to carry on the Catalina brand through the 2020s? There will likely never be another company like Catalina Yachts.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 12/24/2020 06:33:56
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1736 Posts
Response Posted - 12/30/2020 :  10:18:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I had feared something like this. Very concerning regarding the timing of Gerry's retirement. In most business between the founder passing away and a top executive (and shareholder) retiring this would be an indicator that the business is on the block and new ownership will be forthcoming. In the boat business possibly not, however definitely changes will be taking place. Catalina has already embraced power boats and as Gerry was their chief designer who knows what the Catalina fleet will morph into. Equally who knows what "bench strength" there is in the mid-management levels to take over and successfully propel the company forward. The next year or two should be interesting!
Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts
Response Posted - 12/30/2020 :  14:18:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Some parallels with Cape Dory?
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1736 Posts
Response Posted - 12/30/2020 :  17:53:17  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I wonder if Beneteau group will buy Catalina
Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts
Response Posted - 01/01/2021 :  07:05:27  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I suspect the Butler and Douglas families are getting ready to cash out.
DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts
Response Posted - 01/01/2021 :  08:10:36  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I wonder whether there’s an online community among the recipients of the Mainsheet, or the various regional Catalina groups like LISCA who may be pondering the same questions. Moreso than our group of C25s and C250s that are what they are, other size boats will be much more affected. While direct after-sales support for our boats is minimal from Catalina Yachts (we’ve got CD and others), many of the larger and newer boats will be much more dependent on what happens next to the Catalina company.
Any links available to these other groups to learn more about what they’re thinking?
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts
Response Posted - 01/01/2021 :  08:20:24  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I did a little poking around and Sailboat Owners has a Catalina section, the C42 section has a good sized forum, C30s and C350s and this:
http://www.catalinayachts.com/catalina-groups/
When searching on the term “Gerry Douglas” in the postings you get the sense that he was still very much involved with answering the owners questions in the recent past.

Edit: No mentions about any changes at CY.

Here’s a video prepared by a master’s thesis candidate about Douglas.
https://vimeo.com/126760084
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 01/01/2021 08:45:58
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts
Response Posted - 01/01/2021 :  08:51:44  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
In closely held corporations, the knowledge and skills required to make the company successful often resides in one or two people. The leader is the company's chief design engineer, tax expert, legal expert, accountant, and he knows the company's production processes and it's products better than anyone. Moreover, all big companies need to be able to borrow money occasionally so they can make payroll during their off-season and lean times. Once the cash flow stops, you still have to pay your skilled employees, so you don't lose them. Once that leader is gone, the company's leadership is gone, and lenders won't lend because they lack confidence in the ability of the successors to meet the challenges. Companies in this situation are often sold, not because the family doesn't want to run them, but because nobody in the family can gain the confidence of lenders and others who deal with the company. Business associates relied on the expertise of that leader.

This emphasizes the importance of this forum to C25 owners, and suggests that our tech tips function should be made easier to supplement. We see lots of ideas discussed in threads that should be preserved as tech tips, but most members don't know how to do so. Even when someone suggests something be made a tech tip, it often appears to be overlooked. The process should be uncomplicated and non-time consuming.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore
Edited by - Steve Milby on 01/01/2021 10:49:37
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts
Response Posted - 01/02/2021 :  00:02:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Steve, your first paragraph unfortunately rings very true. Unless there was an understudy who instantiates the knowledge and experience of the founders, the company will probably run for a few more seasons on the power of their back orders, but eventually succumb to a lack of continuing investment. One bad quarter could begin the tailspin.

On creation of Tech Tips, is there procedure or template for writing them? If each contributor has to “wing it” and create their own template, they could miss a few significant steps or pieces of critical information. Not to dumb it down but if there were a checklist of things to not forget, that would be valuable and go a long way in driving the creation of good, solid Tech Tips.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1736 Posts
Response Posted - 01/03/2021 :  07:31:49  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You never know what really is happening in the tent, but for years Catalina has been run by the three musketeers: Butler, Douglas and Day. Butler is gone and the others are getting long in the tooth. You never hear of others on the bench assisting or ready to take over any of the critical areas such as design, manufacturing and marketing. I expect Catalina rarely needs much money lent to them and any banking relationships are solid. The real question is who could takeover. My guess is that the company will be sold in the next year to either a competetor or private equity.

For those who have attended any recent Catalina rendezvous -- who else besides Butler, Douglas or Day ever attended from the factory -- may be some indication . . . . .
Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
Edited by - bigelowp on 01/03/2021 07:32:30
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts
Response Posted - 01/03/2021 :  15:10:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Maybe Norn from accounting has been waiting for his big day in the spotlight!
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.