First, Catalina. Now, Tartan. This is weird.
Posted by spinozasrobot@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Posted by spinozasrobot@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 29 comments
oncwonk@reddit
Article states Dedalus Yachts builds "techy trimarans" , and while they do have the Corsair F22 trimaran molds, I had read that after delivering a few they stopped taking orders. Before that I had read that their main focus was large yachts.
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
That reenforces my feeling they're adrift without a firm business model they're willing to stick to.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see any of these production company purchases get resold to some private equity firm that has no history at all with sailing within a year or two.
RegattaTimer@reddit
It’s a good thing fiberglass boats can last forever and be endlessly repaired. In the future a C22 will cost $120k and they’ll be delighted with the profits selling 3 a year.
RepulsiveTadpole8@reddit
Remember Genmar?
FlickrPaul@reddit
What's weird about capital acquisitions?
KCJwnz@reddit
Less competition
FlickrPaul@reddit
That's not weird, that's how it works.
It sucks but that's how it is.
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
Thge company has yet to splash a yacht of their own for one thing. Having started my own business, I can say one should put all your energy into that and maybe wait on the acquisitions.
But I suppose they changed their approach. So change the word from weird to unusual if you prefer.
Mako221b@reddit
Just wish Catalina would pay their invoices that they owe us.
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
Yikes! Go on...
Mako221b@reddit
We are a supplier to Catalina and was promised that invoices would be honored after the purchase, lol. Have on numerous occasions tried calling the A/P department or emailing them and getting no response to either method. I'm sure we will end up writing them off.
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
Wow, so sorry.
Maris-Otter@reddit
Why did Catalina and Tartan sell?
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
They were made offers they couldn't refuse, I guess!
Maris-Otter@reddit
I'm wondering if sales are cratering for the new sailboat market. Post-covid slump combined with tariff impacts? I don't see a glut of recent boats on YachtWorld for either brand.
kdjfsk@reddit
I dont see it as a bad thing.
A) their brands can all openly share all of their boat building experience and secrets with each other, for things like design and process. This may allow brands weaknesses to replaced by others strengths.
B) they all immediately have each other's knowledge of supplier pricing, and can utilize each others networks. All the brands will suddenly get the best pricing any of them have for supplies like fiberglass, resin, electrical and plumbing components, stainless, etc. In fact, probably an even better deal since they can combine buying power and get better bulk deals.
This means better boats, and potentially at better prices. Thats a win-win.
smartalek75@reddit
I love your optimism, but monopolies rarely work out as advantageous for the consumer.
kdjfsk@reddit
There are something like 40 or 50 manufacturers of cruising sailboats.
This is about the furthest thing from a monopoly.
caeru1ean@reddit
Not in the US though?
kdjfsk@reddit
hmmm...If only there were a way boats could get across the ocean...
Still far from a monopoly even in the US.
Anstigmat@reddit
I feel like the “competition” is the wealth of used boats that are still viable decades on.
MainSailFreedom@reddit
It’s not a monopoly. There are a ton of boat manufacturers. If anything, this well help consumers as a lot of the raw material and components are the same for many brands. Engines, carbon/fiberglass etc can all be bought at much higher scale and pricing power. This is a possible win for manufacturers.
XSrcing@reddit
But it isn't the nail-in-the-coffin a private equity buyer would have been.
Anstigmat@reddit
I find it a little hard to care about a market so rarified that I could never dream of participating in it. I think even a new Catalina 315 is more expensive than my house. If this partnership extends the life of Tartan Yachts, I’m for that. From their site and offerings it seems like they need a little bit of a refresh. Their 455 has a weird and impractical interior layout IMO.
SVLibertine@reddit
I almost bought a Freedom 45 in Santa Barbara, but the wife wanted a walk-through transom. Sigh…loved that boat.
That being said…
Reardon is a sailor’s sailor, and a good guy…interviewed him in the past for gunboat racing and in Charleston, SC when he introduced the Greenline Solar boats. I think this is FAR better than private equity.
sunol1212@reddit
Reardon: I'd like to buy the yacht. ALL the yachts.
arr4ws@reddit
Yikes.
Thats not a good sign.
MadtownV@reddit
Anti-trust is dead in the modern era.
Exoslavic34@reddit
I wish they’d bring back the Freedom sailing yacht. I got to tour one in Annapolis many years ago and knew that was quality.
I still admire the 40’ today.