Catalina Yachts is a southern California based company that manufactures fiberglass monohull sailboats. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, Ca by Frank Butler . The intent was to build and sell 100 Catalina 22s . Today Catalina Yachts is one of the largest boat manufacturers in the world, with over 75,000 hulls manufactured to date. Catalina Yachts produces boats from as small as eight feet to the massive ocean going Catalina 50 . Catalina Yachts uses the popular naming convention of stating the length of the boat in the name. The name Catalina is often shortened to Cat in conversation. One might say "I own a Cat 30", rather than Catalina 30.

Catalina has expanded their production capacity to four production factories, one on each the East coast and West coast of the United States, one in London, and Japan. Current production methods involve a composite layer of marine grade plywood sandwhiched by layers of fiberglass chop, and a final inner and outer layer of woven fiberglass mat. This makes for an incredibly lightweight and strong hull at an affordible price.

Popular and recognizable boats made by Catalina:

• Catalina 22, the first and longest running model.
• Catalina 30, the largest production 30 foot sailboat in the world (5,000+ hulls).
• Catalina 320, successor to the Catalina 30, at 32 feet in length.
• Catalina 47, Catalina's flagship blue water model.

All Catalina boats are sloop-rigged, with the exception of the smaller day sailing boats. All of the larger cruising class boats have fixed keels with lead ballast.

Other classes of keelboats