Butler family liquidating all contents

by Peter Swanson, Loose Cannon
The Catalina 22 has been in continuous production for decades with as many as 18,000 sold. Next month, possibly the final three ever made will sell to the highest bidder. Plus, a third that could be assembled from separate hull and deck parts that will be for sale during the same auction.

The 22 was the first boat produced by Catalina Yachts when the company was founded in 1970 by Frank Butler, quickly followed by the Catalina 27. Catalina of Largo, Florida, was shut down in October when the man who had purchased the company from the Butler estate could no longer make payroll.

Beginning at 10:00 am on June 9, the bones of Catalina Yachts will be offered piecemeal to the highest bidders. That includes nine boats in various stages of completion, one of them nearly finished. Three more that could be assembled by joining hull and deck parts and another three are hull-only. – Full report