Tartan Yachts, Freedom Yachts, and AMP Carbon Spar Builders have been acquired by Michael Reardon, founder and CEO of Daedalus Yachts. This comes on the heels of the acquisition of Catalina and True North in May. Reardon’s various holdings now make his network America’s largest builder of recreational yachts.
Per Reardon, all of the brands will retain their leadership teams, workforces, and dealer networks. Back-office functions (eg. purchasing and legal) will be centralized. Further, Tartan Yachts and AMP Carbon Spars will continue operations in Painesville, Ohio, while Catalina Yachts, True North, and Freedom Yachts will be produced at Catalina’s Largo, Florida, facility. Daedalus Yachts will continue construction in Edenton, North Carolina.
“Tartan, Freedom, Catalina, and True North each have a proud history and loyal following,” said Reardon of the latest additions to his portfolio. “Together, we have the teams, resources, and shared vision to protect each brand’s legacy while driving innovation for the next generation of boaters.”
He has stated a commitment to strengthening the American boatbuilding industry and will be pushing new models and sustainability initiatives to his brands, including “reducing CO₂ emissions and waste, advancing composite technologies, using eco-friendly natural materials, and exploring alternative propulsion systems.”
Legacy brands like Tartan and Catalina may seem strange bedfellows for Daedalus, which makes techy, high speed trimarans. We will certainly be keeping an eye on what’s next for both of these brands as they move forward under new ownership. With any luck, there will be reviews of some cool new American-made designs in SAIL before long.
For more on Daedalus Yachts, click here.
