Catana Group Charts an Ambitious Course to 2030
Few names resonate as strongly in the catamaran world as the Catana Group (Bali, Catana, YOT). Under the steady hand of the Poncin family, the Group has weathered the industry’s cycles and been the brains behind some of its most disruptive changes. They recently announced a €130 million strategic plan through to 2030.
And we’ve got some big news for you: the Catana Group and its brands (BALI, CATANA, YOT and the new SEATY) are gearing up for their most ambitious decade yet.
We’re excited about this one, as it looks like they are focusing across the group including the Catana catamaran brand, which is great to see.
A Family Legacy Anchored in Growth
Founded in 1984 and bought by Olivier Poncin in 2003, the group is today helmed by his son Aurélien. The Family Group has grown from a niche player into one of the world’s top three players in the catamaran market. The acquisition of the Catana shipyard in 2003 provided the springboard, and the 2014 launch of the BALI brand redefined expectations of space in cruising multihulls.
Catana Group reported a turnover of €229 million in 2023/4 and employs 1,400 staff across four production sites: Canet-en-Roussillon and Marans near La Rochelle in France, El Haouaria in Tunisia, and Aveiro in Portugal. Two in-house woodworking facilities ensure full control over furniture production, while the Port Pin Rolland base near Toulon extends the Group’s reach into after-sales service.
This industrial footprint is impressive. But the Group is not resting on its laurels. Its 2025–2030 plan sets out an extrememly ambitious plan for the future.
Strategic Expansion: Six Market Sectors
The headline is the launch of 14 new models across four brands, spanning six distinct market sectors:
- YOT Power Catamarans – 5 models, expanding from the current YOT 36 and YOT 41 into both outboard and inboard power.
- Catana – 2 new models, targeting the long-distance bluewater cruising niche (we are particularly excited about this news).
- BALI – 5 additions, reinforcing the brand’s share of the mainstream cruising segment.
- SEATY – 2 models in the emerging houseboat catamaran sector.
For Catana, the step up into larger sailing cats over 60 feet marks a move into the premium arena, long dominated by Outremer and others. SEATY is a clever bet on lifestyle shifts: modular, habitable units designed for sheltered waters that blur the line between real estate and boating.
Innovation Engine: R&D and Speed to Market
The success of BALI was built on innovation—solid forward decks, aft tilting doors, and an insistence on maximising living space. To keep that momentum, Catana is investing heavily in a new multi-activity centre at Saint-Jean-d’Hermine in Vendée. They are committed to an eco-design approach.
The 55,000 m² site will include:
- A dedicated R&D centre, with partnerships in data systems, electric propulsion, hydraulics and more.
- Workshops and labs to test and qualify new materials and components.
- A 13,000 m² machining and modelling facility for moulds and tooling, reducing reliance on subcontractors.
Catana wants to reduce development time and bring fresh designs to market faster. Fifteen models launched in the past decade testify to the Group’s agility, but the new facilities are designed to accelerate that cycle even further.
Building Capacity: Factories for the Future
The industrial plan is just as bold. The new 25,000 m² Aveiro factory in Portugal—dedicated to YOT motorboats—is operational now. Modern, eco-conscious and built for scale, it gives the Group the key to strong growth in the power sector.
Back in France, Canet-en-Roussillon remains the spiritual heart of production. Investments include:
- A new composites building (3,000 m²).
- A vast 25,000 m² factory for larger boats, located on a 50,000 m² plot recently allocated by the Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole authority.
This expansion doubles down on France’s position as a global hub for catamaran construction—a point the Poncin family emphasises as both strategic and patriotic.
Aiming at North America
Europe has been the bedrock of Catana’s success, but the Group increasingly sees the United States as its home away from home. The ambition is to double North American sales by 2030.
To achieve this, Catana has reorganised its US sales structure, and has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Catamaran Guru, and taken a 34% stake in the company. The aim is to blend a strong dealer network with new service bases, one of which will be in the US.
The US has a strong appetite for both cruising sail cats and powerboats, so this could prove decisive. The YOT range, with its blend of style, comfort and fuel efficiency, looks well-positioned for the American market and beyond.
Service and Lifestyle Ventures
Beyond production, the Group is also moving into services.
- Leucate Catamarans Marina: a newly renewed 35-year concession will allow Catana to build a marina entirely dedicated to multihulls near their Canet base, with capacity for 80 boats. Located near the shipyard, it will serve as a showcase for their range of boats.
- BALI Charter Base at Port Pin Rolland: launching with six boats, this initiative gives the Group direct access to customer usage data—a valuable feedback loop for design and development.
- Active in services already with its PORT PIN ROLLAND facility in Saint Mandrier with 350 berths afloat and a further 250 ashore. The concession has just been renewed for 25 years and the Group will build a new service centre further west on France’s Mediterranean coast.
These ventures point to a broader trend: Catana is organising itself not just as a builder, but as an integrated service provider in the multihull lifestyle, from production to after-sales and even charter.
Family Business, Global Reach
The Poncin family stress that Catana remains a family business, with a long-term vision. Aurélien Poncin describes the model as “streamlined, agile, creative, and close to the ground.”
In an industry often buffeted by economic cycles, that claim carries weight. Family ownership has allowed Catana to reinvest steadily over the long term, rather than chase short-term financial targets. It ties the Group’s DNA to French leadership in boatbuilding – a source of national pride and industrial excellence.
The Bigger Picture
The 2030 plan could be a masterplan for category dominance, although the group has some fierce domestic competitors. Catana is building on its performance sailing roots, expanding into power, testing the waters of floating homes, and building out a service ecosystem. All with heavy investment in R&D and industrial scale.
For the multihull market, the implications are significant. The competition will be watching closely. The expansion into luxury sailing catamarans over 60 feet is a direct challenge to the established leaders.
But the plan feels realistic. The Group remains, in its own words, a “pure player” in catamarans.
Conclusion
Catana Group is reshaping its place in the multihull market. By 2030, if all goes to plan, the Group will have doubled down on innovation, expanded its industrial base across Europe, carved out a bigger share of North America, and opened new markets with SEATY.
This should be fun to track and we look forward to getting on some of these new Catanas, Balis and YOTs!
History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1974 | The PONCIN FAMILY GROUP is launched by Olivier Poncin |
| 2002 | Launch of PONCIN YACHTS |
| 2003 | Acquisition of the Marans site |
| 2003 | Acquisition of the CATANA shipyard and brand |
| 2010 | Creation of AP YACHT CONCEPTION by Aurélien Poncin |
| 2014 | Launch of BALI CATAMARANS brand |
| 2014 | PONCIN YACHTS renames to CATANA GROUP |
| 2017 | Acquisition of a stake in HACO (Tunisian factory) |
| 2020 | Production capacity reaches 40,000 m² |
| 2021 | 1,000 BALI catamarans worldwide |
| 2022 | Construction of the Aveiro factory in Portugal |
| 2023 | Launch of YOT POWER CATAMARANS |
| 2024 | 15 models launched in 10 years by the Group |
| 2024 | CATANA celebrates its 40th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the BALI brand |
| 2025 | Launch of the SEATY brand, a new Office-House Boats solution |