Hobie Cat: In the beginning there was a dream and some drawings in the sand. But one day in 1968, Hobart Alter, whose nickname is Hobie, from Capristano Beach in Southern California, renowned for revolutionary surfboard design and production, sketched what was to become the first mass produced beach catamaran in the world with asymmetric hulls: The Hobie Cat 14. Hobie and his friends quickly began with small batch production in California. The Hobie Cat way of life conquered the world virtually overnight. Its beach catamarans Hobie Cat were a great success. The big brother of the Hobie Cat 14, the Hobie Cat 16, celebrated its debut in 1970.
Hobie Cat is expanding - so the wave splashes to Europe
Hobie Cat catamarans have been imported to Europe by Coast Catamaran France since 1971. Coast Catamaran has its corporate headquarters in Pierrefeu du Varand and is a subsidiary of the American corporation Coleman Inc, which owns the Hobie Cat Company in California. As of 1975, Coast Catamaran France became the licensee of the American corporation Coleman Inc. and now manufactures the main models Hobie Cat 14, Hobie Cat 16, and the later models Hobie Cat 17 and Hobie Cat 18. In 1987 a new modern shipyard was built in La Farlède, near Toulon.
1989: Hobie Cat Europe becomes independent
After the acquisition of the Hobie Cat Company by a private American investor in 1989, Coast Catamaran France was taken over by a group of three directors of the French subsidiary under the leadership of John Dinsdale. John Dinsdale is American, but lived in France for several years and became the majority shareholder. Hobie Cat Europe is an independent French company since this date. The activities of Coast Catamaran France are divided between Hobie Cat Europe SA as follows: The boats are manufactured and sold over the dealer network through Hobie Cat Europe, and the activities of dealers (accessories, charter, regatta organization, boat repairs) are supported by Coast Catamaran France.
2000: Hobie Cat changes investor
Olivier Legris became the main shareholder of Hobie Cat Europe in 1998 and contributed to the company's growth until it was taken over by a French investor from the UK in the new millennium: JC Developpement.
Quality, innovation, performance - Hobie Cat impresses
A unique Hobie Cat manufacturing process combines high-tech and manual work. Quality: easy to transport, simple to use, with incredible sailing performance, renowned stability (unsinkable) and designed to hold weight. Innovation: since 1992, a new product each year. The secret? The Hobie Cat team works alongside top-class regatta sailors and professional sailors and uses young engineers as well as an onsite development team. Performance: the sale of and supply of original Hobie Cat parts and accessories is ensured through a widespread network of dealers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and overseas.
