What Antares Catamarans does

Antares Catamarans is a privately held boutique boat builder, founded in 2004 as PDQ Yachts in Whitby, Ontario, and now operating from Buenos Aires, Argentina with North American operations governed under Florida law. The company designs and handcrafts premium bluewater cruising catamarans intended for owners planning extended offshore passages, circumnavigations, and long-term liveaboard use. Production is intentionally limited to 3-4 vessels annually, spanning the Antares 44 (GT diesel and Hybrid variants) and the Antares 46 flagship model introduced in 2026.

The core technology platform centers on bluewater-focused engineering: protected 360-degree helm stations with weather protection and visibility, shaft-drive propulsion chosen for global serviceability by any competent marine mechanic, skegged rudder protection for impact resilience and beachability, and vacuum-infused cored composite hull construction with structural bulkhead integration. Hybrid propulsion is offered through technology partnerships with Hybrid Marine International (40hp Yanmar diesels paired with twin 12kW motors) and Integrel E-Drive (56hp Yanmar with twin 15kW axial-flux motors), both integrating 40kWh Victron lithium battery banks, NMEA 2000 monitoring, and hydrogeneration capability. The boats typically retail in the $1M+ range for new builds with hybrid configurations, while Factory Certified pre-owned vessels are listed from $435,000 to $1,150,000 USD.

Antares operates a direct-to-buyer sales model with consultative advisor-led engagement routed through website inquiry forms. Revenue derives from new boat sales, Factory Certified pre-owned brokerage (currently listing 7+ vessels globally across the US, Panama, Mexico, and Thailand), Antares University hands-on owner training in Merritt, North Carolina, and ongoing factory advisor support. Marketing emphasizes content (Antares Journal, technical video library on YouTube, "The World's Best Liveaboard" podcast) and owner community-building rather than broad advertising. The customer base consists of HNW individuals and couples — primarily bluewater liveaboard cruisers, family liveaboard buyers, and owner-operator cruisers — with global presence spanning US, Panamanian, Mexican, Thai, and Argentine cruising hubs.

Name

Antares Catamarans

Legal name

Antares Catamarans

Website

https://antarescatamarans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Antares Catamarans is a private boutique boat builder producing 3-4 premium bluewater cruising catamarans per year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, selling directly to HNW liveaboard cruisers globally through its Antares 44 and Antares 46 models with optional hybrid propulsion systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bluewater Cruising Catamarans

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Catamaran (Power & Sail) Manufacturing (IMAJAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Bluewater cruising catamarans
• Liveaboard sailboats
• Hybrid propulsion catamarans
• Factory certified pre-owned boats
• Offshore sailing yachts

Headquarters

HQ city

Isle Of Palms

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Boat Sales: Antares builds and sells new bluewater cruising catamarans (Antares 44 and Antares 46 models) with GT (diesel) or Hybrid configurations. Production is limited to 3-4 boats per year from their Argentina facility. Sales are conducted through direct buyer conversations with pricing and specifications confirmed in written agreements.
2. Factory Certified Pre-Owned Program: Antares curates, reviews, and certifies pre-owned Antares vessels through their Factory Certified Program. The program includes pre-purchase survey, factory survey team review, corrected findings, and Antares University access. Current listings range from $435k to $1.15M USD.
3. Antares University Training: Owner education and handover training program included with new and pre-owned purchases. The two-day weekend program covers systems orientation, docking, sailing practice, and maintenance habits. Classes held in Merritt, North Carolina.
4. Owner Support and Service: Ongoing factory knowledge and ownership support after delivery, including warranty support, service guidance, and access to Antares advisors for cruising planning and boat-specific questions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Antares Catamarans designs, hand-builds, and sells premium bluewater liveaboard sailing catamarans (Antares 44 and Antares 46 models, with conventional diesel or factory-integrated hybrid propulsion variants) at a deliberate pace of 3-4 boats per year from its Buenos Aires facility. The company also operates a Factory Certified pre-owned boat program with documented survey review, owner training through Antares University, and ongoing factory-backed ownership support for buyers planning extended offshore and circumnavigation cruising.

Product overview

Antares Catamarans manufactures premium bluewater liveaboard catamarans designed for offshore cruising and extended time aboard. The product portfolio centers on two model lines: the Antares 46 (flagship, 46 ft, hybrid-ready with galley up/down options) and Antares 44 (proven platform, 44 ft, available in GT diesel or Hybrid configurations). Both models share core bluewater engineering: protected helm, shaft drives, skegged rudders, handcrafted cherry interiors, and practical systems access. The company offers hybrid propulsion systems through Hybrid Marine International and Integrel E-Drive partners, Factory Certified pre-owned boats with documented quality review, Antares University hands-on training, a curated technical video library, and the Antares Journal editorial content platform. Antares operates from Buenos Aires, Argentina with North American presence in Merritt, North Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PDQ: Original brand name from Whitby, Ontario era (2004). PDQ Yachts produced the PDQ 44 which established the foundation for Antares catamaran design.

Products and services

• Antares 46 The flagship 46-foot (14.5 m) bluewater liveaboard cruising catamaran with a 24 ft 3 in beam, three-cabin layout, optional galley-up or galley-down configurations, twin 56 hp Yanmar engines, up to 5 kW solar, and hybrid-ready architecture. Intended for buyers seeking more space and refinement than the Antares 44 while preserving the brand's bluewater discipline for offshore confidence and extended liveaboard use.
• Antares 44 The proven 44-foot bluewater liveaboard cruising catamaran platform with a 614 sq ft mainsail, three-cabin layout, 23,700 lb cruising displacement, protected helm, shaft-drive propulsion, and skegged rudders. Available in conventional diesel (GT) or hybrid propulsion configurations for extended offshore passage-making.
• Antares 44 GT Antares 44 variant configured with conventional twin Yanmar diesel shaft drives for buyers prioritizing long-range cruising simplicity and globally serviceable propulsion without the complexity of a hybrid system.
• Antares 44 Hybrid Antares 44 variant equipped with a factory-integrated parallel hybrid propulsion system offering electric-assist modes, a 40 kWh Victron lithium battery bank, solar integration, hydrogeneration capability, fast battery recharge, and diesel redundancy for quieter low-speed operation. Priced approximately $95,000 above the conventional diesel GT configuration.
• Antares Hybrid Propulsion System Factory-integrated parallel hybrid propulsion architecture for the Antares 44 and 46, combining diesel and electric modes with a 40 kWh Victron lithium battery bank, hydrogeneration, and B&G/NMEA monitoring. Available through Hybrid Marine International (twin 12 kW motors with 2x40 hp Yanmar; mature, 2005 to present) or Integrel E-Drive (twin 15 kW axial-flux motors with 2x56 hp Yanmar; introduced 2025) partners.
• Antares University Owner Training A two-day weekend hands-on owner training program covering systems orientation, docking and boat handling practice, maintenance habits, sailing instruction, and owner community connections. Held in Merritt, North Carolina on protected coastal waterways, with optional factory tours in Argentina. Provided for new and Factory Certified pre-owned buyers.
• Factory Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program Factory-backed pre-owned Antares certification program that includes a pre-listing review of structure and systems by the same survey team used for Antares production oversight in Argentina, documented survey and service items, Antares University access, and purchase support through inspection and handover. Current listings include a 2022 Antares 44 Hybrid ($1.15M USD), 2019 Antares 44 GS ($845k), 2019 Antares 44 GT ($775k), and earlier PDQ 44 models ($435k-$648k).

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% fuel reduction on mixed-use journeys compared to twin diesel operation (Integrel controlled testing on 50-foot catamaran)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hybrid Marine InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationHybrid Marine International (division of Barrus Ltd) provides parallel hybrid propulsion systems for Antares 44 and 46. The system includes twin 12kW motors, 2x40hp Yanmar diesel engines, 40kWh Victron lithium battery bank, NMEA 2000 Victron integration, B&G Summer 2026 integration, and AI-assisted hydro regeneration. Proven technology with installations from 2005-present.
• Integrel SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrel provides integrated e-drive hybrid systems for Antares 44 and 46 with twin 15kW axial-flux motors, 2x56hp Yanmar diesel engines, B&G and NMEA device integration, and future regeneration path. Newer product introduced 2025 with higher-output motors than Hybrid Marine option.
• Victron EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationVictron Energy provides lithium battery banks (40kWh), dual inverter/chargers, and monitoring systems integrated into Antares hybrid configurations. Standard component across all hybrid installations.
• B&G (Navico)coreTechnology or IntegrationB&G provides navigation electronics including Zeus3S displays, Halo radar, ForwardScan sonar, AIS/VHF, and integration with hybrid monitoring systems. Standard navigation package on Antares boats with Summer 2026 Hybrid Marine integration.
• YanmarcoreTechnology or IntegrationYanmar provides diesel engines for Antares propulsion: 2x40hp for Antares 44 GT/Hybrid configurations, and 2x56hp for Antares 46 and Integrel hybrid configurations. Yanmar mechanics available in most cruising destinations worldwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Outremer Catamarans: French builder of performance bluewater cruising catamarans in the 45-70ft range. Most direct peer to Antares in the bluewater liveaboard segment, with comparable focus on offshore capability, owner-operated sailing, and premium pricing. Both compete for the same experienced bluewater buyer.
• Bali Catamarans: Catana Group brand focused on innovative open-space catamaran designs. Direct peer in the cruising catamaran market with comparable premium positioning and overlap in bluewater buyer consideration set.
• Gunboat: Builder of high-performance luxury catamarans. Direct peer at the premium-performance end of the catamaran market, with comparable focus on build quality, owner-operated sailing, and premium pricing though oriented more toward performance than liveaboard comfort.
• Catana Group: French builder of bluewater performance catamarans with Bali Catspace as a sister brand. Direct peer competing for bluewater buyers, with broader model range and larger scale than Antares.
• HH Catamarans: Builder of high-performance sailing catamarans including the HH44 hybrid model that won 2024 Sailing World Boat of the Year. Direct peer in the hybrid sailing catamaran space and a benchmark for hybrid technology validation in the performance cruising segment.

Broad incumbents

• Fountaine Pajot: Major French catamaran and sailboat builder with broad cruising and power catamaran portfolio. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Antares in the cruising catamaran segment but operates at much larger scale across multiple price points and customer segments.
• Leopard Catamarans: South African builder of cruising catamarans owned by Robertson & Caine. Broad incumbent with broad model range serving both private ownership and charter markets, with premium models overlapping Antares' buyer consideration.
• Lagoon Catamarans: World's largest sailing catamaran builder, part of Groupe Beneteau. Broad incumbent with extensive model range across cruising and charter segments. Overlaps with Antares at the upper end of bluewater cruising but serves a much broader market including charter and entry-level buyers.

Emerging players

• Excess Catamarans: Groupe Beneteau brand targeting younger buyers with performance-oriented cruising catamarans. Emerging player with overlapping buyer segment but more performance-oriented positioning than Antares' bluewater liveaboard focus.
• NEEL Trimarans: French builder of cruising trimarans with open-space layouts. Comparable to Antares in bluewater cruising focus and owner-operator orientation, but operating in the multihull trimaran segment with different space-versus-performance tradeoffs.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AntaresCatamarans/videos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Antares Catamarans