Did Manta Catamarans Go Out of Business ?

[JerryF]

9/9/08

Did Manta Catamarans close up or move?

I tried to contact Manta Catamarans using their email address, voice telephone, and FAX telephone.

My email was returned as an "unroutable address" and for both telephone numbers I received a recorded message saying that the phone number has been disconnected.

Does anyone know "what's up?"

[JerryF]

9/10/2008

To All,

I finaly traced it down and all is okay with Manta.

First they changed their phones and did not update their web site.

And second, when you go to their web site and click on SALES and then PRICING, their web site has the email address mis-spelled so when you send your question re pricing it goes to a bad email address.

[ldrhawke]

Kinda make you wonder about quality control for their boats.......

[JerryF]

For anyone who may be interested the new phone number for Manta Catamarans is 941-306-1048. By the way, they have redesigned the interior.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by JerryF

For anyone who may be interested the new phone number for Manta Catamarans is 941-306-1048. By the way, they have redesigned the interior.

How?
What?

[JerryF]

Therapy,

The following is taken from an email I received from Manta.

We have recently changed the interiors of both of our SailCat
to an updated European design by using matching
woods for the field and all the trim pieces. All of our woods are now sprayed with a beautiful lacquer finish. All doors and drawers use the patented, silent closers (hinges)
on them which allows the door to close softly on its own. (A feature that you
would expect to find on you home kitchen cabinets). (We can offer the older
style for the rest of this year as well)

With the recently redesigned interior of our Manta 42’SailCat,
the Settee is now configured in a horseshoe from it’s previous L-shape
for additional seating and table space. The setee converts to a bed as well.

The Galley is now relocated to the left of the Settee and has the sink facing
towards the port windows. We have gained additional cooking space with out
sacrificing existing room elsewhere. The navigation station is directly in front
of the helm (where the Galley previously sat) and allows for additional storage and hanging lockers.

To compliment the new cabinets we added round push button stainless steel
finger pulls as well. All appliances including the range, front facing freezer,
and front facing refrigerator & microwave are now finished with matching stainless steel along with the back splash of the cooking range area.

Recessed LED Lighting is now used exclusively in our boats and is operated
by using wall switches w/ touch dimmers rather than the old fashioned switch
on the light itself. We have also incorporated a pocket remote to control
lighting so you can easily locate your boat from a distance on the dock late
at night. Underwater lights are standard which offer an elegant look to your
boat and always attracts the attention of other curious boat owners. LED lighting
comes in three colors, natural, blue or green. As you may know, LED lighting offers
a better natural color rendition to fluorescent lighting and consumes even less energy.

We are designing a showroom floor for our customers to see large scales
samples of our products while in our factory. We expect to have it completed
next month.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by JerryF

Therapy,

The following is taken from an email I received from Manta.

We have recently changed the interiors of both of our SailCat
to an updated European design by using matching
woods for the field and all the trim pieces. All of our woods are now sprayed with a beautiful lacquer finish. All doors and drawers use the patented, silent closers (hinges)
on them which allows the door to close softly on its own. (A feature that you
would expect to find on you home kitchen cabinets). (We can offer the older
style for the rest of this year as well)

With the recently redesigned interior of our Manta 42’SailCat,
the Settee is now configured in a horseshoe from it’s previous L-shape
for additional seating and table space. The setee converts to a bed as well.

The Galley is now relocated to the left of the Settee and has the sink facing
towards the port windows. We have gained additional cooking space with out
sacrificing existing room elsewhere. The navigation station is directly in front
of the helm (where the Galley previously sat) and allows for additional storage and hanging lockers.

To compliment the new cabinets we added round push button stainless steel
finger pulls as well. All appliances including the range, front facing freezer,
and front facing refrigerator & microwave are now finished with matching stainless steel along with the back splash of the cooking range area.

Recessed LED Lighting is now used exclusively in our boats and is operated
by using wall switches w/ touch dimmers rather than the old fashioned switch
on the light itself. We have also incorporated a pocket remote to control
lighting so you can easily locate your boat from a distance on the dock late
at night. Underwater lights are standard which offer an elegant look to your
boat and always attracts the attention of other curious boat owners. LED lighting
comes in three colors, natural, blue or green. As you may know, LED lighting offers
a better natural color rendition to fluorescent lighting and consumes even less energy.

We are designing a showroom floor for our customers to see large scales
samples of our products while in our factory. We expect to have it completed
next month.

Lots of "bling"
I guess those that can afford a Manta would like it. I guess you call it "upgrades".
The fact that the settee is horseshoe would make it smaller (it already is pretty small) and not as practicable because one cannot recline against the back of a curve, something most cruisers I have met do with regularity.
This is a biggie for me. It is just me though.

And I don't care much for the idea of facing aft when at a nav station, never have. Don't understand it much but it effects how the mind works / is working.

Thanks for the info.

Obviousy Dan did not call to ask me as he knows I don't have an account fat enough to have an influence.

All IMO of course.

[Harriet]

Dan withdrew from Manta due to health issues. He no longer runs the company.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Harriet

Dan withdrew from Manta due to health issues. He no longer runs the company.

Is that why he was selling his boat?

I was under the impression he bought the company. Owner and someone else is running it?? Sold it?

"withdrew" ???

[David M]

A fancy word for quit.

[JerryF]

Hey folks don't be concerned...Manta's new telephone number is (941) 306-1048 and they are still in the same place Sarasota, Florida.

http://www.mantacatamarans.com

Give them a call if you're interested. The new principal/owner's name is Keith.

[Therapy]

Any time a company changes owners several times in a few years I become suspect.

I do love the boat though.......oh so much!!

[neelie]

Curious news - according to the chap (ex-Manta) doing some work on our boat, they sadly closed their doors a month ago.

A real shame as they were a genuinely quality builder and one of the few (only?) US built Cats on the market. They deserved better. I hope that they can find a way to spring back and get back into production with their new 47ft Manta.

[schoonerdog]

maine cats are very very nice catamarans, gemini are also built in the US for coastal cruising. I think that's about it though for any sort of volume catamaran production facility.

[neelie]

I stand corrected - you are 100% correct.

Nevertheless, its a shame to see that already small number diminish even further.