Fellow Catalina 36 Owners:

I am sharing the sad news that William Bill Felgenhauer, co-founder of Garhauer Marine, crossed the bar on June 1, 2026. This has been posted to Facebook and a few other places, but I had not seen it mentioned here yet and wanted to share it with our community.

For over five decades, Bill spent his life building the high-quality, accessible marine hardware that became an absolute staple on our vessels. Alongside his late wife, Mary, his commitment to craftsmanship left an indelible mark on the entire sailing industry.

Bill was particularly revered for his unwavering support of Catalina owners around the world. For decades, he provided invaluable technical expertise, custom solutions, and robust blocks, travelers, and rigid vangs that became central to the Catalina cruising and racing experience. His dedication and legendary support ensured that thousands of our yachts remained safely and reliably rigged for their own voyages.

His final watch is complete, and he has set sail on his last voyage. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the team at Garhauer.