When Canadian company PDQ closed its doors for the last time, it seemed that one of North America’s few builders of big cruising cats was gone forever. This is the marine trade, though, and strange things happen. First, Pearson Composites, builder of the Alerion and J-Boat sailboat lines and True North powerboats, announced that it had bought the molds for PDQ’s 44-foot power cats and will build them at its Rhode Island facility.

Next, one of PDQ’s distinctive 44-foot Antares catamarans was spotted at Miami’s Strictly Sail show last month. On board was former PDQ sales and marketing manager Rob Poirier, who has formed a partnership with fellow cat owner Jeff Woodman to buy the PDQ sailboat molds and other assets. The new company is called Antares Yachts and will operate out of the former PDQ plant in Whitby, Ontario. We wish them the best of luck.