The Catboat Association was founded on August 18, 1962, with the objective of promoting interest in catboats, exchanging information through the publication of bulletins, encouraging cruising catboat races and conducting an annual meeting.

Three bulletins are published each year, to provide a means of exchanging information on the Catboat Association activities, as well as on catboats.  A schedule of the catboat races and rendezvous is printed each year in the spring bulletin.

The current annual meeting of the Catboat Association was held January 27, 2024, at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, Connecticut.

Initially, the Catboat Association as the late John Killam Murphy once remarked, was a benevolent despotism.  It had no charter, constitution or bylaws.

Now, however, the CBA is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the state of Massachusetts with bylaws to govern it and elections held annually.

In the early days of the Catboat Association, John M. Leavens and Paul Birdsall, Co-Secretaries, provided formative leadership.  Mollie Birdsall served as Membership Secretary and Treasurer for the first 15 years, followed by Lynda Cassidy for the next 13 years.  A Steering Committee was established in 1971 with Lee Brown as its Chairman.  He was followed by Ben Brewster, who provided leadership and direction for The Catboat Association from 1975 to 1986.  Frank Cassidy served as chairman from 1986 until 1994, when Tom Maddigan assumed command until 2000.  Bob Luckraft served as chairman until 2006, followed by Eric Peterson, who retired in 2009.  Tim Lund served as chair until 2022.  Nate Titcomb now chairs the Steering Committee, which meets regularly to set policy for the CBA.  Treasurer Tim Fallon is in charge of accounts receivable and payable.  Tom Sieniewicz serves as Clerk of the organization.

An Editorial Board supported by a group of Contributing Editors prepares the Catboat Association bulletins.  Membership Secretary Carolyn Pratt handles new membership applications, changes of address, boat information and collects annual dues; and storekeeper Mary Crain is in charge of CBA merchandise and all publications.