Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 38 by Matthew

Year built	1982
Location of boat	Redondo Beach, CA
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2000
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes!
Gear that's been added	New Autohelm in 2005. New Quantum Cruising Main and Roller Furling 135%. Significant increase in sailing speed at low wind velocities.
Structural or complex improvements
The boat's best features	I love the way this boat sails! It loves sailing in anything above 8 knots, and really comes alive above 12. The strength of its construction gives you you complete confidence in its ability to handle serious weather.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	The design and constuction of the hull (Sparkman and Stevens) are only flawed by the fact that anti-blistering agents were not permitted in its construction by some Federal law at the time of constuction. In my opinion, the deck, by Catalina Yachts, lacks the integrity of the hull. I have ongoing problems with stress fractures and leaks around standing rigging and stanchions. However, I must say that they are probably less prevelant than those I've encountered on other used yachts of "higher pedegree".
Sailing characterisitcs
Motoring characterisitcs
Liveability
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
Other comments