Design and Construction
The 5,000-pound boat has a U-shaped hull section that runs down to the fin before flattening aft. Douglas contends that this shape is less prone to pounding to weather in a choppy seaway.
Construction consists of a hand-laid fiberglass hull with a bonded fiberglass liner and a one-piece molded deck with nonskid surfaces. Catalina’s “Strike Zone” forward impact bulkhead sits in the bow, which also incorporates an impact-absorbing crumple zone for collision tolerance.
Both keel options are lead and secured with stainless keelbolts. The standard fin keel draws 4 feet 8 inches and weighs 2,040 pounds; the optional shoal wing keel draws 3 feet 8 inches and weighs 2,200 pounds. Catalina backed the structure with a five-year hull warranty and a five-year blister-protection program.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The 275 Sport carries a single-spreader 15/16ths Selden rig on a deck-stepped mast that rises 39 feet above the waterline. Its high-roach, fully battened mainsail has slab reefing, while the self-tacking 90-percent headsail runs on a traveler just forward of the mast.
All control lines lead aft to the cockpit. A ball-bearing mainsheet traveler divides the cockpit into forward and aft sections, and tiller steering with an extension is standard. The retractable bowsprit can carry an asymmetrical cruising chute or the optional code-zero and Doyle APC spinnaker on top-down furling.
Writing in boats.com, testers found the boat slipping along at 5.5 knots in eight knots of apparent wind at 45 degrees. It also carried four knots on a broad reach. The boat was quick, balanced, and genuinely easy to sail short-handed.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit has contoured coamings, long benches, and helm seats raised to deck level. Two lockers sit aft: a sail locker to port and storage to starboard.
Below, the white interior is finished with solid maple trim and a teak-and-holly laminate sole. Cabin headroom is limited, but the layout uses the available space efficiently. The compact galley to starboard includes a sink, manual pump, one-burner butane stove, and pullout cooler drawer. Opposite is a fully enclosed head with a manual toilet, sink, shower, and hanging locker.
Forward, two 6-foot 5-inch berths convert into settees around a drop-down table. The starboard quarterberth is long enough, Douglas noted, to stow a kayak or paddleboard. Four zippered gear bags slide into hull-side tracks, serving as both backrests and soft storage.
Equipment and Systems
The standard 14-horsepower Yanmar diesel with sail drive sits beneath the companionway steps. In testing, it pushed the boat at nearly seven knots under power.
The 12-volt electrical system centers on a single Group 27 battery. Equipment includes LED lighting throughout, a masthead anchor light, a steaming light, and international-compliant running lights.
Deck and safety gear includes a manual bilge pump with a through-deck handle, a self-bailing cockpit, molded anchor locker, stainless pulpit, and retractable boarding ladder. A single-point lifting rig is available for launching from a trailer or hoist.
The Verdict
The Catalina 275 Sport is a thoughtfully modern interpretation of a classic small Catalina. It’s trailerable, quick, and remarkably simple to handle from the cockpit, yet still provides a fully enclosed head and a surprisingly versatile interior for weekending.
Its lead keels, forward impact protection, and Five Series construction give it structural credibility. The self-tacking jib and control lines led aft also make it a forgiving choice for a short-handed crew.
Pros
- Fast and balanced under sail, with easy short-handed handling
- Trailerable, with standard fin and optional shoal wing keels
- Lead keels, a forward impact bulkhead, and a five-year structural warranty
- Enclosed head, practical galley, and a quarterberth long enough for a paddleboard
Cons
- Limited cabin headroom
- A single battery and modest standard solar input
- Compact galley and head require compromises on extended cruises
