Catalina 28 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Hull Form

The 28-foot-6-inch hull carries a healthy 10-foot-2-inch beam well aft, especially in the later MK II, and the full bilges create a voluminous shape that the reversed broad transom and ample freeboard only reinforce. Above the waterline the sheerline is flat, the bow overhang moderate, and the sloping cabintrunk runs well into the foredeck, capped by dark portlights that are pure vintage Catalina. Below, the forefoot is relatively shallow, the fin keel angles aft, and a balanced rudder tracks behind it; the standard fin draws 5 feet 3 inches and carries 3,200 pounds of iron ballast, while the popular 3-foot-8-inch shoal-draft wing keel is slightly heavier and made the boat accessible to thinner water. A 1995 update widened the aft hull slightly to make the aft cabin more commodious and became the MK II.

Construction

The hull is a solid, hand-laid fiberglass laminate without a core, while the deck and cabin are balsa-cored composites. Hull and deck meet in an overlapping shoebox joint that also carries the aluminum toerail, fastened with adhesives and mechanical fasteners. Inside, marine plywood bulkheads with hardwood veneers slot into molded fiberglass liners that form the interior structure, and fiberglass stringers stiffen the hull athwartships. The iron keel is externally fastened. One of the MK II’s quieter successes was the elimination of all exterior brightwork, with original boats wearing teak coachroof handrails and later ones moving to stainless.

Rig and Handling

As a double-spreader masthead sloop, the 28 was offered in standard and tall rigs, the latter standing 44 feet 4 inches to the air. Sail area-to-displacement runs 14.21 for the fin-keel standard rig and 15.46 with the tall rig, and owners report that with the working sail and a 150 genoa the boat performs well even in light wind. The deck-stepped mast is well braced by fore and aft lower shrouds, chainplates sit inboard for tight sheeting and easy passage, and most boats lead all sail controls aft with single-line reefing; the mainsheet traveler sits forward over the companionway. Owners describe a light helm even hard on the wind, good balance on a 10-knot beam reach, a close-winded nature, and a nice turn of speed off the wind, with the boat staying stiff in a blow. It is not, however, an offshore cruiser.

Accommodations

The interior packs two genuine sleeping cabins, a spacious saloon, full galley and head with shower, and a nav station into 28 feet, with more room than many 32-footers. The forward V-berth is good sized and vented by an overhead hatch set on the sloping trunkhouse where it catches air and sheds water. The saloon has facing settees around a centerline table draping the mast post; the starboard galley holds a large sink, counter space, and usually a two-burner stove, while the head opposite includes a shower. The icebox sits deep under the nav desk and is awkward to reach. Aft, an athwartship double lies beneath the cockpit, entered from behind the galley; on the original boat it vented only through a small port to the cockpit, while the MK II’s widened stern made the berth slightly larger and able to take two adults.

Deck Layout and Equipment

On deck the T-shaped cockpit with Edson 32-inch destroyer wheel and Lewmar 30 primaries is a highlight, with fairly wide side decks and double lifelines that Catalina was among the first to standardize. The walk-through transom and narrow stern platform ease dinghy and water access, and the boarding ladder folds up to form the stern rail. The original boats were fitted with Universal M3-20 diesels, while later models were upgraded to a 26-horsepower Universal 25XS; sources differ on the early horsepower rating. Engine access is excellent, though the stuffing box is reached only by tearing the aft berth apart. Most boats carry hot and cold pressure water.

Known Issues

Owners point to an inaccessible refrigeration compartment, inadequate locker latches, stern-located batteries, and poor aft-cabin ventilation. Some have reported gelcoat cracking and crazing, and annoying leaks including around the pedestal base. Fine deck-gelcoat fractures at tight cockpit radii and hull-deck joint cracks from dock contact are both common. Sound insulation needs improvement on older models.

The Verdict

The Catalina 28 is a sensible, roomy coastal cruiser that sails better than its pedigree suggests and is backed by strong factory support and an active owner network, making it a low-friction step up from a smaller daysailer.

Pros