Catalina 28 Mk II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Mk II carries the distinct Catalina profile: a flat sheerline, moderate bow overhang, reversed broad transom, and ample freeboard under a sloping cabintrunk that runs well into the foredeck. Dark portlights are vintage Catalina. 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, and fiberglass liners are used throughout for interior structure, with marine-plywood bulkheads slotted into the deck liner and fiberglass stringers stiffening the hull athwartships. One of the Mk II’s quieter successes was the elimination of all exterior brightwork, with stainless replacing the original teak coachroof handrails.

The aft hull section was widened slightly in the update, and beam is carried well aft especially in the Mk II, giving the boat a full-bilged, voluminous form below the waterline where the forefoot is relatively shallow. The fin keel angles aft and the rudder is balanced; standard draft is 5 feet 3 inches, with a 3-foot 8-inch shoal-draft wing keel a popular option. Iron ballast of 3,200 pounds sits in the externally fastened keel on the fin model, which displaces 8,300 pounds.

Rig and Handling

As a double-spreader masthead sloop with a deck-stepped mast well supported by fore and aft lower shrouds, the 28 was offered in standard or tall rig, the latter reaching 44 feet 4 inches aloft. Sail area-to-displacement sits at 14.21 for the fin-keel standard rig and 15.46 with the tall rig. Chainplates are mounted inboard for tight sheeting and easy passage, all halyards lead to winches either side of the companionway, and the mainsheet traveler sits forward over the companionway. Most boats lead all sail controls aft including single-line reefing. Owners report the helm stays light even hard on the wind, the boat balances well on a 10-knot beam reach, and while relatively close winded it shows a nice turn of speed off the wind; the design is stiff in a blow. This is, plainly, not an offshore cruiser.

Accommodations

Two genuine sleeping cabins, a spacious saloon, full galley and head with shower, and a nav station all fit inside 28 feet. The forward V-berth is good sized with an overhead hatch set into the sloping trunkhouse where it catches air and water. The saloon has facing settees around a centerline table draping the mast post. The galley to starboard carries a large sink, good counter space, and usually a two-burner stove; the Mk II redesigned this space. The icebox under the nav desk is deep and awkward to reach. Opposite, the head includes a shower. The aft cabin enters from behind the galley and holds an athwartship double that the Mk II enlarged to fit two adults. Ventilation aft on the original came only through a small port into the cockpit, and owners still note poor airflow there.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The T-shaped cockpit with Edson 32-inch destroyer wheel and walk-through transom is a highlight, the narrow stern platform and folding ladder doubling as stern rail. Primary winches are Lewmar 30s. Catalina was among the first to make double lifelines standard, and stanchions and pulpits are well supported if a touch short. Wide side decks aid movement, and the boat has no cockpit locker for storage.

Known Issues

Several service and build weaknesses have surfaced in owner experience. Owners report the inaccessible refrigeration compartment and inadequate locker latches on the Catalina 28. Batteries sit in the stern, a weight-and-access penalty. Gelcoat cracking and crazing appear on some hulls, and small deck cracks are common especially at tightly radiused cockpit corners; cracking along the deck-to-hull joint usually follows contact with pilings and docks while maneuvering. Annoying leaks, including around the pedestal base, show up in owner reports, and sound insulation needs improvement on older models. The deep icebox and aft-cabin ventilation limits were noted above.

The Verdict

The Catalina 28 Mk II is an affordable, easy-to-sail coastal cruiser with a remarkably roomy interior, excellent factory and owner-group support, and a forgiving helm. It is not built for offshore work, and buyers should weigh the aft-cabin airflow, icebox access, and gelcoat-deck joint care against the boat’s strong livability and handling.

Pros