Catalina 28 Buyer's Guide
The Catalina 28, designed by Gerry Douglas, arrived in the early 1990s as the successor to the Catalina 27 and quickly established itself as one of the most practical coastal cruisers in the 28-foot class. Its defining achievement was delivering genuine two-cabin accommodations — forward V-berth and a real aft cabin under the cockpit — in a package that sailors described as having the feel of a much larger boat. The Mark I and Mark II variants share the same hull; the MkII introduced a walk-through transom and updated deck styling in the mid-1990s. The model holds a notable distinction: brokers routinely market it as the largest boat that can legally be trailered on a standard highway vehicle, which broadens its appeal well beyond slip-based sailors.
What Brokers Highlight
The two-cabin layout is the headline. A dedicated aft cabin with a double berth under the cockpit, combined with a V-berth forward and a U-shaped dinette in the main salon, gives the 28 a privacy-per-foot ratio that few competitors in the class can match. Headroom of approximately 6'2" in the main cabin eliminates the claustrophobic feel that plagues many 28-footers. Brokers target sailors who want coastal cruising comfort without the operating costs and slip fees of a 35-footer.
The trailerable angle is a genuine selling point in listings targeting Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, and inland lake buyers. A boat that can be launched anywhere opens up cruising grounds that permanent slip boats can never access.
Hillerange or Seaward two-burner propane stoves, Nova Kool refrigeration, and pressurized fresh water with 49-gallon tanks are the expected galley standard in well-maintained listings. The MkII's walk-through transom and stern rail seats are highlighted as quality-of-life improvements over the MkI. Pro Furl or Harken roller furling and Lewmar self-tailing winches are consistent hardware callouts.
Wing keel configuration (shoal draft) dominates the market for Pacific Northwest and shallow-water buyers; fin keel listings are positioned toward buyers who prioritize upwind performance. Tall rig configurations appear in listings targeting light-air cruising regions. Modern power upgrades — 600W solar arrays, Victron battery monitors, Xantrex chargers, LED conversions — are increasingly standard in premium listings, reflecting demand from buyers who want extended cruising without shore power dependence.
What to Look For When Buying
The "Catalina Smile" — hairline cracking at the keel-to-hull joint — is the standard Catalina fleet concern and the 28 is no exception. Most examples are managing a cosmetic sealant issue, but keel bolt torque should be verified during survey and any structural separation warrants immediate investigation.
Compression post and deck sag: the mast is deck-stepped, and the wooden block below the mast step can rot if water has entered through inadequately bedded hardware. Standing water around the mast base or a visually sagging deck profile are the signals. Inspect the block and its bilge-level support directly.
Chainplate leaks: the chainplates pass through the deck and rely on sealant that dries and fails over time. Water staining on bulkheads near the shroud terminals is the diagnostic indicator. Persistent leaks can soften the structural plywood these chainplates bolt to.
Engine maintenance: most units carry Universal (Westerbeke) diesels — the M3-20 (18hp) is most common. Heat exchanger scale buildup and exhaust riser internal corrosion are the standard maintenance concerns for engines of this age. Verify service records and specifically ask about riser replacement.
What Drives Pricing
Supply is low and prices have been rising — the Catalina 28 is not an abundant boat, which gives well-maintained examples real leverage. Brand recognition, the Catalina 28 International Association's technical support, and the trailerable positioning sustain demand across a broader buyer pool than slip-based boats typically reach.
The MkII commands a premium over MkI examples primarily for the walk-through transom and updated deck. Freshwater-only boats command a further premium where available. Wallas D35 diesel furnace installations are called out as significant value-adds in Pacific Northwest and Northeast listings where four-season use justifies the investment.
Compared to the Catalina 27, Catalina 25, and O'Day 28, the 28 competes on interior volume and the two-cabin layout — differentiators that matter enormously to coastal cruising buyers for whom the boat will serve as an overnight home.
The Bottom Line
The Catalina 28 delivers what matters most to its target buyer: a genuine two-cabin layout, manageable size, and the flexibility of a trailerable platform. Performance in light air is modest, and the MkI's electrical system benefits from updating on older examples. For the coastal cruiser who wants the most functionality in the smallest practical footprint, the 28 earns its position as one of the stronger buys in its class.
Price & volume trends
Median asking price and monthly listing volume for the Catalina 28. The line reads as the median ask for each month; bars are raw monthly listing counts.
Monthly breakdown · 15 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. prior mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 3 | $ 19,900 | — |
| Apr 25 | 3 | $ 22,900 | +15.1% |
| May 25 | 1 | $ 25,000 | +9.2% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $ 24,950 | -0.2% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $ 24,750 | -0.8% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $ 23,800 | -3.8% |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $ 30,700 | +29.0% |
| Oct 25 | 6 | $ 25,000 | -18.6% |
| Nov 25 | 5 | $ 25,000 | 0.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $ 25,000 | 0.0% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $ 35,982 | +43.9% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $ 25,000 | -30.5% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 32,000 | +28.0% |
| Apr 26 | 8 | $ 26,041 | -18.6% |
| May 26 | 3 | $ 23,600 | -9.4% |
Where they're listed
Catalina 28 listings span 5 countries. United States leads with 27 listings (75.0%), followed by Canada and Spain.
Country breakdown
36 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 25,000 | 27 | 7 | 75.0% |
| Canada | $ 35,982 | 3 | 1 | 8.3% |
| Spain | $ 34,788 | 3 | 3 | 8.3% |
| United Kingdom | $ 29,589 | 2 | 1 | 5.6% |
| Australia | $ 42,285 | 1 | 0 | 2.8% |
Comparable models
Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.
Peer cross-shop
10 designs · same segment| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 30 | 29.92' | $ 15,900 | 197 | 72 |
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $ 34,500 | 131 | 64 |
| Catalina 27 | 26.83' | $ 7,500 | 75 | 19 |
| Catalina 28 Mk II | 28.33' | $ 32,900 | 64 | 28 |
| Catalina 25 | 25' | $ 7,000 | 50 | 15 |
| Catalina 30 Mk II | 29.92' | $ 20,000 | 50 | 12 |
| Catalina 270 | 28.33' | $ 25,990 | 48 | 19 |
| Catalina 28You are here | — | $ 25,000 | 36 | 12 |
| ODay 28 | 28.25' | $ 9,800 | 27 | 10 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $ 18,002 | 15 | 7 |