The Catalina 28 represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of American mid-sized cruisers, designed by Gerry Douglas to provide the amenities of a much larger yacht within a manageable 28-foot footprint. Introduced in the early 1990s as the successor to the venerable Catalina 27, the 28 was engineered to bridge the gap between trailerable pocket cruisers and the more substantial Catalina 30. Unlike its predecessor, which featured a narrower beam and more traditional lines, the Catalina 28 utilized a modern hull form with a wider beam carried further aft, significantly increasing interior volume and initial stability. The model was produced in two primary iterations: the Mark I and the refined Mark II, the latter of which incorporated a walk-through transom and updated deck styling that aligned with the "New Generation" aesthetic seen in the larger Catalina 320 and 400 models.
Catalina 28 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview
- Make
- Catalina
- Model
- 28
- Builder
- Catalina Yachts
- Designer
- Gerry Douglas
- Number Built
- 620
- Production Year(s)
- 1991 - ??
Below are the most recent Catalina 28 sailboat listings (up to 10).
Standard listing sites miss the technical details sailors need. Our database of 10,000+ models unlocks advanced filtering so you can search by keel type, rig configuration, and performance ratios—even when the seller forgot to include them.
Search across multiple sailboat listing websites at once, and get notified of new listings!
Example: Daily emails for "40 ft fin keel fractional sloops under $200k in Canada"Start Searching Now
| Source | Year | Make | Model | Price | Cabins | Heads | City | Country | Listing Date |
|---|
DISCLAIMER: We are not affiliated with any external listing websites in any way. We simply aggregate publicly available listings to make it easier for buyers to find sailboats for sale. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listings, so please verify all information with the seller before making any decisions.
Market Overview
Price & Volume Trends
Monthly breakdown
| Month | Listings | Median Asking Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | 3 | $19,900 |
| Apr 2025 | 3 | $22,900 |
| May 2025 | 1 | $25,000 |
| Jun 2025 | 1 | $24,950 |
| Jul 2025 | 2 | $24,750 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 | $23,800 |
| Sep 2025 | 4 | $30,700 |
| Oct 2025 | 5 | $25,000 |
| Nov 2025 | 5 | $25,000 |
| Dec 2025 | 1 | $25,000 |
| Jan 2026 | 3 | $35,982 |
| Feb 2026 | 1 | $25,000 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | $32,000 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | $22,928 |
Median Price by Country
Listings by Country
| Model | LOA | Median Price (USD) | Listings | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 30 | 29.92' | $16,500 | 153 | 37 |
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $34,000 | 99 | 39 |
| Catalina 27 | 26.83' | $7,725 | 62 | 19 |
| Catalina 28 Mk II | 28.33' | $32,900 | 52 | 17 |
| Catalina 25 | 25' | $7,000 | 45 | 8 |
| Catalina 270 | 28.33' | $25,990 | 35 | 9 |
| Catalina 28 | $25,000 | 28 | 4 | |
| Oday 28 | 28.25' | $9,800 | 21 | 11 |
| Marlow-Hunter 28 | 28.01' | $17,279 | 12 | 6 |
| Tartan 28 | 28.25' | $23,250 | 10 | 3 |
| Country | Median Price (USD) | Listings (past 12 months) | Recent (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $25,000 | 23 | 2 |
| Canada | $42,991 | 2 | 0 |
| United Kingdom | $31,754 | 2 | 1 |
| Australia | $42,259 | 1 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a used Catalina 28 cost?
- The median asking price for a used Catalina 28 over the past 12 months is $25,000. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
- How many Catalina 28 sailboats are for sale?
- We have tracked 28 Catalina 28 listings over the past 12 months, with 4 listed within the last 90 days.
- Are Catalina 28 prices going up or down?
- The median asking price for the Catalina 28 has increased by 14% over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month average.
- Where is the cheapest place to buy a Catalina 28?
- United States currently has the lowest median asking price at $25,000, while Canada is the most expensive at $42,991 — a 72% difference.
- What are similar sailboats to the Catalina 28?
- Comparable models include the Catalina 30, Catalina 34, Catalina 27. See the comparison table above for pricing and availability.
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.