Catalina 30 Mk II Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The Mk II is defined by its T-shaped cockpit, a change from the earlier generation, and belowdecks the arrangement centers on a forward cabin with tapered V-berths forming a large double, an L-shaped settee to port opposite a straight settee, a U-shaped galley to port, and a large double quarterberth under the cockpit to starboard. The cabin table folds against the forward bulkhead, and the engine sits under the settee and part of the galley counter.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, dodgers, bimini tops, autopilots, and chartplotters are commonly fitted to Catalina 30 Mk II boats. Radar and hot water fall into the sometimes-or-owner-upgrade category rather than standard equipment, so their presence signals a previous owner's investment rather than a factory baseline. Double lifelines, double bow and stern rails, a permanently mounted manual bilge pump operable from the cockpit, and a small foredeck anchor well with protected running lights are part of the original specification, as are double bow and stern cleats without chocks.

What to Inspect

Documented survey findings on the Catalina 30 line should anchor any pre-purchase inspection. There was some play in the rudder stocks of every Catalina 30 examined, and all boats showed local deflection of the top of the cabin trunk in the way of the mast step, varying from as little as 1/16 inch. Some owners report problems with leaking stanchions, which are through bolted with washers rather than backing plates. The sliding companionway hatch is unnecessarily large, and the main cabin bulkhead slopes forward so the drop boards cannot be left out for ventilation when it rains. A molded hatch at the front of the cabin trunk is likely to be a leaker in heavy weather, and the optional shower plus the uninsulated icebox drain directly to the bilge. The engine location in the lowest part of the bilge makes it vulnerable to bilgewater.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Catalina 30 Mk II typically appears on the used market in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. When evaluating a candidate, keep a short checklist: confirm rudder-stock play and mast-step deflection; test stanchion sealing and companionway bulkhead slope; verify the forward trunk hatch and direct-to-bilge drains; and check the engine bay for bilgewater exposure. A clean example with the common dodger, bimini, autopilot, and chartplotter suite and a documented chainplate-upgrade history is the realistic target.