Design and Construction
Gerry Douglas, who served as Catalina's chief designer across four decades, shaped the 315 with the structural seriousness of the larger 5 Series boats. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline with a lead bulb keel carrying 3,999 pounds of ballast, a 39.2 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio that gives the 10,201-pound yacht a stiff, predictable character. A large anchor locker forward is more than stowage: the aft side of which doubles as a collision bulkhead, isolating the forepeak from the main hull. Curved handrails run strategically from the cockpit forward so crew have something to grasp moving about, and the companionway carries dual closures — a hinged folding door for day sailing and traditional washboards for offshore work.
Rig and Handling
The 315 is a masthead sloop with the lofty, double-spreader rig and split backstays. A short sprit sets the tack of an asymmetric sail forward of the bow for utility and efficiency. Testers found the sloop frisky in light air: with the breeze still under 10 knots, she registered 6.8 to 7.0 knots under an easily set asymmetric cruising kite on a tight reach. Under her 21-horsepower Yanmar diesel turning a direct drive, the boat topped 7 knots at 2,800 rpm, moving well for a 31-foot cruiser.
Accommodations
Below, the cockpit opens into a layout that is wide, workable, and ergonomically balanced. The main saloon places an extended settee to starboard opposite a spacious U-shaped settee, dining table, and galley, with an aft-facing navigation station suited to sheltered passage work. The builder describes the interior as all-teak, part of the 5 Series step-up in finish and equipment that also brought bigger engines, larger battery banks, generous electrical panels, and increased tankage.
The Verdict
The Catalina 315 is a compact cruiser built with large-yacht engineering sensibilities: a collision-bulkhead bow, lead-ballasted stiffness, and a thoughtful deck plan from a designer with deep Catalina pedigree. She sails efficiently in light wind with asymmetric help and powers at a useful clip, while the interior balances a serious navigation station against comfortable saloon settees.
Pros
- Fourth and most recent 5 Series design from Gerry Douglas
- Forward anchor locker aft wall acts as collision bulkhead
- Double-spreader sloop with split backstays and bowsprit for asymmetric
- 6.8–7.0 kt light-air performance under cruising kite; 7 kt under power
- Wide, ergonomic cockpit with dual companionway closures
Cons
- None reported in reviewed material
