Douglas moved the mast forward compared with earlier Catalina layouts, enlarging the mainsail and reducing the jib. As a result, the 320 can be sailed much like a fractional-rig sloop. The change trades the older, balanced foretriangle for a more mainsail-driven rig and a forgiving helm.
Design and Construction
The Catalina 320 is a purposeful evolution rather than a clean-sheet design. It measures 32 feet 6 inches overall, with an 11-foot-9-inch beam and a 28-foot waterline. Displacement is 11,300 pounds, including 4,000 pounds of lead ballast, and theoretical hull speed is just over seven knots.
The bow entry is finer than those of its predecessors, and the overhang is modest, with almost none aft. At maximum beam—which sits just aft of station six—the hull tapers outward at a gentler angle. This broadens the interior and cockpit without widening the waterline.
The solid-fiberglass hull consists of nine alternating layers of 1.5-ounce mat and 21.7-ounce roving. Seven additional thicknesses are laid into the bottom, bringing it to a full inch. For this model, the material changed from woven to knitted mat. Vinylester resin covers the exterior skins above and below the waterline, and the hull carried a five-year anti-blister guarantee.
Above the waterline, the structure follows Catalina practice with a shoebox hull-to-deck joint. A vertical deck flange drops over the hull, where it is bonded with filled polyester and through-bolted on seven-inch centers. Plywood sections core the deck, while the cabin top uses end-grain balsa. Below, molded fiberglass liners are tabbed to the hull.
The keels were reduced in size and offered in either fin or shallower winglet form. Its narrower top cuts drag and lowers the center of gravity. Catalina also enlarged and reshaped the rudder, making it deeper with a shorter chord and an elliptical trailing edge. The higher aspect ratio generates more lift per square foot of wetted surface.
Rig, Sailing, and Power
The tapered, double-spreader Sparcraft mast is stepped on deck. Wire standing rigging attaches to deck plates, with stainless-steel tie rods running to an L-bar laminated into the hull. Mast loads pass through a hardcast anodized-tube compression post onto 4-by-8-inch beams in the structural grid.
A Schaefer 2000 roller furler sits above deck, and the halyards lead aft to stoppers just behind the mainsheet traveler. Standard Lewmar self-tailing winches include 44 primaries and 30s on the cabin top. Sail area is about 520 square feet, roughly matching that of the larger Catalina 34.
Under its three-cylinder Yanmar, the 320 moves effortlessly under power. Under sail, it tacks easily and points to 40–45 degrees of apparent wind. The helm is well balanced, and the boat sails best at about 15 degrees of heel. One owner who had previously sailed a Catalina 30 reported that the 320 was significantly quicker than either the 30 or 34. Another took a cruising division under a provisional PHRF rating of 150.
Cockpit and Accommodations
At the stern, the removable helmsman’s seat provides access to the swim platform and ladder. The companionway steps have rounded ends.
Below, varnished ash battens line the hull alongside teak bulkheads and a teak-and-holly sole. Two Lewmar hatches and ten portlights—four of them opening—bring in light and ventilation.
The port-side galley includes a double stainless-steel sink, Grohe faucets, laminate work surfaces, a Hillerange two-burner stove and oven, and a 5-cubic-foot Adler-Barber refrigerator with four inches of insulation.
The head is tight but complete, with a sink, toilet, and shower draining to its own sump. Removing the medicine cabinet’s back panel provides access to the hoses.
The saloon table seats four and lowers to form a double berth. Forward, removable forepeak bulkhead panels open access to stowage. The starboard master cabin, entered at the foot of the companionway, has a queen berth, standing headroom, and the boat’s only hanging locker.
Known Issues and Factory Changes
On early hulls, wiring buried beneath the pans suffered chafe and breaks. Those boats were later rewired with the cables running inside PVC conduit.
The original bilge was too shallow, leaving new owners with water sloshing amidships until baffles were installed. Catalina later retooled the molds to provide deeper cavities beneath the floorboards.
Owners also commonly complained that the vang and topping-lift lines were not led aft.
The engine is mounted aft of the companionway steps and is most readily accessed from the stateroom.
The Verdict
The Catalina 320 is a thoughtfully updated coastal cruiser. Its forward-shifted rig and reshaped appendages make it quicker and easier to drive than the Catalinas it replaced, while its solid, well-guaranteed hull and light, practical interior add to its appeal.
The factory addressed the early wiring and bilge shortcomings. Even so, a careful pre-purchase inspection should cover those retrofitted areas.
Pros
- Forward mast placement enlarges the mainsail and simplifies sail balance
- Solid-fiberglass hull with vinylester skins and an inch-thick bottom
- Well-balanced helm, easy tacking, and competitive PHRF performance
- Light, well-ventilated interior with a practical galley and clever stowage
Cons
- Early boats suffered from buried wiring chafe and water sloshing in the shallow bilge
- Owners complained that the vang and topping-lift controls weren’t led aft
- Engine access is easiest only through the stateroom
