Catalina 34 Mk II Buyer's Guide
The Catalina 34 Mk II is the 1996-onward evolution of a coastal cruiser that sold in large numbers, and on the used market it draws buyers who want a straightforward, well-documented 34-foot sloop with a wide transom and a roomy cockpit. The Mk II from Catalina Yachts used a one-piece fiberglass hull below with balsa in the deck, retaining the original dimensions while broadening the stern. For a shopper, the appeal is familiarity and fleet size; the caution is knowing where the design runs thin.
Layouts on the Used Market
The interior runs a V-berth forward, a main saloon with starboard dinette and port settee, a starboard-side aft galley, a port-side head next to the companionway, and an aft starboard master cabin with an athwartship double berth under the cockpit. The galley is known to be tight on counter space, and the boat has no dedicated sea berth, so liveaboard comfort depends on how you use the settee. The wide transom of the Mk II makes the cockpit and boarding area noticeably larger than the earlier boat.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a bimini, dodger, autopilot, and chartplotter as standard cruising kit, with inverter, radar, air conditioning, and a cockpit shower often seen. Energy and climate clusters matter most to a buyer: an inverter and air conditioning point to a boat wired for dockside comfort, while radar and autopilot suggest longer coastal use. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are solar, a furling main, and electric winches, which signal a seller who invested in short-handed sailing.
What to Inspect
The deck is balsa-cored, so test any hardware penetrations for softness and look for dark staining around stanchions and winches where sealant may have failed. The hull-to-deck shoebox joint was fastened with adhesive and stainless screws; check the joint line for weeping or crazed adhesive that hints at a failing seal anchor. Reviewers found weather helm builds when the wind rises, so steer the boat on a close haul in a breeze and feel how much helm load develops. Storage is limited for extended cruising, so open every locker and confirm the volume meets your plans rather than trusting the brochure. One tester judged the rigging and construction light for offshore passages, so inspect chainplates, rigging terminals, and the structural grid bonding for fatigue if a bluewater history is claimed.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany. Before you commit:
- Inspect deck core around all through-deck fittings for softness
- Check the hull-deck joint for adhesive failure or staining
- Sail her hard on the wind to gauge weather helm
- Verify locker storage against your cruising needs
- Examine rigging and chainplates for offshore-use wear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Catalina 34 Mk II. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 18 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $59,999 | — |
| Feb 25 | 1 | $69,000 | +15.0% |
| Mar 25 | 1 | $94,500 | +37.0% |
| Apr 25 | 2 | $92,000 | -2.6% |
| Jun 25 | 3 | $54,000 | -41.3% |
| Jul 25 | 6 | $51,485 | -4.7% |
| Aug 25 | 3 | $64,500 | +25.3% |
| Sep 25 | 6 | $64,400 | -0.2% |
| Oct 25 | 3 | $69,900 | +8.5% |
| Nov 25 | 6 | $67,900 | -2.9% |
| Dec 25 | 4 | $34,900 | -48.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $64,950 | +86.1% |
| Mar 26 | 9 | $59,900 | -7.8% |
| Apr 26 | 12 | $58,450 | -2.4% |
| May 26 | 6 | $53,450 | -8.6% |
| Jun 26 | 7 | $65,000 | +21.6% |
| Jul 26 | 12 | $62,900 | -3.2% |
| Aug 26 | 5 | $59,000 | -6.2% |
Where they're listed
Catalina 34 Mk II listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 63 (84.0%), followed by United Kingdom and Canada.
Country view
75 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $59,900 | 63 | 23 | 84.0% |
| United Kingdom | $50,910 | 6 | 0 | 8.0% |
| Canada | $95,000 | 5 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Germany | $134,007 | 1 | 1 | 1.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 36 Mk II | 36.33' | $ 69,000 | 243 | 58 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 34 | 35.14' | $ 115,660 | 193 | 28 |
| Catalina 34 Mk IIYou are here | — | $ 62,900 | 75 | 24 |
| Bavaria Yachts 34 | 35.6' | $ 58,206 | 69 | 10 |
| Catalina 30 Mk II | 29.92' | $ 20,000 | 61 | 16 |
| Moody 31 Mk II | 30.75' | $ 33,268 | 42 | 5 |
| Sabre 34 | 34.18' | $ 24,500 | 39 | 5 |
| Oday 34 | 34' | $ 19,450 | 30 | 7 |
| Sadler 34 | 34.75' | $ 33,982 | 22 | 4 |
| Sabre 38 Mk II | 38.67' | $ 60,000 | 17 | 1 |
| Morgan Yachts 34 | 34' | $ 32,475 | 14 | 4 |