Catalina 350 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 350's hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass with a vinylester skincoat over layers of chop, mat, and roving, while the deck is built from the same fiberglass layers but cored with end-grain balsa that varies from half to three-quarters of an inch depending on location. A separate fiberglass grid is bonded to the hull before the liner goes in, and that grid spreads loads from the shrouds while supporting the mast, engine, and tanks. Stainless steel traverse supports steady the below-deck compression post, and pre-tapped aluminum plates are bedded where deck hardware mounts. Douglas noted the boat was built to meet CE and ABYC standards, and all wiring and plumbing run in conduits—an improvement over earlier practice. The shallow bilge is a byproduct of lowering the cabin sole to gain headroom without raising the cabinsides, and the full beam is carried almost all the way aft.

Rig and Handling

All sail controls lead aft on the 350, with halyards, mainsheet, traveler, and vang managed through two banks of stoppers beside the companionway, and lines stowed in self-draining deck bags. The mainsail traveler sits on a molded-in base forward of the companionway for mid-boom sheeting, while the double-spreader rig uses shrouds on ball sockets that move with hull flex. A 9-foot inboard genoa track eases movement on the wide decks, and most deck gear comes from Garhauer, including the turning blocks at the mast. The test boat carried in-mast furling with a 135-percent genoa on a Schaefer roller, though a full-batten main on a Dutchman flaking system is also offered. Under power, the Universal 35-horsepower diesel with a two-blade fixed prop pushed the test boat at 5 to 6 knots at three-quarter throttle, while light-air sailing in 6 to 8 knots of wind stayed below 3.5 knots; owners in stronger air reported 7-plus knots reaches, one calling her stiff as a rock.

Accommodations

Below, the saloon offers 6 feet 9 inches of headroom across a main cabin 9 feet 6 inches long on the centerline and 10 feet 5 inches wide at the settees. Douglas styled the 350 for a couple with children or owners and two guests, not for saloon sleepers. The port settee and starboard pair—one bisected by a drop-down game table—sit around a 31-by-48-inch dining table that seats six. The U-shaped galley is a big-boat affair with deep double sinks, a two-burner stove-oven, and a divided fridge-freezer with front and top access; a cutout awaits a microwave. The head is full-sized with a separate enclosed shower, and the forward cabin holds a 59-by-77-inch V-berth while an aft stateroom adds a 55-by-88-inch berth. Two cabintop hatches and five ports per side light the interior, and handrails run the deckhead.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The cockpit is oversized at 8 feet 6 inches on centerline, with 8-foot seats 17.5 inches wide and 13-inch backrests, plus a removable helm seat. A well-proportioned pedestal carries single-lever engine control, visible gauges, a 5-inch Ritchie compass, and a fold-down table. Harken B44.2 self-tailers flank the cockpit, and the cabintop test boat added a B32.2 and an electric B40.2 for the mainsheet. Stern rail observation seats with drink holders, a gate to the swim platform with two storage compartments and ladder, and deep lockers by the step round out the aft end. The huge lazarette and starboard lighted compartment handle gear, and a double anchor roller, large locker, and vertical Maxwell windlass sit forward.

The Verdict

The Catalina 350 is a thoughtfully modern cruiser that trades saloon berths for genuine big-boat comfort in a 35-foot hull. Its beam-forward volume, conduit-routed systems, and aft-led controls make it a forgiving owner's boat, though light-air sail performance is modest without a reaching sail.

Pros

Full-beam carry and lowered sole create 6-foot-9 headroom and a 10-foot-5-wide saloon
Grid-stiffened solid hull with conduit plumbing and CE/ABYC-targeted build
All sail controls led aft with mid-boom sheeting for short-handed ease

Cons