Rather than pursuing spartan minimalism, the Catalina 350 is a modern cruiser designed for interior volume and easy handling. It measures 35 feet 3 inches overall, carries a 13-foot beam and has a length-to-beam ratio of 2.71. Displacement is roughly 13,635 pounds.
Design and Construction
The 350 has a solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull with a vinylester skincoat over layers of chop, mat and roving. The deck uses the same fiberglass layers but has an end-grain balsa core that varies from half an inch to three-quarters of an inch, depending on location.
A separate fiberglass grid is bonded to the hull before the liner is installed. The grid spreads loads from the shrouds and supports the mast, engine and tanks. Stainless steel transverse supports steady the below-deck compression post, while pre-tapped aluminum plates are bedded at deck-hardware mounting points.
Douglas said the boat was built to meet CE and ABYC standards. All wiring and plumbing run through conduits, an improvement over Catalina’s earlier practice.
The shallow bilge results from lowering the cabin sole to gain headroom without raising the cabinsides. The hull also carries its full beam almost all the way aft.
Rig, Handling and Performance
All sail controls lead aft. The halyards, mainsheet, traveler and vang run through two banks of stoppers beside the companionway, with the lines stored in self-draining deck bags. The mainsail traveler sits on a molded-in base forward of the companionway and provides mid-boom sheeting.
The double-spreader rig uses shrouds mounted on ball sockets that move with hull flex. A 9-foot inboard genoa track leaves more room to move along the wide decks. Most of the deck hardware is from Garhauer, including the turning blocks at the mast.
The test boat had in-mast furling and a 135-percent genoa on a Schaefer roller. A full-batten mainsail with a Dutchman flaking system was also offered.
Under power, the 35-horsepower Universal diesel and two-blade fixed propeller drove the test boat at 5 to 6 knots at three-quarter throttle. In 6 to 8 knots of wind, sailing speed remained below 3.5 knots. Owners sailing in stronger air reported reaching at more than 7 knots; one described the boat as stiff as a rock.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The oversized cockpit measures 8 feet 6 inches along the centerline. Its 8-foot seats are 17.5 inches wide and have 13-inch backrests. The helm seat is removable.
A well-proportioned pedestal carries a single-lever engine control, visible gauges, a 5-inch Ritchie compass and a fold-down table. Harken B44.2 self-tailing winches flank the cockpit. On the cabintop, the test boat also had a B32.2 and an electric B40.2 for the mainsheet.
At the stern, rail-mounted observation seats include drink holders. A gate opens onto the swim platform, which has two storage compartments and a ladder. Deep lockers beside the step provide more storage, as do the huge lazarette and a lighted compartment to starboard.
At the bow, the Catalina 350 has a double anchor roller, a large locker and a vertically mounted Maxwell windlass.
Accommodations
The saloon has 6 feet 9 inches of headroom. The main cabin measures 9 feet 6 inches along the centerline and 10 feet 5 inches across at the settees. Douglas arranged the interior for a couple with children, or for owners and two guests, rather than for crews who need to sleep in the saloon.
A port settee and a pair of seats to starboard surround a 31-by-48-inch dining table that seats six. A drop-down game table divides the starboard pair.
The U-shaped galley has the fittings of a larger boat: deep double sinks, a two-burner stove and oven, and a divided refrigerator-freezer with both front and top access. A cutout is provided for a microwave.
The full-sized head includes a separate enclosed shower. The forward cabin has a 59-by-77-inch V-berth, while the aft stateroom provides a 55-by-88-inch berth. Two cabintop hatches and five ports on each side bring light into the interior, and handrails run along the deckhead.
The Verdict
The Catalina 350 is a thoughtfully designed modern cruiser that gives up saloon berths in exchange for genuine big-boat comfort within a 35-foot hull. Its beam-forward volume, conduit-routed systems and controls led aft make it a forgiving owner’s boat. Light-air performance, however, is modest without a reaching sail.
Pros
- Full-beam carry and a lowered sole provide 6-foot-9-inch headroom and a 10-foot-5-inch-wide saloon
- Grid-stiffened solid hull, conduit-routed plumbing and wiring, and construction intended to meet CE and ABYC standards
- All sail controls lead aft, with mid-boom sheeting suited to short-handed handling
Cons
- Speed remained below 3.5 knots in 6 to 8 knots of wind under standard sail
- The saloon wasn’t designed for sleeping, limiting the berths to four
- In-mast furling was standard on the test specification and limits traditional mainsail options
