Catalina 350 Buyer's Guide
The Catalina 350, designed by Gerry Douglas and launched in the early 2000s, earned Cruising World's "Boat of the Year" at debut on the strength of an interior concept that was genuinely novel for a 35-foot production boat. By carrying an extraordinary 13-foot beam well aft, Douglas created space for an island queen berth forward and a separate stall shower — amenities that were previously reserved for 40-foot yachts. The result is a boat that brokers accurately describe as "punching above its weight," and that reputation has proven durable in the secondary market. The Catalina 355 eventually succeeded the 350, refining hull performance, but original 350 owners often note a slightly more cavernous interior feel that the successor narrowed in its optimization for speed.
What Brokers Highlight
Three interior features drive nearly every Catalina 350 listing: the island queen berth, the separate stall shower, and the headroom. At 6'4" to 6'9" in the main salon, the 350 eliminates the stooped-over experience of smaller Catalinas. The forward stateroom's centerline queen berth — accessible from both sides without climbing over a partner — is the defining selling point for couples considering the boat as a liveaboard platform.
The U-shaped galley with Hillerange or Force 10 propane stoves and Adler Barbour refrigeration (often upgraded with additional insulation) is positioned as a sea galley in the genuine sense. The large cockpit, aided by the 13-foot beam, is consistently described as unusually spacious and comfortable for a 35-footer.
Wing keel configuration (4'5"–4'6" draft) dominates listings in the Chesapeake, Florida, and Bahamas markets. In-mast mainsail furling is standard on most examples and is pitched by brokers as ideal for shorthanded operation, though it comes with the usual tradeoffs in sail shape and pointing ability. Harken #44 primary winches and Garhauer cabin-top travelers are recurring hardware callouts.
Premium listings reflect a clear modernization arc: Raymarine Axiom chartplotters replacing original ST60 instruments, Evolution EV-200 autopilots, AIS transceivers, Garhauer or Kato dinghy davits, and solar arrays (360–720W with Blue Sky or Victron controllers). Reverse-cycle HVAC (16,000–18,500 BTU) is called out frequently in East Coast and Gulf listings where air conditioning is a practical necessity.
What to Look For When Buying
The "Catalina Smile" at the keel-to-hull joint is the standard fleet concern. Inspect during haul-out; verify keel bolt torque during survey. Most instances are cosmetic sealant issues, but structural separation demands immediate attention.
Rudder bearings: some owners report play in the rudder post or "thumping" sounds while underway on higher-hour examples. Upper and lower bearing wear requires dropping the rudder to address — a labor-intensive job. Ask specifically about rudder bearing condition and inspect for any play during sea trial.
Chainplate sealing: the 350's chainplates pass through the deck and rely on periodic re-bedding. Water tracking down bulkheads near the shroud terminals is the diagnostic tell. Unstopped moisture in the deck core or bulkhead can develop into significant structural repair cost.
Exhaust riser on the Universal M-35B: this is the standard engine and a reliable workhorse, but the exhaust riser is prone to internal corrosion over time. A failed riser can allow cooling water to back up into the engine. Ask when it was last inspected or replaced — it's a routine maintenance item on well-managed boats.
Plastic thru-hulls: early examples sometimes used Marelon thru-hull valves for cockpit drains and similar applications. These can become brittle with age. Many owners upgrade to bronze during haul-outs; if not done, factor the cost into the purchase.
What Drives Pricing
Supply is moderate and prices have been stable. The Catalina 350 occupies a well-defined niche in the mid-30s market: buyers who specifically want the island berth and separate stall shower at a price below the Catalina 36 and 380. The model's features age well because they addressed real comfort gaps that the contemporary competition didn't solve.
Compared to the Catalina 36 and Catalina 34, the 350 trades some sailing performance (the wide beam generates drag when heeled) for interior features that those boats cannot match. The Catalina 355 is the direct successor and is worth considering alongside the 350 for buyers whose priority is sailing performance — but the 350's interior often wins the comparison for liveaboard buyers.
The Bottom Line
The Catalina 350 makes its case on interior — an island berth and separate stall shower in a 35-foot coastal cruiser remain compelling two decades after the design was introduced. High freeboard in a breeze requires early reefing, and light-air performance without a reaching sail is uninspiring. For the buyer whose priorities are comfort at anchor and on passage, the 350 delivers amenities that boats five feet longer often can't match.
Price & volume trends
Median asking price and monthly listing volume for the Catalina 350. The line reads as the median ask for each month; bars are raw monthly listing counts.
Monthly breakdown · 16 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. prior mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $ 99,900 | — |
| Mar 25 | 1 | $ 79,900 | -20.0% |
| Apr 25 | 2 | $ 92,850 | +16.2% |
| May 25 | 5 | $ 89,000 | -4.1% |
| Jun 25 | 5 | $ 99,500 | +11.8% |
| Jul 25 | 4 | $ 104,750 | +5.3% |
| Aug 25 | 5 | $ 85,000 | -18.9% |
| Sep 25 | 22 | $ 97,500 | +14.7% |
| Oct 25 | 10 | $ 93,000 | -4.6% |
| Nov 25 | 8 | $ 81,625 | -12.2% |
| Dec 25 | 6 | $ 99,900 | +22.4% |
| Jan 26 | 24 | $ 98,952 | -0.9% |
| Feb 26 | 10 | $ 99,800 | +0.9% |
| Mar 26 | 6 | $ 97,000 | -2.8% |
| Apr 26 | 15 | $ 105,000 | +8.2% |
| May 26 | 13 | $ 99,000 | -5.7% |
Where they're listed
Catalina 350 listings span 3 countries. United States leads with 113 listings (95.8%), followed by Australia and Canada.
Country breakdown
118 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 98,500 | 113 | 22 | 95.8% |
| Australia | $ 98,904 | 3 | 0 | 2.5% |
| Canada | $ 115,676 | 2 | 2 | 1.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length overall, displacement, and era. Click a row to jump to that model's market page.
Peer cross-shop
11 designs · same segment| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 320 | 32.5' | $ 59,500 | 211 | 91 |
| Catalina 30 | 29.92' | $ 15,900 | 197 | 72 |
| Catalina 36 | 36.33' | $ 35,950 | 178 | 65 |
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $ 34,500 | 131 | 64 |
| Catalina 350You are here | — | $ 98,952 | 128 | 34 |
| Catalina 380 | 38.42' | $ 92,500 | 69 | 30 |
| Catalina 310 | 31' | $ 57,000 | 51 | 20 |
| Catalina 30 Mk II | 29.92' | $ 20,000 | 50 | 12 |
| Catalina 400 | 40.5' | $ 99,000 | 47 | 13 |
| Island Packet 350 | 34.67' | $ 119,000 | 38 | 17 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 350 | 33.83' | $ 34,999 | 25 | 10 |