The result is a modern fin-keel sloop with a spade rudder and fractional rig. It comes across as a thoughtful cruiser rather than a stripped-out racer.
Design and Construction
The 355 follows the straightforward structural approach of its era. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, and the deck is solid fiberglass as well. Catalina’s longstanding preference for lead rather than cast-iron ballast continues here with the 5,200-pound keel.
Interior fit and finish are above average for the class. Solid-wood joinery appears where routine use is most likely to cause chafe and wear. All wiring runs through conduits beneath the cabin sole, keeping the systems protected and easier to trace. The engine’s fuel and oil filters sit in a dedicated chest in the head—a deliberate service arrangement rather than a tight fit in a dark corner.
Rig and Sail Handling
The standard sail plan uses an in-mast mainsail with substantial vertical battens. Buyers can instead specify a conventional mainsail with more roach and slab reefing. The boat can carry a full-size 155 percent genoa, while long genoa tracks and a five-foot traveler on the coachroof, just forward of the dodger, give the trimmer plenty of range.
Twin backstays lead to chainplates set as far outboard as possible, creating a stout, stable rig. A removable bowsprit allows the boat to carry oversized reaching and downwind sails. On test sails, a loose-luffed gennaker on a continuous furler had the 355 moving at a 5-knot clip.
Handling Under Power
In flat water, the 29hp Yanmar diesel pushed the boat at just over 7 knots at full throttle and about 5.5 knots at a calm 2,200 rpm.
The steering was light and responsive, and the turning radius was close to one and a half boatlengths. The 355 was also predictable and manageable when backing down—useful qualities for a cruising boat maneuvering in tight marinas.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is enormous. Its bench seats are set low enough for the coamings to provide real back support, while the raised helm seat allows most helmspeople to see over the cabintop without standing. Access to the sidedecks is superb.
The port cockpit locker is also enormous, with a shelf for items that need to be close at hand. Douglas made the locker deep enough to hold a full-size bicycle with its front wheel removed. Two stern pulpit seats flank the walk-through transom. The low-profile binnacle leaves space on its guard for a chartplotter while keeping the display below the top of the wheel.
Accommodations
Below, the galley offers more than adequate storage, arranged around commonly used items. A reefer box beside the stove can be loaded from either the front or the top.
In the head, a raised glass vanity sink and lowered counter help create a dedicated shower area aft. The holding tank has a sight gauge, allowing the crew to time pump-outs accurately.
The saloon converts easily between different uses. Twin captain’s chairs and a port-side table become a full-length settee, while the starboard dinette uses a versatile quad-leaf table. Storage beneath the settees can be opened without lifting the cushions.
The aft stateroom has a roomy athwartship double and good natural light from one port and two hatches. Its door, however, blocks access to the stove when left open.
Forward, the master stateroom is taken directly from the 455. It has a full-size island double with an articulated head section that rises at the push of a button, along with open floor space and private storage.
Ownership and Refit Practicality
Owners who prefer a traditional sail plan can order the slab-reefing mainsail option from new. An auxiliary electrical panel makes adding electronics straightforward, while the conduit wiring helps keep that work practical rather than invasive.
The deep port locker adds useful capacity for cruising gear, and the engine filters’ dedicated location should make routine service easier.
Known Issue
The only documented layout fault is the aft-stateroom door, which swings across the path to the stove when open.
The Verdict
The Catalina 355 is a well-considered cruiser that brings many of the 445’s best ideas into a more manageable 35-footer. Its cockpit and storage are genuinely generous, the rig offers useful choices, and the forward cabin is a standout. The aft-stateroom door remains a real, if minor, planning annoyance.
Pros
- Enormous, well-detailed cockpit with superb sidedeck access
- Forward master stateroom with an island berth and private storage
- Standard in-mast rig, with a conventional slab-reefing mainsail available
- Predictable docking manners and light, responsive steering under power
Cons
- Aft-stateroom door blocks the stove when open
- Standard in-mast rig may not suit every sailor’s handling preferences
