Catalina 355 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 355 carries the structural logic of its era without fuss. Below the waterline the hull is solid fiberglass; the deck is solid fiberglass as well, and Catalina’s long habit of using lead rather than cast-iron ballast carries here in the 5,200-pound keel. Interior fit and finish sits above average for the class, with solid wood joinery placed in exactly the spots that take routine chafe and abuse. All wiring runs in conduits beneath the cabin sole, a detail that keeps systems traceable and protected. The engine’s fuel and oil filters sit in a dedicated chest in the head, a deliberate service layout rather than a squeeze into a dark corner.

Rig and Handling

The standard rig is an in-mast mainsail with substantial vertical battens, though a conventional mainsail with more roach and slab reefing can be specified as an option anchor. A full-sized 155 percent genoa is within the boat’s capacity, and long genoa tracks paired with a five-foot traveler on the coachroof just forward of the dodger give the trimmer real range. Twin backstays are anchored to chainplates pushed as far outboard as possible for a stout, stable rig. A removable bowsprit lets the boat fly over-sized reaching and downwind sails, and on test sails a loose-luffed gennaker on a continuous furler had the 355 moving at a 5-knot clip.

Under power, the 29hp Yanmar diesel pushed the boat at just over 7 knots at full throttle in flat water, settling to about 5.5 knots at a calm 2,200 rpm anchor. The steering was light and responsive, the turning radius close to one and a half boatlengths, and the boat predictable and manageable backing down—useful traits for a cruiser worked in tight marinas.

Accommodations

The cockpit is enormous, with bench seats set low so the coamings behind give real back support, and a raised helm seat that lets most helmspeople see over the cabintop without standing. Access to the sidedecks is superb, and the port cockpit locker is enormous with a shelf for quick-grab items—Douglas made it deep enough for a full-size bicycle with the front wheel off. Two stern pulpit seats flank a walk-through transom, and the low-profile binnacle leaves room on its guard for a chartplotter that stays below the top of the wheel.

Below, the galley storage is more than adequate and shaped around common items, with a reefer box beside the stove that loads from front or top. The head uses a raised glass vanity sink and a lowered counter to carve out a dedicated shower space aft. The saloon converts easily: twin captain chairs and a port table become a full-length settee, while a starboard dinette folds on a versatile quad-leaf table. All settee storage opens without lifting cushions. The aft stateroom holds a roomy athwartship double with good light from one port and two hatches, though its door blocks the stove when open. Forward, the master stateroom is lifted straight from the 455, with a full-size island double whose articulated head raises at a button, plus open floor and private storage.

Known Issues

The only documented layout fault is the aft stateroom door, which swings across the path to the stove when open anchor.

Refits and Ownership

Owners favoring a traditional sail plan can order the slab-reef mainsail option from new, and the auxiliary electrical panel makes adding electronics straightforward. The holding tank carries a sight gauge so a pump-out can be timed accurately. The deep port locker and conduit wiring suggest that routine ownership stays practical rather than invasive.

The Verdict

The Catalina 355 is a considered cruiser that scales the 445’s best ideas into a manageable 35-footer. Its cockpit and storage are genuinely generous, the rig is flexible, and the forward cabin is a standout. The aft-stateroom door is a real, if minor, planning annoyance.

Pros