Catalina 36 Mk II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Mk II was introduced in 1994 as an evolution of the original Catalina 36, sharing the same hull shape because a basic tenet was that the boat would sail in a one-design fleet. This design continuity meant the beam, carried well aft to accommodate the double berth in the aft cabin, the flat sheer, low-profile cabin, and short overhangs all remained intact. The standard fin keel is the same design as hull number one, though shoal-draft options — including a wing keel — are available.

Construction follows the method Frank Butler championed early in American boatbuilding: three principal moldings — the hull, deck, and an interior liner incorporating the cabin sole and furniture — assembled with bonding at all intersections. The hand-laid hull uses vinylester resin on the outer plies under the gelcoat to resist osmotic blistering, with alternating layers of cloth, roving, and chopped strand mat beyond that. Hull thickness runs one inch at the centerline and five-eighths on the bottom panels. The deck is balsa-cored; earlier versions used plywood coring. The keel is lead with two percent antimony, set on type 316 stainless steel bolts.

Rig and Sail Handling

The masthead sloop rig is purpose-suited to shorthanded cruising. A Schaefer 2100 furler is standard; deck hardware comes primarily from Garhauer Marine, with Lewmar winches and hatches throughout. Primary winches are self-tailing chromed-bronze Lewmar 48s, and halyard winches are self-tailing Lewmar 30s — both proved adequate for the heavy loads encountered in testing. Standing rigging is led to the base of the cabin trunk, keeping 17-inch-wide side decks clear for movement. The standard rig stands 44 feet 9 inches; a tall rig adding 24 inches is optionally available and meaningfully improves light-air performance.

Practical Sailor's test on Puget Sound in 15-to-30-knot conditions found the boat performed creditably at sea. With a double-reefed main and shortened jib, speed reached 7.1 knots to windward, and footing off to a broad reach pushed the boat to 8 to 8.5 knots — a knot faster than theoretical hull speed. The boat tracked well under autopilot on a reach in 20-to-25-knot conditions. The test boat was also loaded for cruising with kayaks, a dinghy, and an outboard, which makes those numbers more meaningful, not less.

Accommodations

The saloon measures 13 feet 4 inches from the companionway to the forward stateroom, with a maximum headroom of 6 feet 5 inches. A U-shaped or L-shaped dinette, a purpose-built nav station, and a game table that converts to a berth give the main cabin genuine flexibility. The after stateroom is accessed through a door in the port quarter and features a stern bunk 78 inches wide and 80 inches long, making it one of the more generous aft cabins in this size class. The V-berth forward measures 90 inches wide at the head.

The galley is an L-shaped affair with a Seaward two-burner propane stove and a 60-inch counter, expandable with wooden panels over the double sinks. Freshwater capacity is 72 gallons. The chart table, at 22 by 26 inches, is too small for full-sized NOAA charts but accommodates folded charts and chart kits. Light and ventilation are served by Lewmar hatches at the bow, amidships, and over the galley and nav station.

Known Issues

Owners surveyed by Practical Sailor identified several recurring concerns. The most commonly cited is that chainplates leak and require annual inspection or rebedding — a known production-build vulnerability where the lower shroud loads transfer through tie rods to reinforced hull areas. Interior joinery drew measured complaints: cabinet corners frequently do not fit squarely, and some drawers have required planing to fit properly. One owner noted the dining table's mounting bracket is positioned far off center, creating a risk if a heavy person falls against the inboard edge. The nav station chair, in earlier models, had a lock that did not reliably hold under the table on a starboard tack; Catalina addressed this with a bronze bearing on the seat swivel and a stronger spring in later production. The 8-foot 8-inch cockpit, while comfortable, features a 42-inch destroyer wheel that impedes movement forward when singlehanding. Cockpit seat non-skid was judged inadequate — wet, slick surfaces make sail control difficult when heeled beyond 10 degrees. Stanchion height at 24 inches is 5 inches lower than preferred for an offshore yacht.

Refit Considerations

The boat responds well to targeted upgrading. Practical Sailor recommended adding a backstay adjuster to eliminate headstay sag, which the test boat exhibited without one. Switching standard Dacron running rigging to low-stretch rope is a straightforward improvement. The inboard jib track was found to be at least a foot too short for hard upwind work with a reefed main and shortened headsail — extending or supplementing the track improves upwind versatility considerably. An optional Maxwell windlass can be factory-fitted in the anchor locker, which is sized for two 35-pound anchors and rode. Engine access requires removing the companionway steps and aft stateroom panels; reaching the port side of the engine is notably difficult and worth addressing during any mechanical overhaul.

The Verdict

The Catalina 36 Mk II is a competent, well-proportioned cruising sloop built to a price and used honestly. It is not a Hinckley and does not pretend to be; Douglas himself observed that owners understand they've given a stable platform on which to safely sail, not a showcase of fine joinery. Three hulls have circumnavigated without incident — that is the boat's real curriculum vitae. Within its intended role as a couple's or family's cruising boat for coastal passages and extended weekending, it is reliably capable, easy to handle shorthanded, and amenable to the steady improvements any serious sailor will want to make.

Pros