The Catalina 38 is a distinct departure from the standard "comfort-first" design philosophy typically associated with Catalina Yachts. While most of the company's fleet was designed in-house by Frank Butler, the Catalina 38 was born from the high-performance molds of the Yankee 38, a Sparkman & Stephens (S&S) design (specifically S&S #2094) that descended from the legendary IOR One Ton racer Lightnin'. After Yankee Yachts went bankrupt in the mid-1970s, Frank Butler acquired the molds and modified the design to suit a broader consumer market. Between 1978 and 1990, approximately 365 hulls were produced, offering a unique blend of East Coast racing pedigree and West Coast production efficiency.
Catalina 38 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview
- Make
- Catalina
- Model
- 38
- Builder
- Catalina Yachts
- Designer
- Sparkman & Stephens / Butler
- Number Built
- 365
- Production Year(s)
- 1978 - 1990
Below are the most recent Catalina 38 sailboat listings (up to 10).
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| Source | Year | Make | Model | Price | Cabins | Heads | City | Country | Listing Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISCLAIMER: We are not affiliated with any external listing websites in any way. We simply aggregate publicly available listings to make it easier for buyers to find sailboats for sale. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listings, so please verify all information with the seller before making any decisions.
Market Overview
Price & Volume Trends
Monthly breakdown
| Month | Listings | Median Asking Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 1 | $15,000 |
| Mar 2025 | 2 | $27,000 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | $15,000 |
| Jun 2025 | 5 | $29,000 |
| Jul 2025 | 4 | $24,900 |
| Aug 2025 | 4 | $46,165 |
| Sep 2025 | 7 | $35,000 |
| Oct 2025 | 4 | $38,700 |
| Nov 2025 | 2 | $28,869 |
| Dec 2025 | 2 | $33,000 |
| Jan 2026 | 8 | $37,500 |
| Feb 2026 | 2 | $26,250 |
| Mar 2026 | 2 | $53,330 |
| Apr 2026 | 10 | $36,000 |
Median Price by Country
Listings by Country
Price Reduction Insights
15.0% of listings have had price reductions
Average discount: 14.8% off original price
| Model | LOA | Median Price (USD) | Listings | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $34,000 | 100 | 39 |
| Catalina 38 | $35,000 | 51 | 15 | |
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $49,900 | 30 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 38 | 40.2' | $35,218 | 26 | 8 |
| Catalina 387 | 39.83' | $134,900 | 25 | 8 |
| Dehler 38 | 38.71' | $214,410 | 25 | 11 |
| Baltic 38 DP | 38.08' | $99,900 | 13 | 3 |
| Northshore 38 | 37.99' | $56,909 | 11 | 4 |
| Catalina Morgan 38 | 38.42' | $81,950 | 10 | 1 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $39,450 | 10 | 0 |
| Comfortina 38 | 38.22' | $82,347 | 7 | 3 |
| Country | Median Price (USD) | Listings (past 12 months) | Recent (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $35,900 | 47 | 13 |
| Mexico | $30,000 | 2 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a used Catalina 38 cost?
- The median asking price for a used Catalina 38 over the past 12 months is $35,000. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
- How many Catalina 38 sailboats are for sale?
- We have tracked 51 Catalina 38 listings over the past 12 months, with 15 listed within the last 90 days.
- Are Catalina 38 prices going up or down?
- The median asking price for the Catalina 38 has increased by 2.86% over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month average.
- Where is the cheapest place to buy a Catalina 38?
- Mexico currently has the lowest median asking price at $30,000, while United States is the most expensive at $35,900 — a 20% difference.
- Do Catalina 38 listings get price reductions?
- About 15% of Catalina 38 listings have had their price reduced, with an average discount of 14.8% off the original asking price.
- What are similar sailboats to the Catalina 38?
- Comparable models include the Catalina 34, Sabre 38, Beneteau First 38. See the comparison table above for pricing and availability.