Catalina 387 Buyer's Guide
The Catalina 387 is a 39-foot 10-inch coastal cruiser built by Catalina Yachts from 2003, with Gerry Douglas as chief designer and a 40-horsepower Yanmar diesel beneath the companionway. On the brokerage market she appeals to couples and families who want a roomy, easy-to-service platform rather than a spartan racer. Knowing which layouts and upgrades are typical, and what the test sail actually flagged, will keep a search focused.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 387 shares the same fundamental plan: a deck-stepped masthead sloop with inboard chainplates, a large social cockpit with nine-foot seats, and an open saloon with 6 feet 9 inches of headroom. Below, the head carries an electric toilet, pressure hot and cold water, and a separate stall shower, while the galley opposite sits at the foot of the steps with dual-access refrigeration and a centerline double sink. Two storage and two cockpit lockers are reached from the swim step, and a transom bracket is molded in to carry a dinghy motor out of sight. The fin-keel version draws 7 feet 2 inches; the wing-keel version draws 4 feet 10 inches for shallower cruising grounds, with a small ballast and displacement change between the two.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats you will see have been fitted with the systems a modern coastal cruiser expects. Power and energy commonly include an autopilot, chartplotter, radar, solar, inverter, and often air conditioning, which together mean a boat that can anchor out and run systems without constant generator dependence. Canvas and sail handling usually show a dodger, bimini, and furling main, and electric winches are commonly fitted to ease short-handed trimming. Navigation and safety typically add AIS to the plotter and radar, while a cockpit shower, hot water, and dinghy davits round out the comfort list. A swim platform is often seen rather than universal, and a watermaker, life raft, heating, wind generator, or EPIRB shows up only as an occasional owner upgrade worth verifying in person.
What to Inspect
The deck is balsa-cored with solid glass only where fittings land, and most deck gear screws into bonded metal backing plates to limit through-deck penetrations; check those zones for softness or stain. The genoa tracks and rail cleats are elevated to stay out of standing water, so confirm the surrounding core is sound. One operational note from the test sail: at 2,500 rpm the tester heard engine noise through the interior, so a sea trial at that rpm is wise.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Australia, reflecting the brand’s broad cruising footprint. For a shopper, the short list is: confirm keel type against your draft limits, verify the backing-plate deck zones and core are dry, exercise the diesel to 2,500 rpm and listen below, and check that the common gear — autopilot, plotter, radar, solar, furling main, electric winches — is present and working. A 387 that passes those points is a well-considered coastal cruiser with few documented surprises.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Catalina 387. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $110,999 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $138,500 | +24.8% |
| Jul 25 | 5 | $129,900 | -6.2% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $125,000 | -3.8% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $122,814 | -1.7% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $124,827 | +1.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $123,560 | -1.0% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $132,000 | +6.8% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $159,999 | +21.2% |
| Apr 26 | 12 | $139,900 | -12.6% |
| May 26 | 1 | $124,000 | -11.4% |
| Jun 26 | 5 | $118,750 | -4.2% |
| Aug 26 | 7 | $119,000 | +0.2% |
Where they're listed
Catalina 387 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 29 (85.3%), followed by Canada and Australia.
Country view
34 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $124,000 | 29 | 12 | 85.3% |
| Canada | $129,654 | 3 | 0 | 8.8% |
| Australia | $140,038 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Italy | $110,728 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater Cruiser 38 | 40.35' | $ 81,006 | 197 | 44 |
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $ 32,500 | 139 | 36 |
| Sun Sun Odyssey 37 | 37.44' | $ 80,000 | 132 | 41 |
| Bavaria Yachts 37 | 37.89' | $ 75,761 | 57 | 19 |
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,999 | 46 | 17 |
| Sabre 386 | 38.58' | $ 179,900 | 38 | 6 |
| Catalina 387You are here | — | $ 124,000 | 35 | 13 |
| Catalina 385 | 39.17' | $ 256,500 | 29 | 8 |
| Sabre 38 Mk II | 38.67' | $ 60,000 | 17 | 1 |
| Catalina 375 | 38.5' | $ 161,000 | 16 | 6 |
| Morgan Morgan 38 | 38.42' | $ 67,200 | 12 | 5 |