Catalina 387 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 387 came from the factory in a single primary interior arrangement built around a large, open saloon that runs end to end without the bulkhead chopping that makes many production boats feel smaller than their length suggests. The aft cabin is a dedicated double with its own privacy, while the forward cabin carries the V-berth. The separate shower stall in the head — a feature Catalina pioneered on the original 380 — is standard throughout the production run, so buyers can expect it regardless of the year they are shopping. A quarter berth or dedicated nav station is not part of the layout, so if that is a requirement, the 387 is not the right boat. What you do get is a galley positioned just inside the companionway, ideal for passing food to a cockpit full of guests, and a saloon flexible enough to seat several people around any of three table configurations.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The brokerage 387s that circulate most actively are well equipped well beyond factory spec. Autopilot and chartplotter are nearly universal on used examples — the cockpit-centric layout makes electronic steering control essentially indispensable, and owners almost universally fit it early. Radar and AIS are commonly fitted alongside the chartplotter, often integrated into a multifunction display at the helm. Biminis and dodgers are found on virtually every boat that has had an active cruising life, protecting that famously generous nine-foot cockpit from sun and spray.

Below decks, hot water, refrigeration, and an inverter are standard or very commonly added. Air conditioning appears frequently, a reflection of the boat's strong following in warm-water cruising grounds. Solar panels are a frequent owner upgrade, often paired with a battery bank expansion and sometimes a wind generator for boats used in areas of reliable trade winds. Dinghy davits and a swim platform are widely seen on boats from active cruising programs. Electric winches, while not standard equipment, appear often enough on well-optioned examples to be worth checking for.

Among the less universal but entirely reasonable additions, watermakers, EPIRBs, life rafts, and cabin heating systems are sometimes fitted, typically on boats whose owners have taken them offshore or into northern latitudes. A furling mainsail — either in-mast or in-boom — is common, often replacing or supplementing the full-batten mainsail with Dutchman flaking system that came standard. In-mast furling was a popular factory option and turns up regularly on the used market; it simplifies handling but involves some sail-shape compromise that prospective buyers should evaluate for their own sailing style.

What to Inspect

The 387's hull is hand-laid E- and S-glass with vinylester resin, a construction choice that reduces the osmotic blistering risk common on older polyester-laminate hulls. That said, any boat of this age that has spent time in the water warrants a professional survey with osmosis checks, particularly if it has lived in warmer waters.

The balsa-cored deck is the most important structural inspection point. Deck hardware is mounted in solid fiberglass inserts to minimize leak paths, but years of use, UV degradation, and any secondary fitting installation by owners can introduce moisture into the core. Pay particular attention around chainplates, stanchion bases, and any owner-added hardware. Chainplate fittings are ball-and-socket and exposed in the interior, tying into a load-bearing grid in the hull — inspect these carefully for corrosion or movement, as they are a critical load path.

The deck-stepped mast arrangement with single-point shrouds and a babystay is a clean, tunable system, but check the compression post below the mast step for any signs of stress cracking or deflection. Rigging age is worth verifying; on any boat that has seen substantial use, standing rigging approaching or past ten years should be considered for replacement.

The 40-horsepower Yanmar diesel is a proven and well-supported engine, but engine noise in the interior at higher rpm was noted during sea trials — check soundproofing condition and look for any deferred maintenance on engine mounts. The engine has four-sided access, which makes service easier than on many comparable boats, but verify that previous owners took advantage of it. Raw-water impeller and heat exchanger condition, transmission fluid, and stuffing box or shaft seal integrity are all standard survey items that matter here.

In-mast furling systems, if fitted, deserve particular scrutiny. The system is seductively convenient but can develop issues with the extrusion groove, furling line routing, or the sail's bolt rope over time. Ask for the sail's history and whether the system has ever been serviced.

The icebox was carried over from earlier tooling; refrigeration may be owner-fitted aftermarket. Check refrigeration compressor and insulation quality, which varies considerably across the fleet.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 387 circulates most actively in the United States — particularly on the Pacific and Gulf coasts — and turns up regularly in California, where the boat was designed for exactly the sailing conditions. The Australian market also carries examples, and the boat appears occasionally in Mediterranean listings, particularly in Italy. As a production boat from a major American builder, parts and service support are widely available, and an active owner community means advice on common issues is easy to find.

Before making an offer, work through this checklist:

• Professional survey with moisture meter readings of the entire deck perimeter and around all hardware penetrations
• Inspect all chainplate fittings at their interior exposure points for corrosion or movement
• Check mast compression post below the deck step for cracking or deflection
• Verify standing rigging age and service history
• Run the engine to operating temperature; note noise levels and check raw-water flow, belts, and impeller date
• If in-mast or in-boom furling is fitted, inspect the extrusion, sail bolt rope, and furling line condition
• Confirm all owner-added electronics (solar, AIS, watermaker if present) are functional and properly installed
• Test autopilot under power and sail
• Check dinghy davit mounting points and all cockpit locker seals
• Review logbooks or owner notes for any offshore use history, which informs how hard the rig and systems have been worked