The design’s lineage runs through the Catalina 380 and 387 to the Morgan 381, the first Morgan drawn by Douglas and introduced in 1993. While the 380 had a different aft arrangement, the 390 stands apart for its three-stateroom interior—a departure for Catalina’s under-40-foot lineup.
Design and Construction
The 390 has a solid, hand-laminated fiberglass hull built primarily from biaxial knitted fabric. Its balsa-cored deck is secured with a shoebox-style hull-to-deck joint. A small molded bulwark is incorporated into the joint, and the lower edge is sealed with a soft, white, rubbery caulking.
Below, a fiberglass subsole grid is engineered to absorb keel and rig loads while providing athwartship support. Chainplate tie rods, visible in the saloon, connect directly to this structural member.
The boat carries 7,300 pounds of external iron ballast, fastened with stainless steel bolts accessible through a small sump area in the saloon. Catalina offered a five-year warranty against blisters and structural hull damage on the 390.
The hull has a modern shape, with a fairly long waterline and flat underbody sections. These allow the boat to carry substantial displacement while retaining the option of shoal draft.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The 390’s sailplan reflects its cruising purpose: it’s easy to manage but still has plenty of punch. The standard rig stands 56 feet above the waterline and carries 719 square feet of sail. For lighter-wind performance, the tall rig adds four feet of air draft and 52 square feet of sail area.
All sail controls lead aft to clutches on the cabin trunk. The boat uses midboom sheeting, with the traveler mounted forward of the companionway. The standard headsail is a 135-percent genoa. Upper and lower shrouds are 5/16-inch wire, while the intermediate stay is 1/4-inch wire. All have swage terminals and Catalina turnbuckle covers that shield the sharp cotter pins.
Test sailors found that the standard rig moved the boat smartly in 10 to 12 knots of true breeze. Thanks to the inboard shrouds, it pointed inside 35 degrees apparent and made 6 knots on a moderate reach. Steering was fingertip-easy, and the boat completed a tack in little more than one boat length. The clean deck also aided that efficiency.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
Test boats carried Garhauer deck hardware, including a mainsheet traveler that could be adjusted through the dodger. They also had a Schaefer roller-furling headsail, while a Charleston Spars furling mast was optional.
The midboom sheeting keeps the cockpit clear, though period testing noted that it accentuates boom load as the wind pipes up. The stanchions are well supported but a touch short. The single anchor roller extends well off the bow and may need additional support.
Accommodations
The three-stateroom layout places the owner’s cabin forward. It has a large double berth, a vanity, and a sink; that sink removes the need for a space-consuming second head.
In the saloon, a dinette sits to port. Opposite is a settee that doubles as the seat for an aft-facing navigation station. A drop-down table converts the settee into a card-playing or office space. The dinette table lowers to create another berth, giving the standard arrangement sleeping space for seven. Period testing noted that the dinette table could use fiddles to keep items aboard in a seaway.
The two aft cabins are identical, each with a large double berth and hanging locker. Throughout the interior, teak veneer accents white laminates. The berths have spring mattresses, and window shades are provided.
Galley and Head
The port-side galley centers on twin centerline sinks, which drain on either tack. It also has a gimbaled three-burner stainless-steel stove and oven, with a microwave locker above.
The galley has 12-volt refrigeration with an icebox accessible from either the top or the front and fitted with an overboard discharge pump. A rubber nonskid sole helps keep the cook planted.
Opposite the galley, the boat’s single head includes a separate shower stall.
Engine and Mechanical Systems
The standard engine is a three-cylinder, 40-horsepower Yanmar 3JH3BE diesel. Access is excellent from behind the companionway and through both aft cabins.
A dripless stuffing box is standard and requires little servicing. The standard propeller is a two-blade bronze unit, with a three-blade propeller available.
The Verdict
The Catalina 390 is a considered coastal cruiser. It trades offshore pretension for a roomy, well-engineered three-cabin interior and a deck plan that is genuinely easy to handle short-handed.
Its structural grid, visible tie rods, and accessible keel bolts show serious attention to load paths. The sailplan provides credible performance without overwhelming a cruising crew. As one review framed it, the 390 is a value-driven choice for a family exploring coastlines and island chains, though better choices exist for long-term offshore voyaging.
Pros
- Three-stateroom layout sleeps seven in a sub-40-foot hull
- Solid, hand-laminated hull with an engineered subsole grid and visible structural tie rods
- Easy-to-handle sailplan, with all controls led aft and inboard shrouds for good pointing
- Excellent engine access from the companionway and both aft cabins
- Centerline galley sinks drain on either tack
- Drip-free, dripless stuffing box is standard
Cons
- Midboom sheeting increases boom load in stronger breezes
- Single anchor roller may need additional support
- Stanchions are a bit short
- Coastal-cruiser focus makes it a less suitable choice for long-term offshore use
- Dinette table lacked fiddles as tested
