Catalina 390 Buyer's Guide
The Catalina 390 entered production in 2001 as the flagship of Catalina Yachts' cruiser series and traces its hull, deck, and rig directly to the Catalina 380, differing only in its aft layout. On the used market it presents as a three-cabin coastal cruiser with a generous beam carried well aft, a bridgedeck cockpit, and a low cabintrunk that keeps sightlines open from the helm. Its lineage runs back through the 380 and 387 to the Morgan 381, and the boat suits a family exploring coastlines and island chains rather than long-term offshore voyaging.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The aft section is the defining difference from the 380: instead of a single berth aft, the 390 has port and starboard cabins, each with a large double and hanging locker. Forward, the owner's stateroom holds a double berth, a vanity, and a sink that lets the boat get away with a single head and stall shower opposite the port galley. The saloon has a dinette to port and a settee opposite that doubles as an aft-facing nav station; the dinette table lowers to a berth so the boat sleeps seven in four areas. Cockpit benches hinge upward to air the aft cabins, and the bridgedeck bench spans the companionway—an unusual feature among production builders.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted gear on brokerage boats centers on self-sufficiency and visibility from the helm. Solar, inverter, and watermaker setups appear regularly, as do air conditioning, a furling main, electric winches, dodger, bimini, cockpit shower, radar, autopilot, and chartplotter. For power and energy, the commonly seen solar and inverter pair with often-seen lithium batteries to support extended anchoring. Canvas and sail handling cluster around the furling main, bimini, and dodger, while navigation is covered by the chartplotter, radar, and autopilot that are commonly fitted. Comfort items commonly include hot water, air conditioning, and a watermaker; often-seen teak decks, dinghy davits, and swim platform round out the cruising kit. A furling mast was a noted option on early test boats, and a three-blade prop was optional over the standard two-blade bronze.
What to Inspect
At the bow, the single anchor roller extends well off the bow and may need added support to keep the rode clear without flexing anchor. On deck, the stanchions are well supported but a bit short, worth checking for any prior modification or reinforcement. Below, the midboom sheeting that keeps the cockpit clear places accentuated load on the boom when the wind pipes up, so inspect the boom and gooseneck for fatigue or reinforcement. The dinette table as tested lacked fiddles, a minor but real note for sea-kindly stowage. Keel bolts are externally fastened and reached from a small saloon sump, making a survey of that sump and the stainless fasteners straightforward.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For a shopper, the practical checklist is: confirm which aft layout is present and whether the boat is an ex-charter hull; verify the anchor roller support and stanchion condition; inspect the boom and gooseneck for midboom-sheeting loads; check the saloon sump for keel-bolt access and corrosion; confirm the presence of commonly fitted systems—furling main, electric winches, autopilot, and refrigeration—before negotiating.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Catalina 390. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 2 | $69,995 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $59,000 | -15.7% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $159,000 | +169.5% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $69,995 | -56.0% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $108,024 | +54.3% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $108,251 | +0.2% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $115,000 | +6.2% |
Where they're listed
Catalina 390 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (57.1%), followed by Canada.
Country view
7 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $115,000 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% |
| Canada | $108,251 | 3 | 0 | 42.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Yachts 36 | 36.33' | $ 35,900 | 180 | 38 |
| Catalina 34 | 34.5' | $ 34,000 | 138 | 37 |
| Bavaria Yachts 36 | 37.89' | $ 68,836 | 119 | 23 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 39 | 39.16' | $ 98,336 | 112 | 25 |
| Dufour 390 Grand Large | 39.17' | $ 199,000 | 75 | 8 |
| Catalina 310 | 31' | $ 56,389 | 61 | 14 |
| Catalina 400 | 40.5' | $ 98,900 | 51 | 10 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 390 | 38.33' | $ 53,217 | 43 | 15 |
| Najad 390 | 38.55' | $ 137,671 | 38 | 1 |
| Catalina 309 | 32.75' | $ 74,500 | 37 | 6 |
| Catalina 390You are here | — | $ 115,000 | 7 | 3 |