Design and Construction
The 400 MkII carries a hand-laid fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck that delivers stiffness and insulation, with solid fiberglass left in the high-stress zones where deck hardware is fastened anchor. Catalina's standard lead ballast sits at 7,200 pounds against an 18,000-pound displacement, a 40 percent ballast ratio that, with the 13.5-foot beam and 34.83-foot waterline, places the boat firmly in the moderate-to-light displacement cruiser class. The original 400 used a fin keel with bulb and spade rudder as standard, while the MkII was offered with either a deep fin or a shallower wing keel; the wing trades a slight reduction in stability and upwind performance for reduced draft. This is a coastal and moderate offshore cruiser with a capsize screening figure of 2.00 — acceptable for ocean work — yet it is not built to the standards of heavier, dedicated bluewater yachts.
Rig and Handling
Both generations are masthead sloops, but the MkII steps a taller mast with slightly swept-back spreaders, a change that yields a marginal performance gain and a revised sail plan. The forestay attaches near the masthead, and the rig is robust enough to carry a 135 percent genoa on a roller furler without complication. With a 400-square-foot main and 408-square-foot foretriangle, the boat is manageable short-handed because all primary control lines are led aft to the cockpit. The twin helm wheels let the driver pick the windward side for a clearer view of sails and water, and the larger MkII cockpit with its walk-through transom and swim platform makes stern access genuinely easier than the single-wheel original.
Accommodations
The MkII is offered in two- or three-cabin layouts, and in both the saloon reads more open than the original with an updated galley carrying more storage. The popular two-cabin version devotes the stern to a very large master suite with a queen berth and two heads, a layout that sacrifices some cockpit locker space — a common compromise when private cabin volume is maximized. For liveaboards the limited external locker storage is the principal drawback of that trade.
Known Issues
A thorough survey should focus on deck fittings and the keel-hull joint, where water intrusion or stress can show anchor; the balsa-cored deck makes fitting leaks a particular concern if moisture migrates into the core.
The Verdict
The Catalina 400 MkII is a thoughtfully evolved coastal cruiser that balances volume and handling. The twin-wheel cockpit and aft-led controls make it easy for a couple to manage, and the two-cabin plan delivers a rare amount of private space for the length. The wing-keel option broadens shallow-water access at a measured performance cost, and the balsa deck demands survey discipline. It is not a heavyweight passagemaker, but as a 40-foot coastal and moderate offshore platform it is well resolved.
Pros
- Twin helm stations with walk-through transom improve visibility and stern access
- Two-cabin layout offers a very large aft master suite and two heads
- All control lines led aft supports short-handed sailing
- Taller MkII mast gives a marginal performance boost
- Capsize screening of 2.00 suits moderate offshore use
Cons
- Limited external locker storage in the two-cabin version
- Wing keel reduces stability and upwind ability versus deep fin
- Not built to dedicated bluewater yacht standards
- Balsa-cored deck needs careful inspection at fittings
