Catalina 42 Mk II Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Beneath the Euro-styled transom, the Mk II is in most respects a close cousin to the boat it replaced. Practical Sailor's comparison found that the hull, deck, accessories, auxiliary engine and standing rigging are virtually identical in both the Mk I and Mk II, so the structural lineage is continuous rather than reinvented. The hull itself is solid fiberglass, and since 1995 the builder has used vinylester resin in the barrier coat to protect against blisters, though the brand has nonetheless suffered its share of blistering issues in service. The deck is cored with a combination of 1/2-inch marine plywood where hardware mounts and 3/4-inch end grain balsa elsewhere, a schedule that demands scrutiny of hardware penetrations for core moisture. The hull-deck joint is an external flange bonded with fiberglass-reinforced polyester and through-bolted on 8-inch centers with 1/4-inch stainless steel fasteners, with the seam hidden by an aluminum rubrail on 3-inch centers and a vinyl insert. On the deck, the cabintop's 6-foot teak handrails were replaced with stainless steel handrails, and unobstructed movement forward is aided by 24-inch sidedecks even with a dodger fitted.

Rig and Handling

The Mk II keeps the masthead sloop rig of its predecessor, with a high-aspect ratio sailplan carrying 797 square feet of sail on a 53-foot I measurement and 16.42-foot J. The mast is an anodized NG80 Isomat with double spreaders swept aft 17 degrees, and standing rigging runs 3/8-inch wire on the backstay, forestay, and upper and lower shrouds with 5/16-inch wire on the lower shrouds. Running rigging uses 1/2-inch braid halyards and 1/2-inch Dacron mainsheet and genoa sheets. Internal halyards lead aft through Garhauer turning blocks to Garhauer stoppers and two-speed self-tailing Lewmar 40 winches atop the bridge deck, while primary winches are Lewmar 54s, an upgrade from the Mk I's 52s, and the mainsheet is a 6:1 purchase on a traveler forward of the companionway. A deeper, high-aspect, semi-elliptical rudder was fitted at the Mk II's launch, and owners such as John Spring report the Mark II has a fatter section aft and is more buoyant than the Mk I. The maximum sheeting angle is 11-1/2 degrees, which allows pointing to within 32 degrees of apparent wind when hard on the breeze.

Accommodations

Two interior configurations define the Mk II. The two-stateroom model places an aft stateroom in the starboard quarter with a smallish head about 38 inches square forward of it, a port-quarter galley, opposing settees amidships, and a starboard nav station with swing-out seat and large table; the master stateroom in both layouts uses a Pullman-style berth forward of the saloon measuring 72 inches on centerline, 52 inches at the shoulder, and 43 at the foot, served by a bow head 6 feet 5 inches long and 6 feet 2 inches wide at counter height with 6 feet of headroom. In the three-cabin arrangement, two mirror-image aft staterooms each provide 6 feet of headroom, a 7-foot double berth, hull-mounted reading lights, and a hanging locker, while the galley moves amidships opposite a dinette that seats six to eight and converts to an 80-by-66-inch double. The galley in either plan offers large GraniCoat fiberglass countertops, a three-burner Princess stove with oven and broiler, twin stainless sinks, and Groehe faucets. On deck, the cockpit carries 6-foot-8-inch seats, two observation seats in the stern pulpit corners, a 48-inch drop-leaf table forward of the binnacle, and a removable transom seat giving access to the swim platform.

Known Issues

The blister protection of the vinylester barrier coat has not eliminated osmotic risk entirely, and the cored deck demands inspection where 1/2-inch plywood and balsa meet fasteners. The 38-gallon fuel capacity is adequate for short cruising but distance cruisers have added tankage below the cabin sole, a limitation worth noting for offshore intent. Two plastic water tanks sit below the sole with plastic holding tanks under the aft and Pullman berths. Wiring is color coded and newer boats have tinned connections, a useful tell when dating a specific hull.

Refits and Ownership

The Mk II accepts straightforward modernization. Newer models shipped with a Schaefer 3100 furler, and winches were upgraded to Lewmar 42s in the generation. Garhauer gear is guaranteed for 10 years per the designer's statement, and the brand mix — Lewmar, Perko, Rule, Schaefer, Yanmar — is deliberate rather than opportunistic. The Yanmar 4JH 50-horsepower engine (also listed as 4JH2E, 50 hp diesel) is accessible from four sides, easing service, and a low-hour freshwater example documented at 500 hours and indoor storage presented as looking five years old at twelve. The prior owner's replacement of wire standing rigging ahead of an unrealized Bahamas passage is a reminder that rig aging, not calendar alone, governs replacement.

The Verdict

The Catalina 42 Mk II is a conservative evolution of a proven 42-foot hull, trading a Euro-influenced stern and deeper rudder for modest buoyancy gains while keeping the Mk I's structure and rig largely intact. Its two- and three-cabin interiors are genuinely versatile, the galley and cockpit details are thoughtful, and the Yanmar installation is serviceable. The cored deck and blister history are the watch-items, not the deal-breakers.

Pros

Continuous hull/deck/rig continuity with the Mk I under a Gerry Douglas design
Versatile two- and three-cabin layouts with distinct head and berth dimensions
Four-sided engine access and tinned wiring on newer boats
Deep, high-aspect semi-elliptical rudder and tight 32-degree apparent-wind pointing

Cons