Catalina 425 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 425 is built in the Catalina tradition to endure in function and aesthetics, with a one-piece fiberglass hull carrying end-grain balsa core sandwich construction above the waterline and a vinylester integral barrier to resist osmosis blistering. The deck is likewise one-piece fiberglass with end-grain balsa core, finished in two-tone white and grey molded-in diamond non-skid, and the builder also cites a carbon core in the deck. Below, a one-piece molded structural grid, hull liner with satin finish, and deck liner with non-glare texture complete the five-part structural approach. A lead fin keel attaches with 316 stainless steel bolts, and the molded hull/deck joint eliminates aluminum toerails. Forward, a proprietary Strike Zone watertight bulkhead provides security in a collision, and the rudder is seriously bulked-up at the opposite end. Catalina backed the structure with a five-year gel coat blister protection and a five-year hull structure warranty. The 81-degree stem prevents the anchor from banging the bow, and the boat is roughly 2,000 pounds lighter than the original Catalina 42.

Rig and Handling

The 425 carries a modified Seldén B&R rig with an extra set of forward shrouds to prevent mast pumping, an anodized double-spreader mast and boom, and Selden in-mast mainsail furling. Doyle Sails supplies the in-mast furling main and the standard 100 percent self-tacking jib. A double-ended German-style mainsheet is led both to the helm and to the coachroof, with a ball-bearing traveler adjusted from port, and the mainsheet can be worked at the cabintop winches or back at the primaries near the helms. Twin 55ST EVO Lewmar primaries and 45ST EVO secondaries handle the loads. A secure bowsprit with bobstay doubles as anchor roller and tack point for an asymmetric kite or code zero. A split backstay terminates forward of the twin Edson steering pedestals, clear of tall watch-standers' heads. On the test sail in Florida's Manatee River and Tampa Bay, the helm stayed light and responsive, the shoal-draft hull made over 6 knots upwind in 6 to 10 knots of breeze, and touched 8 knots on a tight reach under the asymmetric spinnaker anchor.

Accommodations

Below, the three-cabin layout centers on a forward owner's cabin with a large centerline berth and an elevating adjustable mattress for reading, served by a roomy head with a big shower stall. The saloon is large, with a U-shaped settee and dining table to port facing a central starboard table; two comfy starboard seats double as the navigation station with USB and 12-volt chargers. The galley is L-shaped to port with a U-shaped plan, and a second head sits to starboard at the companionway foot. Light maple hardwood runs throughout with multi-coat varnish on teak and maple, and all interior LEDs are on dimmers. Butterfly hatches open in opposing directions above the saloon for maximum ventilation. The cockpit is enormous and moved farther aft via a more vertical transom than other 5 Series models; a passageway between the helms leads to a swim step and boarding platform, the starboard settee unfolds to a double berth, and the port settee opens via a gull-wing hatch into one of the twin aft cabins. The steering quadrant is reachable from those dual aft cabins.

Equipment and Systems

The Yanmar 4JH57CR common-rail diesel makes 57 horsepower, turning a three-blade bronze Michigan MP3 propeller on a stainless shaft, with single-lever controls high on the starboard coaming so the driver's eyes stay on the dock. Twin Edson pedestals carry 32-inch wheels, and Raymarine i70 displays at both helm stations show speed, depth, and wind, with a chartplotter pod forward of the wheels. Dedicated lockers house filters and machinery including the genset, all through-hulls group in the port cabin, and testers found the diesel fully accessible quickly and easily. A Quick Rider 1000 windlass and cockpit table with fridge round out the deck equipment.

The Verdict

Writing in Cruising World, reviewers judged the 425 an excellent cruising boat that will carry you just about anywhere in comfort, safety, and speed, and SAIL's panel found her a worthy Best Boats winner. She is a thoughtfully modernized successor to a proven lineage, lighter and better-core than the old 42, with real offshore-minded details and a layout that suits both couples and charter use.

Pros