Design and Construction
The hull and deck follow a conventional fiberglass approach for the era: a layup of cloths, resin, and localized core material for stiffness, with components bonded by cloth, resin, structural adhesives, or both. The deck sits over the hull in a shoebox fashion, a method Catalina had long used to improve rigidity and resist leaks, and the joint is finished outside with an aluminum rub rail carrying a vinyl insert. That rail is small for a boat of this mass, and the review record notes it is easily damaged by minor docking incidents. The same survey flagged that hardware, windows, and ports show a higher-than-typical rate of stubborn leakage.
Rig and Handling
Winches are placed with the helmsman in mind: mainsheet and genoa sheet winches fall within easy reach, while halyard winches sit to each side of the companionway. Most boats left the factory with in-mast furling mainsails, which the period review judged less efficient than a conventional rig. Combined with a conservative sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.6 and the shoal or deep fin keel options, the boat shows less than impressive weatherly and light-air performance. Against other cruising boats of this style, though, most sailors are likely to be satisfied with how she goes to windward and off the breeze. The manufacturer’s literature listed a deep-draft 6-foot-6-inch fin as an option alongside the shoaler keel.
Accommodations
As a center-cockpit, aft-cabin model, the 38 keeps generous side-deck width so a crew can walk bow to stern without stepping up on the cabin trunk. The cockpit is long but narrow, a trade made to preserve headroom in the galley and head below. Below, the companionway at the forward end of the cockpit leads to a main saloon laid out for four, with a small but adequate navigation station to starboard and a settee whose center section lifts to desk height, splitting the seat into fore and aft halves. To port, a settee and dining table need a couple of folding chairs to seat four for dinner.
The v-berth forward has a small head with integral shower to port and a hanging locker to starboard, while the foredeck anchor locker was kept small to maximize that cabin’s volume. The galley runs along the port hull side toward the aft cabin and is remarkably roomy: stove, icebox, and freezer outboard, sink inboard, with excellent counter space and adequate storage. Opposite lies the master head and separate shower, accessible from the saloon or the aft stateroom, where a centerline queen berth sits between upholstered seats, a chest of drawers to port, and locker for hanging clothes to starboard. Drawers, a fuel tank, and top-loading bins fill the remaining aft storage, and two large opening hatches give the aft cabin ventilation and an emergency exit. Writing in the used-boat review, the tester called the interior arrangement about as good as it gets for a 38-foot live-aboard coastal cruiser, and noted the forward head could be easily converted to storage.
Known Issues
Beyond the rub-rail vulnerability and the persistent deck leaks already noted, the transom-mounted hatch often leaks in heavy rain, apparently because its designers never intended it for vertical mounting. Engine access is another sore point: the Westerbeke diesel—or, on a few hulls, a Yanmar—sits beneath the cockpit deck and galley counter, and while removable panels and ports ease routine service, access to the starboard side of the engine is limited.
Refits and Ownership
Normal maintenance is served by the removable panels, doors, and access ports placed at service points. The forward head’s easy conversion to storage is a practical owner upgrade for those who want more stowage over a second toilet, and the large aft deck—with molded port and starboard steps to a sugar-scoop swim platform—offers a rare amount of space for a 38-foot LOA.
The Verdict
The Catalina Morgan 38 is a practical, livable coastal cruiser whose center-cockpit layout and aft stateroom remain well suited to live-aboard use. She trades outright sailing performance for comfort and volume, and her known leak points and tight engine access ask for careful survey and thoughtful ownership.
Pros
- Thoughtful four-person layout with roomy galley and versatile aft stateroom
- Wide side decks and large aft deck with molded steps to swim platform
- Practical center-cockpit, aft-cabin format appreciated by live-aboards
Cons
- Persistent leaks at hardware, windows, and ports; transom hatch leaks in heavy rain
- Small rub rail easily damaged in minor docking
- Limited starboard engine access; modest light-air and weatherly performance
