Catalina 42 Mk II
Catalina Yachts
- Production years
- 1995–2011
- Designer
- Gerry Douglas↗
The quick verdict
The Catalina 42 Mk II suits cruising couples and families who value generous accommodations, straightforward systems and respectable sailing performance. Its solid-fiberglass hull, accessible engine and improved Mk II rudder are notable strengths. Compromises include limited handholds below, a cockpit mainsheet that is awkward for singlehanding and less competitive performance in very light winds. Before buying, inspect the hull for blisters, chainplate penetrations and deck moisture, mast drainage, rudder bearings, rigging and the condition of the aging onboard systems.
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Standardized sailing characteristics
Comfort at Sea
Catalina 22 Mk IIPrecision 28Oceanis 37Catalina 30Island Packet 38Oyster 53
25.38
This boat's motion comfort ratio: a comparison of how gently a design moves at sea. A higher number is gentler. It does not rate cabin space or guarantee comfort.
Capsize screening (CSF)
Catalina 22 Mk IIPrecision 28Oceanis 37Catalina 30Island Packet 38Oyster 53
CSF 2.02
The Capsize Screening Formula: beam compared with displacement. A lower number means a boat is less prone to capsize, so the scale runs from least to most capable offshore; 2.0 or below is the usual guide. It is a screening figure, not a safety guarantee.
Measurements
Rig diagram & sailing measurements
| CSF | 2.02 Above 2.0: generally does not meet the traditional offshore screening guideline (not a seaworthiness rating). |
|---|
Construction
Figures link to the page they came from where one is published. Anything not shown is not yet confirmed by a published source.
Construction
Hull material
Fiberglass practical-sailor.com ↗
Solid fiberglass laminate, corroborated by SpinSheet and WaveTrain.
Hull cored below waterline
No spinsheet.com ↗
SpinSheet explicitly describes the hull as an uncored solid laminate.
Hull cored above waterline
No practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor describes Coremat reinforcement in the above-waterline layup, but identifies the hull overall as solid fiberglass. SpinSheet explicitly states that the hull has no core materials.
Deck cored
Yes practical-sailor.com ↗
Balsa core with marine plywood in hardware-mounting areas; corroborated by SpinSheet.
Deck core material
Balsa and plywood practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor specifies 3/4-inch end-grain balsa and 1/2-inch marine plywood where deck hardware is installed.
Hull-to-deck joint
Shoebox spinsheet.com ↗
Bonded and through-bolted at approximately 8-inch centers. Practical Sailor calls it an external flange, while WaveTrain also identifies the joint as shoebox-type.
Structural grid / pan liner
Molded fiberglass structural pan bonded to the hull, incorporating the cabin sole and berth foundations. practical-sailor.com ↗
SpinSheet and WaveTrain independently describe the structural fiberglass liner.
Keel type
Fin catalinayachts.com ↗
Deep fin keel; a shoal-draft wing keel was also available. Both keel configurations occur within the Catalina 42 design.
Keel material
Lead billdietrich.me ↗
The page reproduces a response reportedly obtained from Catalina concerning keel materials. SAILING Magazine independently confirms lead ballast.
Keel attachment
Bolted billdietrich.me ↗
Owner-maintained reference reproducing a reported Catalina response about lead keels and stainless-steel keel bolts. The same passage specifically confirms lead on the Catalina 36 and 42.
Rudder type
Spade sailboat-cruising.com ↗
The Mk II received a deeper, higher-aspect, semi-elliptical rudder. WaveTrain describes a shallow partial skeg ahead of the rudder; this does not establish that the rudder is skeg-hung.
Number of rudders
1 sailboat-cruising.com ↗
Single-rudder configuration. The Mk II received a revised, deeper rudder.
Steering type
Wheel practical-sailor.com ↗
Pedestal wheel steering; confirmed by the builder's published 44-inch wheel specification.
Twin wheels
No practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor describes a single Edson pedestal wheel.
Fresh water tank material
Plastic practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor does not specify the precise plastic resin.
Holding tank material
Plastic practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor describes holding tanks beneath the aft berth and Pullman berth.
Production history
Mk II
1995–2011
Full specifications
Figures link to the page they came from where one is published. Anything not shown is not yet confirmed by a published source.
Identity
Designer
Gerry Douglas spinsheet.com ↗
Catalina's in-house design team developed the Catalina 42.
First year built
1995 theboatwiki.com ↗
Last year built
2011 practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor identifies February 1995 as the introduction of the Mk II and 2011 as its discontinuation.
Country built
United States spinsheet.com ↗
Catalina Yachts also describes its boats as built in America on its official association page.
Hull measurements
Length overall
43.17 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's stated length overall. The same brochure separately identifies the length of hull as 41 ft 10 in.
Length on deck
41.83 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder labels this measurement 'Length of Hull,' rather than explicitly 'length on deck.' Included as the nearest stated hull-length measurement; do not confuse with the builder's 43 ft 2 in LOA.
Waterline length
36 ft theboatwiki.com ↗
Beam (widest)
13.83 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Also reported as 13 ft 10 in by WaveTrain.
Draft (alternate keel 1: shoal / wing / centerboard up)
4.83 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Shoal-draft wing keel. WaveTrain independently identifies the 4 ft 10 in wing-keel option.
Air draft (clearance height)
58.58 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder labels this measurement 'Waterline to Masthead.' Antennas, wind instruments and other fittings above the masthead may increase actual bridge clearance.
Displacement (light / design)
20,500 lb catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's approximate basic weight for both fin- and wing-keel configurations. Another source gives 22500 (www.spinsheet.com: The reviewer reports that actual displacement is closer to 22,500 lb than the advertised basic weight. WaveTrain also publishes 22,500 lb. This is not the same measurement ba
Ballast weight
8,300 lb catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder specifies the same ballast weight for fin and wing keels; confirmed by Practical Sailor and WaveTrain.
Ballast material
Lead sailingmagazine.net ↗
Applies to the Catalina 42's fin- and wing-keel configurations.
Rig and sails
Rig type
Sloop sailingmagazine.net ↗
Masthead sloop, corroborated by the Catalina 42 Mk II specification page at Sailboat Cruising.
Rig options offered
Full-batten mainsail with Dutchman system standard; optional mast or boom furling. catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder describes sail-handling alternatives, not separate mast-height or rig-design marks.
Mast material
Aluminium practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor identifies the anodized Isomat mast with double swept spreaders.
Mast stepping
Keel-stepped tapatalk.com ↗
Catalina 4 Series Association owners describe water entering the bilge down the keel-stepped mast. A separate association discussion corroborates this arrangement. Source could not be opened by the site (blocked, a picture of a brochure, or a very large file); the quote was supplied by ChatGPT and c
Sail area (base / working)
797 sq ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Mainsail plus 100% foretriangle, as defined by the builder; confirmed by Practical Sailor and WaveTrain.
Rig dimension I (foretriangle height)
53 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Rig dimension J (foretriangle base)
16.42 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's J dimension, converted to decimal feet.
Rig dimension P (mainsail luff)
46.75 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's P dimension.
Rig dimension E (mainsail foot)
15.5 ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's E dimension.
Mainsail area
362 sq ft catalinayachts.com ↗
Builder's rated mainsail area; applies to the published standard sail plan.
Capsize screening value
2.02 theboatwiki.com ↗
Motion comfort ratio (Brewer)
25.38 theboatwiki.com ↗
Engine, propulsion, systems
Original engine make
Yanmar catalinayachts.com ↗
Factory engine make in the September 2005 Mk II brochure. Engine models changed during production.
Original engine model
4JH4BE catalinayachts.com ↗
Yanmar model stated in the September 2005 builder brochure. Earlier Mk II production used other Yanmar 4JH-series engines.
Original engine power
54 hp catalinayachts.com ↗
Factory engine power in the September 2005 brochure. Another source gives 50 (www.practical-sailor.com: Practical Sailor describes a 50-hp Yanmar on earlier production. The discrepancy reflects an engine change during production, not a separate design mark.).
Fuel capacity
46 gal catalinayachts.com ↗
Standard fuel capacity in the 2005 builder brochure. An additional 17-gallon tank was optional, yielding 63 gallons when installed. The Catalina 4 Series Association also identifies the Mk II replacem
Fresh water capacity
111 gal catalinayachts.com ↗
Two-cabin layout. The same builder brochure states 131 gallons for the three-cabin layout. WaveTrain independently confirms both layout-dependent capacities; the layout difference is not a separate pr
Holding tank capacity
52 gal vesselguide.net ↗
Combined holding capacity. Catalina's 2005 brochure independently specifies a 30-gallon forward holding tank and a 22-gallon aft holding tank.
Accommodation
Cabins
2 catalinayachts.com ↗
Two-cabin configuration. Three-cabin configurations were also factory-offered; the cabin count is a layout option, not a production mark.
Heads (count, enclosed or not)
2 catalinayachts.com ↗
Two enclosed heads, with separate holding tanks.
Navigation station
Yes catalinayachts.com ↗
The builder's brochure describes a dedicated navigation work surface. The station's position varies with interior layout.
Practical ownership
Known issues (sourced to magazines / associations)
Reported osmotic hull blistering, including some post-1995 boats despite the vinylester barrier coat. practical-sailor.com ↗
Practical Sailor reports that fewer than 10% of surveyed owners reported blisters. Another source gives Potential water leaks around chainplate fasteners and moisture accumulation around deck penetrations. (www.tapatalk.com: Owners' association technical discussion; inspect bedding and the adjacent
Strengths (sourced)
Mk II: Deeper, higher-aspect rudder improves handling and reduces steering effort compared with the original rudder. practical-sailor.com ↗
Solid-fiberglass hull with a substantial molded structural liner. practical-sailor.com ↗
Construction is described favorably relative to similarly priced production cruisers. Another source gives Roomy accommodations and practical choices between two- and three-cabin layouts. (www.spinsheet.com: The two-cabin layout has particularly useful galley and storage arrangements.).
Owners' association link
Https://www.catalina4series.org/ catalinayachts.com ↗
Association listed on Catalina Yachts' official website. Its technical discussion forum includes Catalina 42 coverage.
Calculated from the figures above
Sail area / displacement ratio
17.02
Calculated: sail area divided by (displacement in lb / 64) to the power 2/3, using the published sail area and displacement above.
Pounds per inch of immersion (estimate)
1779.1
Estimated, not measured: waterline length x beam x 0.67 (typical waterplane coefficient) x 64 / 12, using the published figures above.
Surveys and Market Value
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