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Catalina 356
Designer: Gerry Douglas  ·  Builder: Catalina Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 2024
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About the Catalina 356

Representing Catalina Yachts' latest evolution in mid-sized cruising sailboats, this 36-footer from designer Gerry Douglas embodies decades of refinement in affordable family sailing. Launched in 2024, the 356 builds upon Catalina's reputation for delivering solid, well-appointed cruisers that balance performance with comfort. The fractional sloop rig configuration with 650 square feet of sail area provides versatile sailing characteristics, while the fin keel and spade rudder arrangement delivers responsive handling. At 16,800 pounds displacement with 5,200 pounds of ballast, the 356 offers the stability coastal cruisers demand without sacrificing reasonable performance under sail. Douglas's design emphasizes practicality with a beam of 12 feet maximizing interior volume, while the 6.67-foot draft provides good windward ability without limiting shallow-water exploration. The comfortable ratios suggest this boat excels at relaxed coastal cruising and weekend adventures, with enough capability for occasional offshore passages in favorable conditions. Built with Catalina's time-tested fiberglass construction methods and powered by a reliable 30-horsepower engine, the 356 continues the builder's tradition of delivering dependable, value-oriented sailboats that make sailing accessible to a broad range of enthusiasts seeking quality without premium pricing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.50 ft / 11.13 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.17 ft / 9.20 m
Beam 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
Max Draft 6.67 ft / 2.03 m
Displacement 16,800.00 lb / 7,620 kg
Ballast 5,200.00 lb / 2,359 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 650.00 ft² / 60.39 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Gerry Douglas
Builder Catalina Yachts (USA)
First Built 2024
Related Sailboats Catalina 36 · Dufour Classic 36 · J/111 · Cr 360 370 · Saga 35
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.91
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 30.95
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 273.11
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 29.58
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.88
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.36 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.69
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,293.61 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 45.17 ft / 13.77 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.25 ft / 13.18 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
SA Fore 278.47 ft² / 25.87 m²
SA Main 291.94 ft² / 27.12 m²
SA Total (100%) 570.41 ft² / 52.99 m²
Est. Forestay Length 46.82 ft / 14.27 m
Mast Height (DWL) 54.83 ft / 16.71 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar
Engine Model 3YM30AE
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
Water Capacity 38 gals / 144 L
LOD 34.50 ft / 10.52 m
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 36, Cr 360 370, Dufour Classic 36, J/111, Saga 35

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Catalina 356 ★
36.5 ft
Catalina 36
36.3 ft
Cr 360 370
36.4 ft
Dufour Classic 36
36.3 ft
J/111
36.5 ft
Saga 35
36.5 ft
LWL
Catalina 356 ★
30.2 ft
Catalina 36
30.3 ft
Cr 360 370
32.0 ft
Dufour Classic 36
30.1 ft
J/111
31.0 ft
Saga 35
33.6 ft
Beam
Catalina 356 ★
12.0 ft
Catalina 36
11.9 ft
Cr 360 370
11.9 ft
Dufour Classic 36
12.3 ft
J/111
11.6 ft
Saga 35
10.8 ft
Displacement
Catalina 356 ★
16 lbs
Catalina 36
13 lbs
Cr 360 370
14 lbs
Dufour Classic 36
13 lbs
J/111
11 lbs
Saga 35
12 lbs
Ballast
Catalina 356 ★
5 lbs
Catalina 36
6 lbs
Cr 360 370
6 lbs
Dufour Classic 36
3 lbs
J/111
5 lbs
Saga 35
4 lbs
Sail Area
Catalina 356 ★
650 sq ft
Catalina 36
545 sq ft
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
672 sq ft
Saga 35
696 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Catalina 356 ★
—
Catalina 36
138 s/nm
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
—
Saga 35
129 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Catalina 356 ★
15.9
Catalina 36
15.4
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
20.4
Saga 35
20.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Catalina 356 ★
31.0 %
Catalina 36
44.4 %
Cr 360 370
43.0 %
Dufour Classic 36
27.0 %
J/111
45.5 %
Saga 35
32.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Catalina 356 ★
29.6
Catalina 36
24.0
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
26.7
Saga 35
24.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Catalina 356 ★
1.88
Catalina 36
2.01
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
1.62
Saga 35
1.84
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Catalina 356 ★
273
Catalina 36
217
Cr 360 370
192
Dufour Classic 36
214
J/111
127
Saga 35
151
Hull Speed
Catalina 356 ★
7.4 kts
Catalina 36
7.4 kts
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
8.8 kts
Saga 35
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Catalina 356 ★
1.7
Catalina 36
2.4
Cr 360 370
—
Dufour Classic 36
—
J/111
—
Saga 35
3.6
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