Catalina 42
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About the Catalina 42
Representing a significant step up in Catalina's cruising lineup during the late 1980s and early 1990s, this 42-footer emerged from the collaborative design efforts of Nelson/Marek and Catalina's in-house team. Built between 1989 and 1995 with 477 hulls launched, the Catalina 42 established itself as a popular choice for serious coastal and offshore cruising sailors seeking comfort without sacrificing performance. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, combined with a masthead sloop rig carrying 797 square feet of sail area, delivers respectable sailing characteristics for its size and displacement of 20,500 pounds. With 8,300 pounds of ballast providing stability, the design achieves a comfortable motion at sea while maintaining enough performance capability for passage-making. The generous 13.83-foot beam creates substantial interior volume, making extended cruising more livable for couples or families. Notable for its solid fiberglass construction quality typical of Catalina's production standards, this model appeals to sailors planning coastal exploration or offshore passages to the Caribbean or beyond. The boat's moderate comfort ratio of 25.38 suggests good seakeeping abilities, while the capsize screening formula of 2.03 indicates reasonable offshore capability when properly handled.
Market Price Estimate
Beta
$39,900 – $156,500
typical asking price
Rate a listing price
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About this estimate
- Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
- Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
- Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
- Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
41.86 ft / 12.76 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
36.00 ft / 10.97 m
Beam
13.83 ft / 4.22 m
Max Draft
6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement
20,500.00 lb / 9,299 kg
Ballast
8,300.00 lb / 3,765 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
797.00 ft² / 74.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Nelson/Marek / Catalina
Builder
Catalina Yachts (USA)
First Built
1989
Last Built
1995
Number Built
477
Associations
Catalina 42 Owners
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The Catalina 42 uses a cast iron keel attached with stainless steel keel bolts that are prone to crevice corrosion where they pass through the iron. The keel-to-hull joint frequently develops rust staining and weeping, and the bolts should be carefully inspected and torque-tested during any survey.
The deck-to-hull joint on the Catalina 42 uses an inward-facing flange bonded and through-bolted, but the toerail covers the joint and traps moisture. Leaks at this junction are common and can lead to delamination of the deck core, particularly in the bow and side deck areas.
The balsa-cored deck is known to suffer from water intrusion around fittings, stanchion bases, and chainplates where the core was not properly sealed during production. Soft spots in the deck around these hardware locations are frequently found on surveyed examples.
The chainplate knees on the Catalina 42 are glassed to the interior liner rather than being structurally tied to the hull, which can allow flexing under load. Cracking of the surrounding laminate and gelcoat near the chainplate covers is a known warning sign and warrants close inspection.
The mast compression post on early Catalina 42s bears against the interior liner rather than a true structural bulkhead in some configurations. Liner cracking or deflection under the mast step area should be investigated carefully.
1989–1992 models
The rudder on the Catalina 42 is foam-cored fiberglass over a stainless steel shaft and armature. The fiberglass skin can crack at the leading edge or near the shaft, allowing water into the foam core, which then saturates and can cause delamination or bearing wear.
The molded interior liner used throughout is bonded to the hull but not fully tabbed, and the gap between liner and hull can trap standing water and debris, leading to hidden moisture accumulation and odor issues that are difficult to remediate.
Many Catalina 42s were fitted with the Universal M-40 or M-50 diesel, and the engine compartment design limits access to the raw water impeller, heat exchanger, and transmission. Deferred maintenance on these items is extremely common due to the tight access, so full service history should be verified.
The original 12V DC wiring harness in early production boats used undersized wire runs to the mast base and some auxiliary circuits, and connections are often found corroded or poorly supported within the liner cavities where inspection is difficult.
1989–1992 models
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating
PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
96
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
17.09
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
40.49
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
196.15
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
25.38
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
2.03
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.
8.04 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
2.76
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.
1,778.98 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.
17.09
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
53.00 ft / 16.15 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
16.40 ft / 5.00 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
46.75 ft / 14.25 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
15.50 ft / 4.72 m
SA Fore
434.60 ft² / 40.38 m²
SA Main
362.31 ft² / 33.66 m²
SA Total (100%)
796.91 ft² / 74.04 m²
Est. Forestay Length
55.48 ft / 16.91 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Yanmar
Engine Model
4JHBE
Engine Type
Diesel
Horsepower
44
Fuel Capacity
39 gals / 148 L
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