Catalina 28 Review, a Catalina Yacht Built for Weekends and Week-Long Cruises

A Catalina yacht for the space between the 27 and the 30

By the start of the 1990s Catalina Yachts had built more than 6,000 Catalina 27s and 6,000 Catalina 30s, according to the company's own history, and it was the largest sailboat builder in the United States. The Catalina 28 was the in-between boat: bigger and more modern inside than the 27, cheaper and easier to handle than the 30. Catalina records that the first Catalina 28 was built in July 1991, the same period that produced the Catalina 270 and Catalina 320.

Gerry Douglas, Catalina's chief designer and later co-owner, drew the boat. Douglas joined the company in the 1970s, designed more than 40 models over a 45 year career and retired in 2021. The 28 shows his priorities clearly: a stable, predictable hull, a simple masthead rig, and as much usable interior as the length allows.

For anyone shopping a 28 ft sailboat on a budget, the Catalina 28 matters because so many were built and so many owners still sail them. Parts, advice and fellow owners are easy to find, and that support network is part of what you are buying.

Mk I or Mk II, the difference that sets the price

The original Catalina 28, built from 1991 until about 1995, was produced in about 620 hulls according to sailboatdata. In 1995 Catalina introduced the Catalina 28 Mk II, which won one of Cruising World's Boat of the Year awards in March 1996.

The Mk II widened the aft hull sections to create a larger aft cabin, redesigned the galley and improved the basic sail controls. Sailboatdata lists it at 29 ft 5 in overall, including the extended stern, on the same 28 ft 7 in hull length and 23 ft 10 in waterline, with a 10 ft 4 in beam, 8,300 lb displacement and 3,200 lb of lead ballast. It was built until about 2010.

For most buyers the Mk II is the better boat, particularly for couples who sleep aboard for more than a weekend. The Mk I is the value choice and sails just as well.

• Mk I, 1991 to 1995: about 620 built, Universal M3-20 diesel
• Mk II, 1995 to about 2010: wider stern, larger aft cabin, new galley, Universal 25XPBC diesel
• Both: fin keel or wing keel, standard or tall mast

What the numbers say about how it sails

The Mk I measures 28 ft 6 in overall with a 23 ft 10 in waterline, a 10 ft 2 in beam and 8,300 lb displacement, carrying 3,200 lb of lead ballast. The reported sail area is 396 sq ft on a masthead sloop rig. Those numbers give a ballast ratio of about 39 percent and a displacement to length ratio of about 274, which puts the 28 at the heavier end of moderate for its size. The sail area to displacement ratio is about 15.5.

In practice that means a stiff, steady boat that needs a decent breeze to come alive and will not be quick in very light air. The tall mast option, with a 3 ft taller rig, exists for exactly that reason and is worth seeking out on lakes and in light-air regions. The theoretical hull speed is about 6.5 knots.

The comfort ratio of about 23 and capsize screening value of about 2.0 describe a coastal cruiser. Plenty of Catalina 28s make Bahamas crossings and long coastal trips in settled weather, but this is not a boat to take offshore casually.

Fin or wing keel, standard or tall mast

Catalina offered a 5 ft 3 in fin keel and a wing keel of about 3 ft 10 in, which adds weight, bringing displacement to 8,600 lb with 3,500 lb of ballast on the Mk I. The Mk II's fin, listed with a bulb, draws about 5 ft 2 in and its wing keel about 3 ft 9 in.

Choose by cruising ground. On the Chesapeake, the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Bahamas the wing keel opens far more anchorages, and that is reflected in demand there. On the Great Lakes, the West Coast and New England, the fin keel points higher and is easier to sell. Wing keels are harder to free after a soft grounding, which is worth remembering before you try a shortcut.

Two cabins in 28 feet

Catalina's approach below is a molded interior liner with wood trim, a forward cabin, a saloon with settees and a table, a galley, an enclosed head and an aft cabin tucked under the cockpit. The Mk II's wider stern made that aft cabin noticeably more useful and gave the galley more space, and sailboatdata lists 6 ft of headroom and 49 gallons of water for the Mk II.

Expect a 30 year old boat to show its age in the details: headliners, cushions, wiring that has been modified by several owners and portlights that need rebedding. Those are cheap to fix compared with a soft deck or a failing engine.

Cheap to keep, if the engine is healthy

We estimate $5,000 to $12,000 a year to keep a Catalina 28, depending mostly on slip fees and whether you store ashore in winter. Haul-out, bottom paint, insurance and a Universal diesel service are the routine items. The 19 gallon fuel tank and small diesel keep motoring costs low.

The big risk is the engine. A repower with a modern diesel can cost more than a third of the boat's value, so a recent engine survey, compression test and oil analysis are money well spent before you buy.