What the fleet has seen
The Catalina Yachts 36, as the fleet has seen it
Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.
The Catalina Yachts 36 is a masthead sloop designed by Frank W. Butler and built by Catalina Yachts from 1982 to the present, featuring a fin keel with a spade rudder. It has an overall length of 11.1 meters, a beam of 3.6 meters, a draft of 1.8 meters, and a displacement of 6123 kg. A MkII version, introduced in 1994, offered a larger cockpit, modified deck, and interior. The Catalina 36 was also available with a shallower wing keel option, reducing the draft to 1.35 meters, and a tall rig option. Crews use the Catalina 36 for coastal cruising and liveaboard life, with some undertaking extended passages. Aboard *Magic Carpet*, a Catalina 36 was seen anchored at Jedediah Island, British Columbia, after its owners purchased it storm-damaged and refitted it.3:58 Aboard *Bohemia*, a 1985 Catalina 36, the crew sailed from Florida to the Caribbean and Panama, emphasizing the necessity of a wind vane for long-distance passages after hand-steering for 10 days proved unsustainable.2:47 This crew also undertook interior modifications, replacing salon cushions, installing adjustable table pedestals, and building a folding desk to improve comfort and functionality for offshore watches and living aboard with a child.2:14 The Catalina 36 is considered a capable and affordable platform for coastal transit between Canada and Grenada, suitable for Caribbean island hopping when properly equipped, though its 1.8-meter draft can limit access to shallow anchorages in areas like the Bahamas and the ICW.
