BoatsCatalina Yachts 42 MK II

Catalina Yachts 42 MK II

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1995

One of the most popular sailboats in its size range, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and spade rudder

Designed by Gerry Douglas.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Catalina Yachts 42 MK II, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Lady K Sailing

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25
CoastalBluewater

2.03 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.03
LightHeavy

196 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 196
EasygoingPowered-up

17.1 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.1
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

  • Beamier than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2658 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Catalina Yachts 42 MK II, 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 42 MK II is a Masthead Sloop designed by Gerry Douglas, built by Catalina Yachts from 1995 to the present, with over 1000 units produced across its variants. It measures 12.8 m LOA, 4.2 m beam, 2.0 m draft, and displaces 9298 kg. The Catalina 42 MK II is considered a viable option for long-term liveaboard use in the Caribbean, offering balanced performance and ease of handling for couples.10:09 Aboard Lady K Sailing, it is recommended for its suitability for Caribbean cruising.11:03 A shallow draft wing keel version is available with a 1.5m draft.10:53

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Catalina Yachts 42 MK II on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.1
Displacement / length
196.2
Comfort ratio
25.4
Capsize screening
2.03
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1779
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1995
Units built
300
Designer
Gerry Douglas
Builder
Catalina Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Catalina Yachts 4212.76 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-volume cruiser built on a Nelson/Marek racing hull, featuring a masthead rig and a 1.83-metre fin keel
Why the Catalina 42 Took Over the Caribbeanfrom Practical Sailor
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/4212.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.8-metre cruiser featuring a fin keel with bulb and spade rudder, designed for offshore stability and speed
Back on land after nearly 3 years - nasty surprise?? Shipyard part 1/20:47from Eternal Sailing
Catalina Yachts 400 MK II12.65 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.65-metre cruiser with a deep 2.11-metre bulb keel and a balanced displacement-to-length ratio for offshore stability
This 40 Foot Sailboat Has the Best Owner’s Bed Ever Built | Catalina 400 MKIIfrom Practical Sailor
Baltic Yachts 42 DP12.78 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson design with a 2.41-metre draft, available in tall mast and keel-centerboard configurations.
Ep.29 Aland, to Finland! Through the Finnish Archipelago. Beautiful. And standing rigging fail.10:06from Sailing Northern Brees
Sabre Yachts 4212.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-run production cruiser from the late eighties, featuring a 41% ballast ratio for stability in a 12.7-metre hull
The Cape Horn of the Pacific? Point Conception and the Channel Islandsfrom Sailing Palomita
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Sailing Alone in Fog Without Losing Your Cool11:09from The Mariner

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Catalina Yachts 42A high-volume cruiser built on a Nelson/Marek racing hull, featuring a masthead rig and a 1.83-metre fin keelCatalina Yachts 36 MK IIA refined 1994 update to the classic 36-foot platform, featuring an enlarged cockpit and modernised interior layoutCatalina Yachts 400 MK IIA 12.65-metre cruiser with a deep 2.11-metre bulb keel and a balanced displacement-to-length ratio for offshore stabilityCatalina Yachts 28 MKIIA 1995 redesign featuring a widened aft hull for an expanded cabin and a refined galley layoutCatalina Yachts 34 MKIIA redesigned hull with a widened aft deck that maintains the original waterline to ensure one-design racing compatibilityCatalina Yachts 30 MKIIFeaturing a redesigned T-shaped cockpit and updated deck, this masthead sloop offered optional wing keels and tall rigs

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