CATALINA 34
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 34.5 ft |
| LWL | 29.83 ft |
| Beam | 11.75 ft |
| Draft | 5.58 ft |
| Displacement | 11,950 lb |
| Ballast | 5,145 lb |
| Material | 34’ 6”10.52 m |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 7.3 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 46 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 13.5 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 40.5 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 12 ft |
| FLforestay | 13.5 ft |
| Mainsail | 541.3 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 297 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 504.9 sq ft |
Accommodation
| Cabins | 2 |
| Berths | 4 |
| Heads | 1 |
| CE category | N/A€ |
Engine
| Universal | M-3535 hpSee all 11 parts → |
| Universal | M-2520 hpSee all 12 parts → |
| Universal | M-25XP23 hpSee all 12 parts → |
About the CATALINA 34
Total Catalina 34's built: 1,438 Shoal keel: -Draft: 4.67' -Displacement: 12,600 lbs -Ballast: 5,650 lbs Originally only offered with the standard and shoal keels. A wing keel was introduced, replacing the shoal keel, on or before 1990. Wing keel: -Draft = 4.25' -Displacement: 12.550 lbs -Ballast: 5,600 lbs 1985-1986: Deck stepped mast; Universal 25 (21HP) diesel engine. 1987-1990: Changed to keel stepped mast; Universal 25XP (23 HP) engine. 1990-1991: Walk-through transom introduced (photo above); Universal M35 (30 HP). The last Mark I models look very much like Mark IIs. (see CATALINA 34 MKII) Photo courtesy Adam Hunt.
Designed by Frank Butler and built by Catalina Yachts (USA), the Catalina 34 is a robust coastal cruiser with 1438 hulls produced in 1985. Its substantial displacement of 11950.0 lb and beam of 11.75 ft provide a stable, comfortable platform that remains popular for its spacious interior and reliable performance.
- Best for:
- This boat is ideally suited for coastal cruisers and families seeking a spacious, stable liveaboard or weekend cruiser, rather than extreme bluewater racers, given its moderate SA/D ratio of 16.07 and comfort-focused design.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 2.06 and a displacement of 11950.0 lb, the Catalina 34 is capable of offshore passages, though owners frequently report critical issues with deck core moisture and rudder shafts that must be addressed before extended bluewater use.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats from this era include the Cal 34 and O'Day 34, which share similar beam dimensions and displacement characteristics, offering comparable interior volume and coastal cruising capabilities.
Direct variant of the CATALINA 34
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Estimated Value
High ConfidenceAsking price by model year
85 listings · boat years 1985–1998 · median $31,500
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 34.5ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Featured YouTube Videos
Articles & Reviews
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
27 reported issues across 10 systems for the CATALINA 34, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a CATALINA 34? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 27 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
Similar Sailboats
Engine Parts & Maintenance
The engines most commonly fitted to this model. “All parts” opens the engine's full catalogue; each part links to a matching listing on 
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matched to its part number.
Universal M-35
All parts →Universal M-25
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Used sails that fit the CATALINA 34
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…