Catalina 34

Accommodations

V-Berth cabin forward with built in drawers and hanging locker, overhead hatch and privacy door.

Spacious main cabin with wraparound seating on starboard, with more seating on port. There is nice shelving and cabinetry on the port side.

Just aft on port is a compact navigation desk with electrical panel and radio equipment. The spacious head compartment is located just aft of the nav station conveniently located near the companionway. There is a built-in shower seat area and an opening port for good ventilation and light.

Across the companionway on the starboard side is a complete galley with double stainless steel sinks, built-in Norcold AC/DC refrigeration, stove with oven.

The entrance to the aft cabin is through a doorway just aft of the galley. The aft cabin feels very spacious and has a large double berth athwartships with the foot end of the bed tucked under the cockpit floor. There is also extra seating, and two opening ports for great light and ventilation.

The T-shaped cockpit is very spacious with long cushioned seats port and starboard, a nice teak folding table, and plenty of room to move around the helm.

Equipment List

• Roller furling (Cruising Design)
  110 jib

  90 jib on roller with Sunbrella cover Drifter

  Harkin self tacking traveler system for jib

  Lewmar 48 primary

  Lewmar 28 secondary

  Slab reefing 2 points led + storm

  Boom vang

  Spinnaker pole

  All lines run to cockpit

  AutoHelm 3000 autopilot

  Life sling

  Throwable horseshoe

  Boarding ladder

  Dual boarding gates with custom steps

  Boom preventer led to cockpit

  Outboard Motor mount

  Motor lift for outboard

  Full canvas Inc. weather cloths and covers for teak Cockpit cushions (3)

  2 BBQ's gas and charcoal

  Boson's chair

  Boat hook

  Flares kit

  Spare lines

  All dock lines with snubbers

  Edison pedestal steering with teak drink holder and table

  MOB pole

  Full topside sun shade

  22Ib Bruce, 30 ft 3/8 chain, 190ft marked 5/8 rode

  Spare rode and danforth

Interior Equipment

•  

  Chelsey barometer and chime

  Trawler oil lamp

  12/120 Volt lighting 

  New foam in main cabin seating

  Force 9 Propane cabin heater

  Chart rack and ships bell

  Assorted spare parts and filters

  Wind scoop for forepeak hatch

  Port screens

   

Electronics

• Datamarine wind, direction, speed, depth

  VHF Horizon below deck

  Alpeco handheld

  CD stereo with cockpit speakers and cabin speakers 

  Hand held GPS

  Upgraded battery system (200 Ah est)

  Separate starting battery

  30 Ah charger

  Spa Creek Engine driven battery charger

Galley

• Norcold AC/DC Refrigeration
• Propane SS Stove with new tank
• SS double sink with upgraded plumbing
• Electric and engine heated hot 5 gal hot water tank
• Pressure and manual fresh water pumps
• Two water tanks
• Custom folding counter top extensions
• Custom dish, liquor and towel racks

Rigging and Sails

• Garhauer main sheet traveler, inboard tracks  & cars, split backstay, boom vang & preventer, 18' aluminum Spinnaker pole, Easylock & Lewmar line stoppers
• 90% & 110% jibs with roller furler
• Double reef mainsail in stack pack with lazy jacks

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. Buyer should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht, and should instruct his agents, or his surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. This vessel is subject to sale, price and inventory changes, and withdrawal from market without notice.

Additional Information

A 1987 Catalina 34 is widely considered one of the best first “serious” sailboats because it balances ease of handling, comfort, cost, and proven design. It’s large enough to grow into as a sailor, but still manageable for someone learning the ropes.

Here are the main reasons it’s a strong first-boat choice.

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1. Easy and Forgiving Sailing Characteristics

The Catalina 34 has a stable hull and moderate sail plan, which makes it forgiving for new sailors.

    •    Moderate displacement and a beamy hull provide good stability and confidence at the helm.  

    •    Many owners describe it as a “stiff” boat that handles wind well and tacks easily.  

    •    The long waterline and generous sail area give good performance without being overly demanding to sail.  

In practice, that means the boat feels predictable—important when you’re learning sail trim, docking, and heavy-weather handling.

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2. Manageable Size for Beginners

At about 34½ feet LOA with an 11’9” beam, the Catalina 34 is big but still manageable.  

Why this matters for a first boat:

    •    Large enough for comfortable cruising

    •    Small enough to single-hand or sail with two people

    •    Docking and marina handling remain reasonable

Many sailors consider 30–35 feet the “sweet spot” for a first cruising sailboat.

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3. Comfortable Interior (Great for Learning to Cruise)

The Catalina 34 was designed as a coastal cruiser, so the interior is roomy for its size.

Typical layout features:

    •    Private aft cabin

    •    V-berth forward

    •    Large saloon and galley

    •    Head with shower

    •    Sleeps 5–6 people comfortably

Owners often point out that the boat feels almost like a small liveaboard cruiser, which makes weekend trips or extended stays enjoyable.  

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4. Huge Owner Community and Parts Availability

One of the biggest advantages of the Catalina line is the support network.

    •    Over 1,400 Catalina 34s were built, so parts and knowledge are easy to find.  

    •    Active owner associations and forums provide help with maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting.

For a first-time owner, this is extremely valuable—you’re rarely figuring things out alone.

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5. Reasonable Cost and Good Value

An 1980s Catalina 34 typically offers a lot of boat for the money.

Advantages:

    •    Affordable purchase price compared with newer boats

    •    Straightforward fiberglass construction

    •    Moderate maintenance costs

    •    Good resale value

This makes it a low-risk entry point into cruising sailboats.

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6. Versatile Use

The Catalina 34 works well for several types of sailing:

    •    Day sailing

    •    Club racing (PHRF around 138)  

    •    Coastal cruising

    •    Weekend or week-long trips

It’s not an offshore passagemaker, but it’s excellent for coastal sailing and bay cruising.

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✅ In short:

The 1987 Catalina 34 is a great first sailboat because it is stable, forgiving, spacious, affordable, and widely supported, making it ideal for sailors moving from learning to owning a capable cruising boat.

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.