Catalina 375

CATALINA 375

DISLIKES
>> Lack of locks on stern sugar scoop lockers
>> Lack of centre line handrails in saloon for crew safety at sea
>> Lack of access to mainsheet from helm

COMPARABLE BOATS
-- Bavaria 38: Known for cost-effective builds, the German manufacturer's recent injection of investment money will improve what is already a very competent cruiser.
-- Beneteau Oceanis 37: The world's biggest yacht builder's deep R&D pockets make the 37 a fast, able and well thought out performer with very pretty lines.
-- Hanse 375e: A new model for 2010 from the former East German builder is available with twin steering which is a race-oriented setup. The fast cruiser also features self-tacking headsail and is available in a hard-wearing epoxy hull.
-- Hunter 38: US-made Hunter delivers cruising boats with all mod cons and the 38 is no exception with a user-friendly sailing rig, integral bimini and a nice finish below decks.

OVERVIEW
As successor to the Catalina 36, the 375 has much to live up to and with its recent arrival in Australia this cruiser enters the competitive mid-sized market. Aimed at cruising families and couples, the boat has wide appeal. Standout features include a large cockpit, powerful engine, teak finishings and a solid lead keel. 

The Catalina 375 comes from a well-established stable of US-made cruising yachts that have evolved through plenty of feedback from a large owners' association. With yachts ranging in size from pocket cruisers to bluewater designs, the Florida-based builder offers a very wide range for the sailor, and one to grow with as your horizons widen. With the 375, designer Gerry Douglas aimed to continue the philosophy of building simple and low-maintenance sailing boats and after a test sail on the Catalina 375, we think he has succeeded.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
The 375 has classic lines; with plenty of bow rake and topsides which belie a voluminous interior while not appearing overly high, and the price tag of $289,000 for the review boat is good value. The deep and roomy cockpit mouldings are well finished and everything looks and feels solid, from the centre table to the unique folding cabin door with its strong piano hinges. Catalina has continued its popular use of stern rail seats which are again solidly located with waterproof Bose audio speakers attached below. Locker space is good and the cockpit is uncluttered, with only the twin Harken 44 genoa winches there, as the mainsheet and its special non-tangle sheet track is on the cabin roof.

The steering binnacle, well sheltered under the bimini, has a user-friendly instrument panel with the Raymarine instrumentation clear of the wheel spokes. There is room for an optional chartplotter. The steering wheel on the test boat was a larger version than standard as the owner preferred to sit out in a more race-oriented position. Behind the helm, a hinged bulkhead gives easy swim access to the sugar scoop stern and its functional fold-out ladder. Nice touches here are the two wet-gear lockers and hot/cold shower.

Moving forward, deck space is generous everywhere thanks to the beamy hull.

Strong double-posted guard rails will give the cruising sailor plenty of confidence when he walks up the foredeck. Inboard shrouds also keep the decks clear and movement is unimpeded.

As I spent more time on this boat, it's the attention to detail that becomes apparent. The aforementioned shrouds are strongly located with chain plates and then a second tie-rod system moulded into the hull. Up front twin rollers and a deep and dual compartment anchor locker again show the extra thought that's gone into the 375. The Maxwell 1000 windless with twin foot controls complements a good cruising anchoring system. The anchor, of course, is often a personal choice, but a Delta comes standard.

As an option, the long bulkhead-mounted table could be changed for a pedestal table and additional L-shaped settee. It's easy to imagine some elegant dinner parties here, perhaps with another crew invited over and the cook managing it all in the well-equipped U-shaped galley to starboard. Impressive features there include deep sinks, beautifully crafted drawers that glide easily on metal runners and a non-slip Lonseal floor that also covers the whole saloon ensuring good footing. The gimballed double-burner gas stove/oven and bulkhead-mounted microwave should keep most cooks happy. The front-opening Waeco fridge keeps things cool and further chill capacity could also be added with the optional freezer pack fitment into one of the galley chest lockers.

Opposite the galley, the starboard navigation area has a good-sized chart table and an impressive bank of control switches on the bulkhead. Behind this area is the walk-in guest cabin which features Catalina's own inner sprung mattress for extra comfort. This lies across the beam of the wide stern and leaves enough space for a cabin seat as well with enough locker space and natural light to keep guests happy. 

For the owner's cabin in the bow, again space is aplenty but added touches make the difference -- the island double bed can be extended with inserts and below it, a large cupboard and triple drawer storage. A big top hatch (handy for an air scoop to be fitted at anchor) gives plenty of natural light and wood lining all round finishes off a comfortable sleeping area.

The adjoining head and shower has private access from this cabin as well as saloon access from a second door.  A wet locker sits opposite it to starboard. Highlights in this area are the walk-in shower vestibule and rounded easy wipe mouldings which all work well. Back in the saloon, with the additional bed deployed (via a drop down table between the settee) the accommodation on the Catalina 375 is impressive and well thought out.

All the fixtures and fittings looked oversized for a 38-footer, which again is deliberate, to prevent gear failure. Typical of this approach was the dual sets of blocks and tackle on the cabin top located mainsail track. The mast itself has an extra strong and cleverly designed compression post arrangement that includes a steel plate and foam beam arrangement ensuring a rigid fit to the hull.

Twin spreaders with four sets of stays and dual deck level adjustable backstays ensure the strong rig stays upright while not swept back enough to prevent deep running.

I confess to being generally uneasy with in-mast and in-boom reefing systems but the 375's Selden system worked a treat in the light wind conditions. The test boat’s owner had replaced the standard factory sails with vertical battens for a more race orientated wardrobe which he said had proved worthwhile, with several wins in twilight races.

The 375 hull is solid fibreglass and vinylester resin joined to a balsa-cored deck, a proven build used on most Catalinas. Inside, moulded fibreglass stringers ensure stiffness.

The hull has a fine entry and unlike some competitors doesn't have excessively high topsides and beam, so the overall shape is sleek and handsome. Other plus points are the easy-maintenance shaft-driven propeller system that sits in front of the spade rudder and is strongly housed within a moulded fin, to give a solid underwater profile. 

The Raymarine log showed a very impressive 5.5kts of boat speed in only 7.5kts true wind. Unlike some competitors Catalina uses solid lead in their keels which greatly helps stability (lead is twice the weight of cast iron) and also adds to the stiffness of the hull. The hull itself is heavily laid up and has a separately built fibreglass grid moulded into it, which all adds up to making a very stiff boat; very much built to last. For Australian coastal waters I'd choose the deep fin keel (2.08m) which would increase stability and upwind performance.

Back at the helm the light conditions had me chasing zephyrs of wind but the 375 tacked nimbly, with the Harken 44 winches easily to hand near the helm for headsail trimming. The mainsheet was controlled by my host for the day, Rod from Rod Mackay Boating, on the cabin top. For short-handed sailors, managing the main would involve rerouting the sheet aft, though.

Nice touches on the cabin top included bags for all lines. With a downwind run in prospect I went forward to help deploy the spinnaker pole to pole-out the genoa. In heavy weather the sturdy handrail on the coachroof allows a firm grip when moving forward. Setting the genoa was done without fuss, as the pole easily slid down the track to be quickly adjusted on the end of the sail. As we sped downwind and prepared for a gybe, the functional foredeck allowed us to easily dip the pole and host on the other tack.

With the sailing coming to an end the Selden in-mast mechanism effortlessly wound in the mainsail and the 40hp Yanmar was clicked into gear, its triple-bladed propeller pushing us up to a speedy 7.6kts at maximum of 3000rpm.

Dropping the hook for an evening in the Pittwater crossed my mind because this is undoubtedly a comfortable and able boat for putting in the sea miles. When at that favourite anchorage, or stern to the dock, the functional swim platform and transom hatch allow easy access to the big 'Californian' cockpit. There's lots of storage for gear in its lockers, including an aft locker deep enough for an outboard and water toys for the kids.

By what I've seen this latest Catalina is very much a progression of a proven formula and for that very reason the boat should gain a strong following. It definitely gets my vote as a first class cruising boat because it combines quality with good design and enough performance to get you to those secluded cruising grounds in style.

SPECIFICATIONS
Length Overall: 11.73m (38'6"ft)
Length at Waterline: 10.49m (34'5"ft)
Beam: 3.96 m (13ft)
Fin Keel draft: 2.08m (6'10"ft)
Wing Keel draft: 1.42m (4'8"ft)
Fin Keel ballast: 2359kg
Wing Keel ballast: 2812kg
Approximate Weight
Fin Keel weight: 7031 kg
Wing Keel weight: 7484kg
Engine: Diesel 3 cylinder 40 hp
Sail Area: Standard Rig 61.87sqm
Theoretical Hull Speed: 7.86 knots
Fresh Water Capacity: 367L
Holding Tank Capacity: 117L
Fuel Capacity: 151L
Battery Bank: (2) 4D Deep Cycle
CE Rating: A