New Catalina at Docklands

The Catalina 385 will make her grand entrance at this weekend's Melbourne Summer Boat Show, located in the heart of the city at Docklands. She is expected to receive a great response from the public and critics alike with her award-winning elements of previous models.

The new Catalina 385 is the latest in the new line of Catalinas that began with the 445 introduced in April 2009, successfully followed by the 355, Cruising World’s Domestic Boat of the Year in 2011. The new 385 evolved from successful design features and proportions -- moderate beam carried well aft for a spacious cockpit, modest freeboard for reduced windage and an innovative, beautifully finished interior.

Lead keels, roomy cockpits, long travellers for precise sail control, and long inboard genoa tracks that allow the sail plan to be balanced in all wind conditions are just a few of the many design features of the Catalinas.

Below, Catalina uses teak and teak veneers for classic warmth, hand-finished with clear varnishes to preserve its natural beauty with less maintenance. A navigation desk with recessed laptop compartment has dedicated power ports. The custom Catalina electrical panel is neatly concealed behind a tinted acrylic door that allows for continual monitoring of power use, with a wiring system engineered for easy access.

The main cabin has generous seating with a custom folding table, and a port dinette that easily converts to a single berth. A linear cabinet has plenty of storage and maintains open site lines through the cabin. Polished handrails and fittings complement the teak interior cabinetry. The galley is optimized for convenience at sea or at the dock.

The owner’s cabin is forward with a custom, articulating innerspring mattress; an electrical lift is available for more comfortable reading or viewing TV. Guest accommodations are aft with a large double berth and storage lockers.

Catalina’s philosophy is straightforward: Design boats that stand up to real-world conditions and sail well. They must be comfortable above and below, easy to maintain and hold their value.