Catalina 380
Built 1996–? by Catalina Yachts
About the Catalina 380
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1996–?
- Builder
- Catalina Yachts
- Designer
- Gerry Douglas
- Length
- 38.42 ft
- Waterline
- 32.42 ft
- Beam
- 12.33 ft
- Draft
- 7.17 ft
- Displacement
- 19,000 lb
- Ballast
- 6,800 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 34 gal
- Water
- varies by year
- Holding
- 30 gal
- Water heater
- 11 gal · AC + engine
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 34 gal
“FUEL TANK CAPACITY 34 U.S. Gal.” — owner's manual (Catalina 380 manual (Yanmar 3JH3-BE era)), catalina380.org · “34 gallons of fuel” — search excerpt (2002), boattrader.com · “Fuel: 26 gal (original spec)” — search excerpt (2000), sailboatlistings.comThe builder's owner's manual (owners' association copy) gives 34 US gal, and a 2002 listing agrees. The 26 gal we listed before (from a spec database, repeated by one listing) isn't supported by the builder.
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Water varies by year
“WATER TANK CAPACITY (1) Aft 30, (1) Forward 25, (1) Water Heater 11, Total U.S. Gal. 66” — owner's manual (Catalina 380 manual), catalina380.org · “Water: 102 gal” — search excerpt (2000), sailboatlistings.com · “Water Tank Capacity: 102 gal” — search excerpt (2001), shorelineyachtgroup.com · “105 gallons of water capacity” — search excerpt (2002), boattrader.comOwner's manual (Yanmar 3JH3-BE era): aft 30 + forward 25 = 55 gal in tanks (66 with the 11-gal water heater). Listings for 2000–2002 boats give 102–105 gal and one mentions three tanks, so later boats appear to have a third tank — check yours.
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Holding 30 gal
“HOLDING TANK CAPACITY (1) Midship 30 U.S. Gal” — owner's manual (Catalina 380 manual), catalina380.org
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Water heater 11 gal · AC + engine
“WATER TANK CAPACITY: (1) Aft 30, (1) Forward 25, (1) Water Heater 11, Total U.S. Gal 66” — owner's manual, catalina380.org · “WATER HEATER W/ HEAT EXCHANGER 11 GALLON (to engine / from engine)” — owner's manual (plumbing schematic 380-64000-2, 1996-200), catalina380.org · “C380 110 VOLT SCHEMATIC: WATER HEATER 15 [amp breaker]; 'The optional 110 volt AC system is connected to shore power'” — owner's manual (1999), catalina380.orgThe builder's owner's manual gives an 11 gal heater with engine heat exchanger and 110 V element (15 A breaker), within the 66 gal water total (30 + 25 + 11). The spec page marks a second ice box optional but not the heater, yet the manual calls the 110 V system optional, so this isn't settled. A parts supplier calls the original heater 120 V.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
Builder manual specifications and systems sections, and the association's equipment-manual index, show no thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source, and nothing was found either way.
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Steering pedestal cable · Edson
“The emergency tiller moves the whole steering assembly, including cables and quadrant.” — owner's manual (1996), catalina380.org · “Catalina 380 Emergency Tiller Assembly drawing 380-28000-0 (2-4-96): pedestal, radial drive wheel on rudder post” — owner's manual (1996), catalina380.org · “Edison Steering Manual (Edson Marine Steering Inspection, chain/cable/quadrant checklist) in the association's equipment” — owners' association, catalina380.orgBuilder manual drawing shows a pedestal driving a radial drive wheel on the rudder post by cable. The association's equipment-manual list carries Edson's steering inspection guide and Edson engine controls, naming Edson as the steering maker.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Loosely based on the Morgan-Catalina 381. Deep fin (7.17 ft) or shoal/wing keel (5.33 ft); tall rig available. Heavy for its length (19,000 lb). Engine switched from Westerbeke 42 hp to Yanmar 3JH at about hull #225 in 2000. Owners on SailNet describe the hull as solid fiberglass.
Engines fitted
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Westerbeke 42 hp diesel (model not stated) — 42 hp, diesel, single
standard
Practical Sailor: production started with a Westerbeke 42 hp diesel (hulls before #225); owners report valve problems with these. Keel Index lists the 42 hp Westerbeke as standard.Sources: practical-sailor.com · keelindex.com
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Yanmar 3JH series — 40 hp, diesel, single
standard
Practical Sailor: Catalina switched to the Yanmar 3JH series at hull #225 (2000); the same article mentions a 40 hp Yanmar.Sources: practical-sailor.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
The owner's manual contents, specifications and 110 V schematic show shore power and a battery charger only; no generator.
Manuals and brochures online
- Owner's manual Catalina 380 Owner's Manual with specifications page (c. 1997) — catalina380.org
- Brochure Catalina 380 sales brochure (principal specifications, no tankage) (1996 (12.96)) — catalinayachts.com
- Document Catalina 380 International Association 'Manuals Online' index (owner's manual and equipment manuals) — catalina380.org
- Document Edson Marine Steering Inspection checklist (EB-372-97-2), posted as the Catalina 380 steering manual — catalina380.org
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
-
Westerbeke valve problems on early boats engine
The most common complaint from early owners is the original Westerbeke 42, with reports of burned or broken valves; Catalina switched to Yanmar 3JH engines at about hull #225 (2000).practical-sailor.com
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Forestay base leak into forepeak deck
Owners advise checking for moisture under the V-berth; the jib-stay base can leak and the forepeak locker has no drain.facebook.com
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Cockpit table supports break other
Owners report the cockpit table supports breaking repeatedly.practical-sailor.com
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
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Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
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Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
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Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (9)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · facebook.com · catalinayachts.com · catalinayachts.com · sailnet.com · keelindex.com · catalina380.org · catalina380.org
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Other Catalina models
- Catalina 22 1969–?
- Catalina 25 1976–?
- Catalina 27 1970–1991
- Catalina 30 1974–2008
- Catalina 320 1993–?
- Catalina 34 1985–?
- Catalina 36 1982–?
- Catalina 400 1994–?
- Catalina 42 1989–2011
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.