The Catalina 42 MkII Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Catalina 42 MkII, an aft-cockpit sloop, was designed by Gerry Douglas and built in the UK by Catalina Yachts.

A Catalina 42 MkII

Published Specification for the Catalina 42 MkII

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 41'10" (2.8m)

Waterline Length: 36'0" (11.0m)

Beam: 13'10" (4.2m)

Draft: 6'8" (2.1m)*

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 20,500lb (9,299kg)

Designer: Gerry Douglas

Builder: Catalina Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1995

Number Built: 300

* A shallow draft wing keel version was also produced drawing 4'11" (1.5m).

Published Design Ratios for the Catalina 42 MkII

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.1

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.5

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 196

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 25.4

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Catalina 42 MkII

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.1 suggests that the Catalina 42 MkII will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.5 means that the Catalina 42 MkII will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 196, tells us the Catalina 42 MkII is a light-to-moderate displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 25.4 suggests that crew comfort of a Catalina 42 MkII in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.0 tells us that a Catalina 42 MkII would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.