The Catalina Morgan 440 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Catalina Morgan 440, an aft cockpit sloop, was designed by Gerry Douglas and built in the USA by Catalina Yachts.

A Catalina Morgan 440 preparing to drop anchorA Catalina Morgan 440

Published Specification for the Catalina Morgan 440

Underwater Profile: Wing (or fin) keel & semi-balanced rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 45'11" (14.0m)

Waterline Length: 40'7" (12.4m)

Beam: 14'0" (4.3m)

Draft: 5'0" (1.5m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 25,528lb (11,579kg)

Designer: Gerry Douglas

Builder: Catalina Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 2004


Published Design Ratios for the Catalina Morgan 440

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.3

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 33.7

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 171

4. Comfort Ratio: 27.8

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Catalina Morgan 440

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.3 suggests that the Catalina Morgan 440 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 33.7 would usually mean that the Catalina Morgan 440 would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in the wing at the foot of her keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 171, tells us the Catalina Morgan 440 is clearly a light 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 27.8 suggests that crew comfort of a Catalina Morgan 440 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 (CSF) of 1.9 indicates that a Catalina Morgan 440 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

More about the Catalina Morgan 440...

The Catalina Morgan 440 was launched in 2004 as the first deck saloon model from Catalina Yachts, a company known for its affordable and popular cruising boats. The boat was conceived as a vacation home or a retirement home for many loyal Catalina owners who wanted more space, comfort and convenience. The boat has a modern and sleek profile, with a low-profile cabin top that blends well with the hull.

The boat is available in two keel versions:

  • the standard version with a wing keel and a draft of 4.11 feet, and
  • the deep draft version with a fin keel and a draft of 6.5 feet.

The boat is also available with different mast heights:

  • the standard mast is 63 feet above the waterline, while
  • the optional ICW-friendly mast is 58.5 feet above the waterline

Both mast versions are deck stepped.

Catalina Morgan 440 accommodation layoutThe Catalina Morgan 440 accommodation layout

The boat has a spacious and ergonomic center cockpit, with a single wheel on a pedestal, a folding cockpit table, and comfortable seating for six people. The cockpit is protected by a dodger and a bimini, and has easy access to the stern platform through retractable gates. The cockpit also has convenient storage lockers, including one that can fit a life raft. The boat has wide side decks and inboard shrouds for safe and easy movement around the boat. The boat has a large anchor locker at the bow, and an electric windlass for easy anchoring.

Accommodation
The Catalina Morgan 440 has an impressive interior that is bright, airy and spacious. The boat has large windows all around the cabin top, as well as opening hatches and ports for ventilation and natural light. The boat has an inviting cherry wood finish and durable upholstery throughout.

The boat has a generous owner's stateroom forward, with an island queen berth, ample storage space, and an ensuite head with a separate shower stall. The owner's stateroom also has a window on the world, ideal for an anchor watch or enjoying the view.

The main saloon is located amidships, one step up from the owner's stateroom. The main saloon features a raised U-shaped dinette to port, which can seat six people comfortably or convert into a double berth. The dinette also has an optional flat-screen TV that can be lowered from the cabin top. To starboard, there are two reclining seats with foot pads that can become ottomans, perfect for relaxing or watching TV. There is also a navigation station to starboard, with a large chart table and an electrical panel.

The galley is located aft of the main saloon, to port. The galley is convenient to the cockpit and has plenty of counter space and storage. The galley is equipped with a three-burner stove with oven, a microwave oven, a double sink, a top-loading refrigerator, and a front-loading freezer.

The guest cabin is located aft of the galley, to port. The guest cabin has an athwartships double berth, a hanging locker, and access to the aft head. The aft head can also be accessed from the main saloon, and has an electric toilet and a shower.

The starboard side aft of the navigation station is adaptable to different needs. It can be used as a workroom with a bench, an optional washer-dryer, and occasional sleeping space for extra guests. It can also be converted into another guest cabin with upper and lower berths.

Hull and Deck
The Catalina Morgan 440 has a solid fiberglass hull with vinylester resin to prevent osmosis. The hull has an external lead keel that is bolted to the hull with stainless steel bolts. The hull also has an integral fiberglass structural grid that carries the loads of the rigging and the keel.

The deck is made of fiberglass sandwich with balsa core and is bonded to the hull with polyurethane adhesive and stainless steel bolts. The deck also has molded-in nonskid surfaces.

The boat has a semi-balanced skeg-hung rudder.

In Conclusion...
The Catalina Morgan 440 is a sailboat that offers a lot of space, comfort and convenience for recreational sailors who want to enjoy long-term cruising or living aboard. The boat has a modern and sleek appearance, a spacious and ergonomic cockpit, and an impressive and bright interior. The boat is also easy to sail and handle, and has many options to suit different preferences and needs.

This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.

Other sailboats in the Catalina range include:

A Catalina 36 sailboat at anchorThe Catalina 36
A Catalina 42 sailboatThe Catalina 42
'Valiant', a Catalina 400 MkII sailboatThe Catalina 400
A Catalina 445 sailboatThe Catalina 445

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