The new 315 continues moving the Catalina brand to a higher level of performance, finish and engineering achievement. The 315 sails into the global marketplace with all the style and refinement of the larger Catalina 5 Series boats.With core attributes of the award-winning 445 and 355, the 315 includes features that are not found in many of the world’s yachts, yet come standard with the Catalina 5 Series: a watertight StrikeZone™ collision bulkhead, the SecureSocket™ mast support system that affords superior load resolution and watertight integrity; the DeepDefense™ rudder system for failsafe steering, and the T-Beam MastStep™ structure that has all the benefits of a deck-stepped mast and the strength of a keel stepped mast.All the best elements of the 5 Series Catalinas are replicated in the 315.
Catalina Yachts is in many ways an anomaly—a mass production boatbuilder that eschews design fads in a manner more typically associated with companies that produce far fewer boats at much higher prices. The result is a product line that is robust, reliable and easy on sailors, whether they’re racing around the cans or out cruising.
Like the other boats comprising the 5 series, the 315 is built in a four-part mold that creates a seamless monocoque structure from stem to stern to enhance rigidity and ensure there are no leaks, especially in the transom area.The deck is cored with end-grain balsa, with solid fiberglass in high-load areas to increase longevity.
The boat’s proprietary “T-Beam MastStep” arrangement employs a compression post that passes through the deck to ensure that it is, indeed, the post that supports the rig, and not the surrounding fiberglass deck.The rudder stock is 316 stainless steel, while the rudder itself has a molded-in leading edge, which eliminates a vulnerable seam on the foil’s vertical centerline.
There’s no mistaking the 315 for the latest trendy creation from the other side of the Atlantic—which I suspect is just fine with sailors who are attracted to this kind of boat.Side decks are easy to negotiate, the foredeck provides a good open workspace for dealing with ground tackle and headsails, sturdy stainless steel handrails run the length of the cabintrunk, and the cockpit seats are long, well-proportioned and comfortable.
The company does such a good job it’s easy to take what you’re looking at for granted – catalina for sale. Joinery is all superbly finished teak, mostly veneered but with solid inserts in high abrasion areas, so that owners can sand out dings and scratches without exposing underlying laminate. Forward, there’s a V-berth and head/shower arrangement, while a good-sized transverse double can be found aft.