Which Sailboat?
Catalina (Capri) 14.2 Review
The Catalina Capri 14.2, known later as simply the Catalina 14.2, is an excellent sport sailboat and day sailer oriented toward family and youth use. The boat was designed by Ted Carpentier and Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts . Catalina derived the boat from the Omega 14 produced by Frank Butler’s Coronado Yachts prior to the formation of Catalina Yachts. After the formation of Catalina Yachts, the Omega 14 design was modified by adding a foredeck and a cuddy beneath the foredeck to create the Capri 14.2. Since 1983, over 5,200 Catalina 14.2s have been built. Production continues .
While Catalina 14.2s are frequently used for family cruising, the boat can provide an exhilarating sailing experience due to its semi-planing hull and clearly sporting sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 36. As a family sport boat and day sailer, the Catalina 14.2 is primarily composed of a large cockpit that easily holds 4 adults. One owner reports sailing inland lakes and bays of the Outer Banks in the eastern U.S. with his wife and 3 children aboard, and with the cuddy and areas beneath the cockpit seats laden with camping supplies. Forward of the dominant cockpit, a large cuddy cabin provides storage for day sail, picnic and camping supplies, batteries, and emergency equipment. As expected for a sport boat or day sailer of this size, the cuddy provides no berths, head, or galley. (If berths, galley, or head are important to you, consider the Catalina 22 , which is also easily trailered.)
The Catalina 14.2 benefits from its large production volume, long production run, that its manufacturer is still in business, and a plethora of parts continue to be available from the manufacturer and Catalina Direct . Active Catalina 14.2 class racing fleets and events exist but are limited compared to some other small sailboats such as Flying Scots, Moths, and Lasers. Presumably, this is because of the boat’s intended purpose and reputation as a family sport boat and day sailer, rather than a class racing boat.
INDENTIFYING VARIOUS CATALINA 14.2 MODELS
Three models of the Catalina 14.2 have been produced since 1983. The different models are popularly deemed “Mod 1”, “Mod 2”, and “Mod 3”. The Mod 1 models have a single open space below decks and came from the factory with a marine plywood hatch to enclose the cuddy and the rest of the space. The Mod 2 models, introduced around 1990, had a fiberglass box glued inside the entrance of the cuddy, which while preventing water intrusion into the cuddy and the rest of the hull in the event of a capsize, also made the potential storage space in the cuddy inaccessible and made maintenance of the inside of the hull more difficult. Mod 2 models had a canvas covering over the hatch to hide the box. Six years later in 1996, Catalina introduced the Mod 3, which removed the fiberglass box and included a water-tight bulkhead at the aft end of the cuddy, making for three nearly water tight areas in the hull, including the cuddy with the hatch installed and a space under each cockpit seat. Mod 3 boats were delivered with a more durable and watertight plastic hatch for the cuddy. Also on the Mod 3 boats, the wooden splash guards at the aft end of the deck where removed and instead the deck was simply rounded up from the forward end of the cockpit coamings.
The Catalina 14.2 hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass. The deck is also solid fiberglass laminate with a molded-in non-skid pattern. The deck is attached to the hull in Catalina’s standard shoebox design. Unlike larger Catalina boats intended for more rigorous sea conditions, on Mod 1 and Mod 2 models the deck is fastened to the hull only with chemical bonding – there are no mechanical fasteners. On Mod 3 boats, Catalina also through-bolted the hull-to-deck joint. Older Catalina 14.2s may suffer damage of the hull-to-deck joint so that the water-tightness of the joint is compromised. After suffering such damage, many owners strengthen the joint with mechanical fasteners with relative ease, as the joint is easily accessible at the gunwale.
Due to the design of the Catalina 14.2’s gunwale and exposed hull-to-deck joint, installation of a rub rail can serve to protect the hull-to-deck joint from damage. Installation is straightforward. Several rub rails from Taco Metals in Miami, Florida work well, particularly this white flexible vinyl model with white flexible vinyl insert .
The hull is stiffened with several plywood stringers beneath the cockpit, which also support the cockpit sole, reducing flex under foot. The seats normally flex under foot, which while initially unsettling, provides for a more comfortable ride. Due to the more rounded and thus stronger foredeck and the additional bulkhead at the aft end of the cuddy, Mod 3 boats are stiffer than Mod 1 and Mod 2 boats.
While wood stringers could be cause for alarm, few Catalina 14.2s see enough water left in the hull to cause rot. If rot is discovered, replacing the stringers can be difficult due to tight working conditions inside the hull. A few owners with rotted stringers reported solving the problem by knocking out the old wood and pouring water-resistant closed-cell expandable foam under the cockpit sole and seats. Depending on the density of the foam selected, positive buoyancy is an additional benefit of such a repair. Water-resistant closed-cell foam is crucial for this application. The TotalBoat Liquid Urethane Foam Kit, 6 Lb Density, Closed Cell for Flotation & Reinforcement works well for this application, providing both structural strength and positive buoyancy.
As delivered from the factory, the Catalina 14.2 lacks positive buoyancy materials in the hull. If the hull is allowed to fill with water, the boat will sink. On Mod 1 and Mod 3 boats, securing the cuddy hatch board fast whenever underway is paramount.
Catalina fitted foam plugs in the end of the mast on later boats, intended to provide some buoyancy in the mast to prevent turtling if capsized. However, the relatively broad beam of the boat limits the effectiveness of this design because most of the mast remains out of the water unless turtled. Many owners fit Hobie Baby Bob flotation bulbs (available on Amazon) to the top of their masts so that if the boat is knocked down, the boat does not turtle.
KEEL CONFIGURATIONS AND RUDDER
The vast majority of Catalina 14.2s were delivered with a pivoting centerboard that kicks up if grounded. The centerboard is held in place when down by a shock cord that is connected from the aft end of the top of the centerboard to the transom at the end of the cockpit. The rudder also kicks up. Earlier boats have a solid wood centerboard while later boats have a foam-cored fiberglass centerboard. Rudders are wood or foam-cored encapsulated in fiberglass. Solid HDPE rudders are available from Catalina Direct. A medium-aspect fixed keel was also offered that added 200 lbs of ballast to the boat, which makes her slower but more stable, closer to an older-style traditional day sailer. Catalina named the boats with the fixed keel the Catalina 14.2 K.
As a semi-planing boat displacing little water, the centerboard model requires no centerboard trunk. The centerboard simply slides through a slot with only a few inches separating the floor of the cockpit from the water below. With enough speed, water can spray up through this slot into the cockpit. Catalina Direct offers a canvas gasket to surround the centerboard in the slot, which prevents this spray.
The Catalina 14.2 is rigged a as a fractional sloop with a self-tacking jib. The mast is anodized aluminum and supported by a stainless steel headstay and single set of swept-back anodized aluminum spreaders with stainless steel shrouds. The shrouds include adjustable brackets rather than turnbuckles that make rig adjustments quick if not entirely precise. However, the headstay includes a turnbuckle which can be used to achieve precise rig tuning. There is no backstay, which makes un-stepping the mast easier and frees up the cockpit under sail. The rig is very light-weight so that one person can ease the mast down when un-stepping and push it up when stepping, although another person is handy to guide the mast with the forestay. All other rigging hardware is stainless steel. In 2012, Catalina changed to a Selden made rig. From the factory, the boom has no uphaul so that when the mainsail is dropped, the boom falls into the cockpit. Some owners install an uphaul, rigid boom vang, or boom kicker to prevent this.
As appropriate with a family sport boat or day sailer, all control lines are easily accessible from the cockpit. The mainsheet is managed from a stout spring-mounted pivoting block and jam cleat in the center of the cockpit. Jib sheets are managed from jam cleats on the side decks. The side decks also include a jib car track and cars that allow precise adjustment of jib sheeting angle. With sails of this size, no winches are necessary.
The cockpit of the Catalina 14.2 offers good sole depth, seat width, and coaming height for relative comfort in a sport oriented boat. The coaming height and side deck height may be considered low for some less interested in an exciting sail, or more accustomed to day sails in a Flying Scot or a more traditional day sailer design. The cockpit seats are long enough to sleep upon. The relatively small surface area of the cockpit sole, cockpit seats, side decks, and forward deck are small enough to prevent much flex.
Forward of the cockpit above the cuddy is a solid deck which is handy when dealing with the jib although feels less than secure in rough water. The side decks are reasonably wide as well.
The only brightwork on the Catalina 14.2 comprised splash guards installed at the front of the cockpit and above the hatch to the cuddy, only on Mod 1 and Mod 2 boats. These boards are easily removed for complete refinishing if necessary. Mod 3 boats had this brightwork eliminated.
The Catalina 14.2 can be a very exciting boat to sail. Hiking straps were installed throughout the cockpit from the factory. With its semi-planing hull, the boat achieves speeds great in excess of a displacement hull sailing boat. Its relatively deep centerboard and rudder provide excellent grip for pointing to windward. Riding close to the water, the boat’s occupants easily sense the speed at which they glide over the water. Due to its semi-planing hull and small size (and like most small sailboats), the Catalina 14.2’s pointing ability suffers immensely with blown out or otherwise worn out sails.
AUXILIARY POWER
The Catalina 14.2 did not come from the factory with any auxiliary propulsion, but an outboard motor mount was an option. Many owners use rowing paddles for auxiliary propulsion, but due to the beam of the boat and the orientation of the side decks, paddles are difficult to use. Many owners install small outboards, 1-3 h.p. are more than adequate for propelling the boat.
Electric trolling motors are a popular choice for auxiliary propulsion with a battery installed at the aft end of the cockpit against the transom or in the cuddy. Either way, the battery should be installed in a watertight battery box secured in place with mounting hardware. Due to the easily-driven semi-planing hull, electric trolling motors are an effective means for auxiliary propulsion, with only the smallest 30 thrust-lbs models necessary for adequate propulsion. For owners interested in sailing into a headwind off a beach or against a tide, auxiliary propulsion is paramount.
The Catalina 14.2 is easy to trailer with nearly any vehicle due to its light weight of 340 lbs. Due to its light weight, trailers require only a single axle. The relatively flat bottom and retractable centerboard make trailers intended for power boats work as an effective trailer. Trailering is easy due to the boat’s simple rig – only the forestay must be disconnected to unstep the mast.
In addition to an excellent family sport boat and day sailer, the Catalina 14.2 also makes an interesting tender for the right liveaboard or cruiser. With its weight of 340 lbs, the boat can be rigged for davits or simply towed if the sailor is not against towing a dinghy. Despite being a semi-planing boat and having an open slot for the centerboard in the cockpit sole, the Catalina 14.2 with its wide flat bottom has more initial stability than most tenders and can be well laden with crew and supplies without shipping water through the slot. However as the boat is laden, its ability to point to windward suffers greatly. The same owner who reports sailing with his family, children, and camping supplies, also reports being unable to point better than a beam reach without auxiliary power as the boat was so overladen. With a larger electric trolling motor, large battery installed, and combined with a solar panel for charging the battery, the Catalina 14.2 can power through adverse currents with excellent if not unlimited range.
Due to the excellent build quality and simplicity of the Catalina 14.2, the ready availability of spare parts, and that the manufacturer is still in business producing new Catalina 14.2s, resale values of the Catalina 14.2 remain high. New boats sell for over $6,000. Nevertheless, neglected Catalina 14.2s can be had on the used boat market at a steep discount, making the boat a potentially excellent value on the used market. Prices vary widely between $1,500 and $4,500, depending on the year of the boat, installed accessories like motors, condition of the sails, hull condition, the condition of the trailer if included with the boat. Neglected boats can be made ship shape for a modicum of investment compared with larger boats and typical tenders. At the time of writing, only two Catalina 14.2s are available on Yachtworld.com , but many making good options are available on Craigslist.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Used Catalina Capri 14.2s for Sale on Craigslist Nationwide
Catalina 14.2 Brochure
CATALINA 14.2 UNDER SAIL, TACKING
CATALINA 14.2 RIGGING GUIDE
CATALINA 14.2 CLASS RACING
Share this:
2 thoughts on “ catalina (capri) 14.2 review ”.
- Pingback: 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 sailboat for sale in Virginia | Boats & Yachts For Sale | Used Boats and New Boats For Sale
Great article – thanks! I believe I have heard that the Capri 14.2 Mod 1 had a hollow transom and that the transom was reinforced (made solid) on a later mod (2 or 3). Which mod was this, and do you know the specs of how much thrust or weight each mod can handle?
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Blog at WordPress.com.
- Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
- Subscribe Subscribed
- Copy shortlink
- Report this content
- View post in Reader
- Manage subscriptions
- Collapse this bar
- Catalina 12.5 Expo
Catalina 14.2
- Catalina 14.2 Expo
- Catalina 16.5
- Catalina 22 Sport
- Catalina 22 Capri
- Catalina 275 Sport
- Catalina 315
- Catalina 355
- Catalina 385
- Catalina 425
- Catalina 445
- MAINSHEET MAGAZINE
- TRUE NORTH YACHTS
OWNER PHOTO: "The Adventure", Old Hickory Lake, Nashvile, TN.
The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple.
Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one design racing class. The14.2 is available in two keel designs: Centerboard model with easily retracted centerboard and easy trailer launching and the Keel model with high aspect cast lead keel, for storage on a mooring or dock.
The14.2 is built of hand-laminated fiberglass with molded-in nonskid, anodized aluminum spars, stainless steel rigging and quality hardware.
SPECS & STANDARD EQUIPMENT
- Five Year Gel Coast Blister Protection * (2)
- Mainsail , White Dacron
- Jib, White Dacron
- One Piece Fiberglass Hull, White
- One Piece Fiberglass Deck, White
- Molded-In Non-Skid Surfaces
- Tiller Extension
- Adjustable Hiking Straps
- Adjustable Outhaul
- Fiberglass Composite Kick Up Rudder
- Boom Vang Adjustable
- Barney Post with Ratchet Cam Cleat
- Anodized Mast and Boom
FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER
Proudly owned, designed & built in america, additional resources.
- Brochure Archives
- Associations
PARTS & TECH SUPPORT
727-544-6681
7200 Bryan Dairy Rd
Largo, FL. 33777
Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.
- Sailboat Guide
Catalina Capri 14.2
- Description
Seller's Description
Catalina Capri 14.2 Mod 2 fiberglass daysailer with trailer in very good condition. The hull and deck are solid with no soft spots. Sails (main & jib), rigging, tiller/rudder, center board and mast are in excellent condition. All lines replaced in 2023. This boat has everything you need to start sailing immediately. I do not have any paperwork on the trailer. I originally purchased the boat from an estate sale and there was no documentation on either the boat or trailer. Selling to downsize to a single handed dinghy.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
Derived originally from the OMEGA 14.
This listing is presented by SailboatListings.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.
View on SailboatListings.com
Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.
- About Sailboat Guide
©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Request Price. 2025 Catalina 14.2 - Available to order! The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple. Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one-design racing class.
Catalina 14 2 Boats for sale. 1-15 of 40. Alert for new Listings. Sort By. 1989 Catalina 27. $12,900 . Key Largo, Florida. Year 1989 . Make Catalina. Model 27. Category Sloop . Length 27 . Posted Over 1 Month. Head sail was replaced new in 2022. The boat appears to be kept very clean as well as moisture-free. ...
Total length is 14' 2''. The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple. Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one design racing class. The 14.2 is available in two keel designs ...
2025 Beneteau First 14. Request a Price. Palm Beach, FL 33408 | Nautical Ventures. Request Info. <. 1. >. Find 17 Catalina 14.2 boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. Locate Catalina boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader!
2025 Catalina 14.2 - Available to order! The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple. Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one-design racing class.
Catalina 22 Review. The Catalina Capri 14.2, known later as simply the Catalina 14.2, is an excellent sport sailboat and day sailer oriented toward family and youth use. The boat was designed by Ted Carpentier and Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts. Catalina derived the boat from the Omega 14 produced by Frank Butler's Coronado Yachts prior to the….
The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple. Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one design racing class. The14.2 is available in two keel designs: Centerboard model with ...
California. $2,750. Description: Capri 14.2 - Excellent condition. Includes stock main and jib, North Sails racing main and jib, spinnaker, spinnaker pole, spinnaker sheets and guys, and boat cover. Shoreline anodized trailer with spare wheel. Equipment:
Seller's Description. Catalina Capri 14.2 Mod 2 fiberglass daysailer with trailer in very good condition. The hull and deck are solid with no soft spots. Sails (main & jib), rigging, tiller/rudder, center board and mast are in excellent condition. All lines replaced in 2023. This boat has everything you need to start sailing immediately.
Preowned racing, cruising, dailsailer, and multihull sailboats for sale, including Beneteau, Burger , Cal, Catalina, C & C, Cheoy Lee, Columbia, Coronado, Corsair ...
Catalina preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Catalina used sailboats for sale by owner.
Call for Price. 14 ft / 2023. Ontario, Canada. Swans Yacht Sales - Whitby - Head Office. Request Info. 1. * This price is based on today's currency conversion rate. Find Catalina 14.2 Centerboard boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Catalina boats to choose from.
Catalina 14 Sailboat Boats for sale. 1-12 of 12. Alert for new Listings. Sort By 1992 Catalina Capri 14.2 Sailboat ... Specs are: Length 14'' 2" Beam 6' 2" Draft board up 4" Draft board down 3' 6" Sail area 114 sq ft weight 340 lbs Buyer responsible for pick up in Canfield, Oh . 1989 Catalina 30 Sailboat. $14,500 . Kaplan, Louisiana ...
2025. Request Price. 2025 Catalina 14.2 - Available to order! The Catalina 14.2 is the perfect combination of day sailing comfort and racing performance for the active sailing family or couple. Stability and easy handling make the 14.2 an ideal boat to learn in, while the experienced skipper will enjoy the active one-design racing class.
A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1991, states that a BN of 1 is generally accepted as the dividing line between so-called slow and fast multihulls.
Find more information and images about the boat and contact the seller or search more boats for sale on YachtWorld. ... 2022 Catalina 275 Sport. $198,500 (US$146,554) Vancouver, British Columbia. 2023 Catalina 315.
Buy or Sell your Capri/Catalina Here. You must register to post an ad. This allows you to delete your own ad once you have sold or bought a boat. ILCA/LASER. ILCA & Laser Talk Laser For Sale Ads Laser Wanted Ads. Sunfish. ... For Sale CALIFORNIA 2000 Capri 14.2 Catalina - SOLD! Price $: 2300 Ed Andrews; Jun 30, 2024; Replies 2 Views 372.
31' Mariner Ketch - Major Restoration & Repower - New Rigging & Sails Tenants Harbor Maine, Maine Asking $45,000
Cedar Creek lake is about 80 miles Southeast of Dallas. You are welcome to call me with any questions. Rick: (214) 676-8236 $41995.00, 2146768236 Be sure: Get a boat history report|Finance this boat|Get an insurance quote|.
Go to Sailing Texas classifieds for current sailboats for sale . 2007 Catalina 14.2 Expo Like new on Lake LBJ, in a little sling that keeps it up out of the water LOA 14' 2" Length @ waterline 13' 3" Beam 6' 2" Draft board up 4", down 3' 6" Wt 340 lb. Sail area 104 sq. ft.
Mast Height from DWL: 22.08 ft / 6.73 m. Sailboat Links. Builders: Catalina Yachts. Related Sailboats: CAPRI 14.2 (CATALINA) Download Boat Record: Notes.
A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1991, states that a BN of 1 is generally accepted as the dividing line between so-called slow and fast multihulls.