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• Sailboat Listings
• Catalina (38)
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501 listings found

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• Recently Sold

2004 Beneteau 37 | Serendipitous Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, United States

1981 C&C 38 | Magic Marinette, Wisconsin, United States

2016 Precision 21 | After Math Lavallette, New Jersey, United States

1982 Cheoy Lee 44 | Whiskey Rebellion Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, Caribbean

1994 Moody 44 | Nirvana II Rio Dulce, Guatemala, Guatemala

1984 Freedom 32 | Liberty South Bristol, Maine, United States

2021 Catalina 16 | Catalina 16.5 Schroon Lake, New York, United States

2011 Laser 14 Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

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2016 Melges 14 | Melges 14 Port Clinton, Ohio, United States

1998 Hunter 31 | Sunkist Jacksonville, Florida, United States

1985 Island Packet 27 | Serenity Rockland, Maine, United States

1982 Morgan 32 | Ghost Oswego, New York, United States

1982 Custom 44 | Booby Trap Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

1988 Contest 38 | INUK spanish town, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean

1976 Albin 25 | Turtle Leesburg, Florida, United States

1986 Tartan 28 | Willow Brooklin, Maine, United States

1986 S2 27 | The Roux Buchanan, Tennessee, United States

1991 Mason 44 | Whitecap Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

1990 Ovni 35 | Sailavie St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

1995 Hunter 23.5 | SuzyQ Amherst, Ohio, United States

1985 Hobie Cat 18 | HobieCat Dennis, Massachusetts, United States

1984 Passport 40 | Manitou Tracys Landing, Maryland, United States

1987 Cal 33 | R & R Detroit, Michigan, United States

1984 O'Day 26 | sardine brooklyn, New York, United States

1984 Watkins 25 | Watkins Barnegat Township, New Jersey, United States

1983 Challenger 60 | Magic Carpet Norfolk, Virginia, United States

1984 Van de Stadt 27 | Siren Song Hartwell, Georgia, United States

1978 Morgan 45 | Miller Time Vero Beach, Florida, United States

2002 Bavaria 44 | Gente di Mare Lindon Bay, Colón, Panama

2013 Leopard 48 | Paradise St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

1978 S2 30 | Trinity heart Boothbay Harbor, Maine, United States

2010 Island Packet 26 | Robert J Worton, Maryland, United States

1988 Hunter 23 | Smurfette Murrayville, Georgia, United States

2017 American 14 | American 14.6 Seneca, South Carolina, United States

1979 Capital Yachts 30 | Sorrento's Siren Long Beach, California, United States

2006 Hanse 54 | Tikki Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

1987 Island Packet 38 | Lost Horizon Stockton Springs, Maine, United States

1973 Macgregor 17 | Dawn Treader Madison, Wisconsin, United States

1982 Tanzer 39 | L'Eau-Dace 4 fronteras, Guatemala, Guatemala

1983 Passport 40 | Peppin Jacksonville, Florida, United States

1974 C&C 34 | 8 Ball Oriental, North Carolina, United States

1983 Catalina 30 | Advantage Treasure Island, Florida, United States

1988 Farr 40 | Aura Fajardo, Puerto Rico, United States

2020 Flying Scot 19 Dallas, Texas, United States

1985 O'Day 22 White Bear Lake, Minnesota, United States

2008 Tartan 41 | MAKASI Le Marin, Normandy, France

2018 American 14 | Aqua Cat North Miami, Florida, United States

1986 Custom 34 | ditto Washington, Illinois, United States

1982 C&C 35 Port Charlotte, Florida, United States

Sell Your Sailboat

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Sell your sails, sell your gently used sails, used sails for sale, browse used sails online, recently added sailboats for sale.

1946 Snipe, beautifully restored wood dinghy

Lippincott Lightning

Cal-Pearson Sloop 39

Morgan 32 Oswego Ny

Sailboats for sale.

Find a variety of new and used sailboats for sale. Sort sailboat listings by price, location, type, draft, number of cabins and more. 

SailTrader is the easiest and fastest way to sell your sailboat. As a sailboat marketplace dedicated to sailing, we make is fast and easy to sell your sailboat. Start by creating an account, and then just complete the listing information. It’s that easy!

Recently Added Sails For Sale

SPINNAKER 0.65 OZ AIREX 650 NYLON TRI RADIAL

New Cruising Mainsail – Get A Quote | Greiner Sailmakers

Pacific Seacraft 37 Yankee

Used Ullman Main for Pacific Seacraft 37

Sails for sale.

Browse used sails for sale from brands like North Sails, Quantum Sails, Doyle Sails, UK Sailmakers, Evolution Sails and more in our online marketplace. Search mainsails, headsails, spinnakers, code sails for racing and cruising sailboats.

At SailTrader, we know it’s important to find the right sail for your boat which is why it’s important our marketplace is custom designed for used sails. Sailors can shop for sails by luff length, sail material, luff attachment and more.

Regardless if your sail is nearly new or not, if it’s still usable it still has value. The selling process on SailTrader is easy, fast and designed specifically for used sailboat sails. This means you can list details specific to your sail to attract the right buyer. Start the selling process by creating a listing. From there, you will follow a simple step by step process.

Recently Added Sailing Reviews & Articles

New Mainsails: How Many Reefs Should I Order

The number of reefs you should add when buying a new mainsail depends on your sailing conditions and preferences. Here are some guidelines to help

Top 10 Sailboats For Sale Between 30 and 40 Feet

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How Much Are Used Sails Worth?

Determining the dollar value of a used sail requires a nuanced understanding of several factors, as the worth of such an item isn’t simply based

Patagonia Sailing Gear Jacket & Bibs

Table of Contents Patagonia has recently launched a line of sailing gear aimed at offshore sailing. The newly released jacket and bibs comes is men’s

Tips For Buying A Sailboat With No Experience

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How To Tune Your Sailboat Rig

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North Sails Roller Furling Genoa Sail Options Explained

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Types of Cleats On A Sailboat

Table of Contents Cleats are essential fixtures on a sailboat used to secure lines (ropes) and control sail trim. They come in various designs and

The Sailor’s Marketplace for Sailboats and Sails.

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Boats - By Owner "boats" for sale in Maine

• 1991 220 Seaswirl Cuddy Cabin Boat $3,000 Orland
• Pearson Ensign $8,000 Boothbay Harbor
• 2004 Godfrey Sweetwater 2020DF Pontoon Boat $7,999 Denmark
• Dual Axle Boat Trailer $1,375 Limington
• 2002 Catalina 22' Capri Sailboat $8,500 Brunswick
• Boats $1,000 Rockland
• Boats $1,500 Rockland
• Old Town Pack Canoe $750 Waterboro
• Yacht Club single axle trailer plus boat $700 Belfast
• 1993 F14 searayder Jet boat $600 NORTH BERWICK
• 2022 TDB 21 SC $0
• Heritage 18' Siding Seat Rowing Skiff $5,900 Camden
• Rhodes 19 CB $1,500 Spruce Head
• Grady white $1,500 Brunswick
• Speed boat $1,800 Brunswick
• 1996 searay and 1994 maxum $4,000 Freeport
• Ranger R21EC Tug $52,000 Orrington
• Wilderness Pungo 120 $825 Fayette
• 1998 Sunfish Sailboat, Ready to Sail!! $595 Antrim NH
• Scout Dorado 205 with Yamaha 150 $21,500
• 22ftr lincoln canoe with custom trailer will seperate $2,200 Moscow
• Kayak-12ft Wilderness systems $325 Farmington
• LUND Boat, Motor, and Trailer wanted badly $7,500 Gorham, Maine
• Wooden Lightning $4,000 South Freeport
• 1993 F14 sea rayder Jet boat $600 NORTH BERWICK
• 1996 seadoo sp with dual place trailer $1,500
• Lobster Boat - 31 Holland $83,000 Lamoine
• 2002 SeaRay sundeck bow rider $16,500 Augusta
• 1981 C&C Landfall 38 $8,500 Falmouth Maine
• Pontoon Barge 11' x 23' $5,000 Thomaston
• 3 Sea Kayaks - Excellent Boats - Super Deal $950 Southport ME
• skiray 190 $8,500 Augusta
• Canoe and Trailer or will seperate $2,200 Moscow me.
• 1997 BOSTON WHALER BOAT, 2019 SUZUKI 4 STROKE $13,400 Camden
• Necky Tandem Kayak $1,000 Falmouth
• Controversy 36 yawl $15,000 South Freeport
• 63 starcraft $2,300 Waterford
• Aluminum Runabout 1958 14' Eaton Thornes Cadillac $1,250 Bethel
• 12 ft. Jon Boat $700 Boothbay
• 2019 CHRIS-CRAFT LAUNCH 30 BOW RIDER - ONLY 65 HOURS $129,000 FREEPORT, MAINE
• 2014 BOSTON WHALER 220 OUTRAGE - CENTER CONSOLE $72,500 FREEPORT, MAINE
• 1998 MAY-CRAFT 1700 CC w/ 2020 HONDA $9,900 FREEPORT, MAINE
• 2023 SCOUT 175 SPORTFISH - DEALER LEFTOVER $39,900 FREEPORT
• lg 4ft ship boat anchor $250 Waterville
• Fiberglass Dinghy/Yacht Tender $845 Owls Head, Maine
• CANOE - OLD TOWN DISCOVERY 133 - BRAND NEW $1,400 POLAND
• HANGTIME KAYAK by PERCEPTION - BRAND NEW $900 POLAND
• SQUARE STERN CANOE - OLD TOWN DISCOVERY SPORT 15 - BRAND NEW $2,400 POLAND
• Old Town Otter Kayak $350 Poland
• HOBIE MIRAGE OUTBACK PEDAL FISHING KAYAK - BRAND NEW $3,700 Poland Spring
• SEA / TOURING KAYAK - OLD TOWN MILLENIUM 174 $650 Poland
• TANDEM KAYAK - BRAND NEW NATIVE ULTIMATE FX15 FISHING KAYAK $1,650 Poland Spring
• 2 - Ocean Kayak Scrambler 11' Sit on Top Used $800 Poland
• Kawasaki Jet Ski Package - 2 Ultra 310X jet skis and aluminum trailer $17,500 Auburn
• PUNGO 120 KAYAK by WILDERNESS SYSTEMS - BRAND NEW $1,100 Poland Spring
• ELECTRIC KAYAK - OLD TOWN AUTOPILOT 120 - BRAND NEW $4,300 POLAND
• Sabre 28 $5,000 Rockland, Maine
• 2013 starcraft $2,900 Rangeley
• Wind Surfer / Stand Up Paddle Board $50 Mount Desert
• 17 foot Bowrider, Sunbird $3,500 Windham
• 2021 21SLX Bennington Tritoon $46,000 Lewiston
• BOAT BUMPER $40 Scarborough Maine
• Edgewater 18 $12,500 Boothbay
• Elegant Finnish Designed H-35 | A Sailor’s Prize $26,500 Brooksville / Buck's Harbor
• Baja speedboat and trailer $3,980 Auburn
• 1928 Kennebec Canoe Company 18” Model A $4,000 Eliot
• Mackenzie bass boat $7,000
• Aluminum Boat $1,000 Bar Mills
• 16' Aluminum Canoe $295 Lyman
• 2008 Com-Pac Suncat Sailboat $14,000 Surry
• Starcraft Aluminum Boat $2,450 04573
• 1960 Chris Craft Ski Boat $22,500 Wayne
• Wellcraft 250 Sportsman $14,300 Belfast ME
• Double camo kayak $450 Mt Vernon
• 2006 Honda 5hp Outboard Motor $1,000 Freeport
• 15' Aluminum Lowe Line Canoe $250 Jefferson, ME
• 20 Grumman canoe $850 Falmouth
• Stellar 14 fiberglass kayaks, two $3,000 Rockport
• 1978 28' SAM MORSE BRISTOL CHANNEL CUTTER $55,000 Wiscasset
• Bunk Style Boat Trailer $1,100 Limington
• 2020 ALUMACRAFT 165 CS 50 HP EVINRUDE, GARMIN, TRAILER, BIMINI,COVER $19,999 Bethel
• SYLVAN 18 OB BOWRIDER, 60HP JOHNSON, SHOR LANDER TRAILER $5,495 MILLINOCKET-CHAMBERLAIN LAKE
• 1981 Seaway with Trailer $1,500 New Gloucester
• Soverel 27 $3,500 Falmouth
• 2009 Wellcraft 210 Coastal $26,900 South Portland
• Shoreline Dual Axle Boat Trailer $2,850 Limington
• 1976 century restora $3,500 Westbrook
• 2008 Trophy 1802WA Fishing Boat $15,900 Casco
• 12’ Jon Boat $600 South Berwick
• 215 Searay $4,000 East Boothbay
• CRAIG CAT POWER CATAMARAN - Sale or TRADE $7,990 Clinton
• FIBERGLASS CANOE $170 Oxford
• Galvanized Boat Trailer $1,100 PORTLAND
• Antique Starcraft Tri-hull $200 Cherryfield
• Great camp boat $450 Naples
• 2014 Hurricane Sun Deck 187 $19,000 Winthrop
• 2024 SeaDoo Spark Trixx $17,500 North Berwick
• 1988 Sea Nymph FM161 $3,000 Moultonborough NH
• 16’ Aluminum 1980 Duranautic $2,300 Hallowell
• Yamalube $35 harpswell
• 17ft Kayak $200 Auburn, ME
• 2001 Seadoo GTX 951 $2,200 Augusta
• Dinghy 3/16" plate aluminum $600 Saco
• 3 Life Preservers $25 Westbrook
• Crawford 16’ Swampscott Dory $5,500
• Wilderness Systems Sealutions kayak $650 Freeport
• 47ft Cutter Designed by Eldredge-McInnis $90,000 Portland
• Coleman sd140 scanoe 14’ $400 Sabattus
• 21’ Scott canoe cover $750 Lincoln
• 2006 Boston Whaler 32 Center Console $96,000 Eliot, Maine
• Lobster traps $135 Corea
• 9' Custom Row Boat $1,250
• Nice little sailboat ready to go $850 Westbrook
• Canoe 15ft $500 Brewer
• SEA FOX 2011 236CC COMMANDER $38,500 West Bath
• Point Jude 15 - Wanted $3,000 Northampton Massachusetts
• Hobie Mirage Outback tandem $1,000 Belfast
• Grady White Tournament 190 $10,750 Westbrook
• Nordica 20 Sailboat with new trailer $10,000 Sedgwick
• 1996 James West Lobster boat $55,000 Portsmouth, NH
• 1914 wood/canvas Old Town Canoe Project $150 Damariscotta
• 20 ft Stingray $10,000 WISCASSET
• 2017 Sun Tracker 18 ft w/60 horse mercury $20,000 Holden
• 2016 Sweetwater Pontoon $25,500 Belgrade
• (Boat, Motor & Trailer) '14 Monarch Aluminum boat with 15hp Johnson $1,150 China Village
• twin kayak $700 Springfield
• 14 FT ALUM STARCRAFT BOAT $2,600
• Pelican Voyage Deluxe 5-person pedal boat $500 Sinclair, Maine
• PRICE REDUCTION 2007 Jefferson Marlago 35FS $105,000 Alna
• Magic Trail Galvanized Roller Trailer $1,595 Limington
• 1982 25' Viking Sun Cruiser 260 HP Boat and Trailer $5,500 Gorham
• Boston Whaler $18,500 Blue Hill
• 26’ Carver San Juan $10,000 East Boothbay
• 1932 28' JOHN ALDEN/ FENWICK WILIAMS CAT YAWL $24,900 Rockport
• Old Town Angler Kayak $650 Belgrade
• 1995 Robalo $18,000 Blue Hill
• Updated and Repowered Speedboat for Sale $49,990 Brooklin
• Royalex Canoe 16' $150 Poland
• PURSUIT 23ft TRADES...1989 with 2003 Honda 130hp / Trailer 9.9 Yamaha Kicker. $10,000 Boothbay Harbor
• Old Town 172 Tripper Canoe 17’-2 The Legend!! No Longer In Production! $1,800 Augusta
• 32 Mitchell Cove $130 Brunswick
• 2001 Triumph 190 Bay $12,500 Durham
• Godfrey fun deck $8,000
• Pearson Ensign Sailboat $7,500 Chebeauge Island
• 16’ Amesbury Dory $8,500 Kennebunkport
• Necky kayak $150 Kittery
• 18' 1966 MFG $3,200 Mariaville
• WestSail 32 $38,500 Portland
• 17' 2003 Tracker $10,000 Etna
• 1996 Sea Doo Challenger Jet Boat $1,200 Warren
• 31 ft Lobster-Style Power Cruiser $30,000 Lincolnville Beach, Maine
• Achilles inflatable $1,400 Lincolnville
• Schock Harbor 20 $19,500
• Chris craft Capri Hercules kbl 131hp rebuilt engine with low hours $29,999 Denmark
• 3500# capacity axle model 72012 $200 Rockland
• 2014 Sea Ray Sundeck 24' $30,000 Biddeford
• 18 Ft fiberglass fishing and pleasure boat $5,000
• 12 foot boat with 3.5hp motor new $1,150 old town
• Columbia 8.3 Sailboat and Dinghy $6,500 Gamage Shipyard South Bristol, Maine
• Lund SSV 16 Boat Still Looks Close To New! Loaded With Extras!! $7,999 Augusta
• WTB Norseboat sailboat $1 Camden
• WTB US Finn sailing dinghy $0 Tenants Harbor
• CCMK2 1982 Sailboat $12,500 Tenants Harbor
• 2009 Crownline 19SS $14,000 Gorham
• 2017 Regal 2500 - WOW $61,000 Alton Bay
• Ranger 29 $4,900 Vinalhaven
• Dyer Dhow Sailing Dinghy $975 Brunswick
• Classic Friendship Sloop $12,500 Union, Maine
• 2001 Four Winds 248 Cuddy $15,000 Frye Island
• Pungo 10 ft Kayak $600 Raymond, ME
• Beach chairs, floats, bike helmets $10 Naples
• 1938 Whitehall Skiff $4,500 Lincolnville Beach, Maine
• 2018 Red Holland 14' Center Console Boat with Trailer and 40 HP Motor $16,500 Brunswick
• Alden Ocean Shell $2,000 North Belgrade
• Seaway, 17ft, 50hp 4 stroke Suzuki $3,600 Friendship
• ShoreMaster PWC/small boat lift $1,400 Winslow
• 6'x24 aluminum dock on wheels $2,000 Winslow
• Used aluminum docks $900 Winslow
• Basstender 10.6 $300 Lincolnville Center
• 2020 9’6” Coastal Inflatable Boat $850 Standish
• 22 ft Trophy $21,000 Sidney
• Shorlander $300 Arrowsic
• 1989 Bayliner Cobra Speedboat $2,750 Kenduskeag
• 2005 Sylvan Deck Boat Spaceship $15,000 Dedham
• 2022 Starcraft SVX 171 $34,500 Westbrook
• 21’ Boothbay Harbor One Design (All Wood) $9,500 Boothbay
• Sea Fox 236 Commander CC $35,500 West Bath
• FJ Sail Boats $2,995 Greene
• 1999 Seaswirl Striper 2100 $13,500 Biddeford
• 1994 Carver Santego $35,000 Scarborough
• Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 $13,500 FREEPORT
• Celebrity 190 BowRider $10,500 Mount Vernon
• Folbot Aleut Folding Kayak $295 (OBO) Machias
• Rental Fleet Sell Off: kayaks, canoes, paddle boards $379
• .THOMPSON RUNABOUT FOR SALE $1,885 CORNISH
• PUFFIN 1060 DINGY $3,500 Trenton
• For sale $3,200 China
• 1999 Ranger R81 Bass Boat $7,000 Barrington
• 1974 Macgregor Venture 17 $1,500 Greenville
• End of Season Used Kayak and SUP Sale $1 naples
• Stunning Great Canadian Wood Canoe - Near Immaculate $950 Newcastle
• Nor-Easter Single Axle Galvanized Boat Trailer $1,475 Limington
• 1994 chapparel $8,000 Boothbay
• 20' Purse Seine Boat $20,000 Rockland
• 2023 seadoo fish pro trophy $16,200 Birch Harbor
• 1984 Ericson 26-2 $3,999
• 1990 Kawasaki js 440 $2,200
• Lightning , Lippincott #9978 REDUCED! $150 Boothbay Harbor
• OLD ICEBOAT PROJECT! $200 Boothbay Harbor
• 2014 Lund 1800 Tyee $29,000 Bridgton
• Alden 45 Sailboat $0 Falmouth Foreside, Maine
• Tandem + 16 ft Kayak $150 Kennebunkport (Cape Porpoise)
• 1974 Catalac Catamaran $19,500 Stockton Springs
• 1996 Sea-Doo GTI $1,500 Hartland
• 1986 Bonito w/trailer $3,000 Rockport
• Galvanized Bunk Style Boat Trailer $1,425 Limington
• Chaparrel Boat with Trailer $6,100 Windham
• Tartan 30 $6,000 Rockland
• Old Town Canoe $950 Salem TWP
• 2000 Sea Doo GSX $1,800 Wilton
• Sea Lion Tandem Axle Galvanized Roller Trailer $2,300 Limington
• 17' old Town discovery canoe $50 Wells
• Catalina Capri 14.2 w/Sails & Magic Tilt Trailer $2,800 East Boothbay
• NICE MAST HOBIE CAT 16 $250 CORNISH
• PROJECT BOAT WITH GAL TRAILER $795 CORNISH
• THOMPSON ANTIQUE RUNABOUT $1,995 CORNISH
• 2000 Lund $15,000
• 1978 Century 24’ Tuna Boat $8,700 Bath, ME
• Bass tracker $6,500 Lewiston
• 1994 Bayliner Ciera 2355 $10,000 Falmouth
• Restored Pearson Triton $9,500 Durham
• Whitehall Project $500 York
• 2020 Yamaha VMAX 115hp efi 4 stroke $9,500
• 2020 NorthCoast 285HT $225,000 New Castle
• 8’ Inflatable $575 Ellsworth
• Lund WC14 $4,750 Rangeley
• 04 Larson 180 Ski & Fish $4,800 Hope
• Picnic/Racing Lobster Boat $250,000 Boothbay Harbor
• Oldtown loon120 $350 Dresden
• Old town loon 126 angler $900 Dresden
• 19 ft Stingray 140 hp $7,000 Belfast
• Eddyline Falcon S18 Carbonite Kayak $950 South Bristol
• Canoe paddles, dinghy oars $200 East Boothbay
• 1982 Robalo Boat $6,500 Lake Region
• 2012 Northern Bay Lobster Boat $28,000 Harrrington, Maine
• Parker 21Walkaround 1999 $29,000 East Boothbay
• 1978 Webbers Cove 34 Cruiser / Lobster Yacht $69,000 Sedgwick
• brand new suntracker 16ft dlx partybarge $24,700 Corinth
• 14 Ft 2 person kayak - $140 $140 Alfred
• SAILBOAT $25 Lewiston
• 23' Daysailer by Sparkman and Stephens Fiberglass $4,200 ROCKPORT
• 1995 chaparral 2135 SS $4,200 Hollis Center
• Gulf Coast 18 $1,800 Brooksville
• Yamaha Waverunners (2) $27,000 Casco
• Tracker Pro 170 $11,500 hampden
• 2012 Stingray 208LR - Excellent Condition $23,500
• Herreshoff 12 1/2 $17,000 Damariscotta
• 2022 TRACKER V 18 COMBO 150 MERC, FULL ENCLOSURE, TRAILER $29,999 Sebago
• 1974 Seabird $3,500 Camden
• 2023 Axopar Cabin $220,000 Chebeague Island
• 24' Bentley Pontoon $25,000 Dedham
• EASTERN 20 Center Console $24,900 Southport
• Old Town Canoe $375 Waldoboro
• 16' Square Back Canoe, Motor, trailer $1,250 Saco
• 16’ scott makobe square stern canoe $1,850 Baileyville
• 2014 Herreshoff Full-Keel Buzzards Bay 15 | 25ft $129,500 Rockport
• 2009 Key West 1520 $12,000 Buxton
• Beautiful sailboat needs some love $15,000 Bowdoinham, maine
• 15 hp evinrude outboard longshaft $1,100 Hampden
• Custom Built San Juan Dory Skiff 16ft. $4,600 Harpswell
• 13' Sailboat - Chrysler Pirateer with Trailer $1,200 Ellsworth
• 2023 Godfrey Sweetwater Pontoon boat $46,000 Benton
• 2018 Sea doo Spark $5,000 Benton
• 2020 Rhodes 19 by Stuart Marine With Trailer, Like New $29,500 Northampton, Massachusetts
• 36’ Wayne Beal Lobster Boat $280,000 Harrington
• 14 ft aluminum MonArk $1,200 Hope
• AMF Alcort Minifish $400 West Paris
• 14' G3 with 15hp and galv trailer $950 Greenville Junction
• 2005 SEA PRO 270CC $49,000 Fairfield
• 28' Wellcraft Coastal 2800 $25,000 Boothbay
• Boston Whaler 13’ $5,000 Rangeley
• Regal $2,000 Windham maine
• Formula 233 $850 Bath
• Searay $2,600 Windham maine
• Crestliner Aluminum 18ft boat; 60HP Mercury $3,500 Southport
• CRUISERS® MACKINAC 22’ CABIN CRUISER WITH 26’ HOLSCLAW® TRAILER $3,500 New Gloucester
• Hunter 30 1983 $3,995 Newtington, NH
• Carolina Skiff 192 JLS $33,000 Norway
• 1961 THOMPSON SEA COASTER DELUXE $2,195 CORNISH
• MAD RIVER ME WHITEWATER CANOE $900 Brownville
• Epic V12 Surfski $1,350 Portland
• Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 Kayak $800 Bremen
• Classic runabout $1,250 Camden
• 02 StarCraft 18ft $5,250 Trenton
• Dimension Rush Kayak - Old Town $275 North Belgrade
• Northcoast 24 $16,000 Jonesport
• Gazelle Canoe $250 Readfield
• 2022 Scout 175 Sportfish $30,500 Augusta
• House Boat houseboat on tritoon + tri-axle trailer $12,000 Topsham
• 1973 Cal 27-1 Sailboat $1,500
• 14' Alumacraft Boat & Trailer $700 Gray
• FINE RUNABOUT FOR RESTORE $1,950 CORNISH
• Float/ barge/ amphibious house base $12,000 Woolwich
• 2001 Chaparral 235 SSI $0 Rockport
• NICE GALVANIZED TRAILER and PROJECT BOAT $795 CORNISH
• 19' Grand Laker Canoe $750 Calais
• Proline 20 Open Sport $11,500 Beverly, Mass
• 2006 Grady White $27,500 Greenville
• Tandem Kayak - Boreal Design Esperanto $900 Boothbay Harbor
• 22" Chis Craft Cutlass $30,000 Blue Hill
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Catalina 270 vs. The Beneteau First 265 Used Boat Match-Up

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Dear Readers

• Sailboat Reviews

In a head-to-head comparison of entry level inboard cruisers, we think the lower price and practicality of the Catalina favors it over the glitter and gloss of the Beneteau.

People who start in small boats and trade up often view 27 feet as some kind of milestone, and rightly so. At around 27 feet, an in­board engine and the possibility of standing headroom are enticing. Accommodations often become spacious enough for two couples or a family of four to live aboard for a couple of weeks without strain. And hull speed with appropriate sail and engine power typically permits average-weather runs of 35 to 40 miles in an 8-hour day—long enough legs to satisfy the wanderlust of most cruisers.

Two of the most popular 27-foot cruising boat designs are from Beneteau and Catalina, both huge builders. Beneteau bills itself as the largest sailboat company in the world; Catalina lays claim to being the largest in the U.S. The designs of both companies often set the tone for styling by other sailboat makers.

Checking out both boats in recent sales listings, we noticed their Euro-styled interior layouts are at least superfi­cially similar as well, as are hull and sail plan dimensions (see chart, courtesy of our friernds at Sailboatdata.com. Which boat, we wondered, is the better buy, and for whom?

Both the Beneteau and the Catalina utilize modern wide-body, fin-keel, spade-rudder configurations, relatively long waterlines, and moderate rigs with shrouds moved in­board to permit a nar­rower sheeting base. The Beneteau has a slightly shorter LOA but longer LWL (length waterline), and a nearly plumb bow. The 265’s draft is mid-range (4′ 2″ vs. the Catalina’s choice of 5′ 0″ deep fin or 3′ 6″ fin with wings).

Both test boats have inboards. Catal­ina does not offer an outboard option as it once did with its old 27. Catalina’s chief engineer, Gerry Douglas, doesn’t think it’s suitable for a 27- footer, especially one weighing 6,400 pounds-and, he says, neither did most buyers of Catalina 27s over the last several years. (Among other prob­lems, in a seaway an outboard prop tends to ventilate excessively).

Still, Beneteau, with a 4,800-lb. boat, offered an outboard version of the First 265 when the boat came out in the 90s, and rec­ommends a 9.9-hp. outboard for those who wish to go this route. So far, few buyers have. Beyond the ventilating prop problem, the reason is mostly economic: By the time Beneteau buyers acquire the outboard engine and associated paraphernalia, the dollar difference between inboard and outboard shrinks to around and those who opt for the outboard miss the shore power option and electric hot water heater option which Beneteau threw in” free” with the inboard pack­age.

The rigs of the two boats may ap­pear quite similar at first glance, but upon close inspection a number of important differences emerge.

The Beneteau features a seven­-eighths rig with single spreaders, adjustable split backstay, mast stepped on deck with compression strut in the cabin, and shrouds tied into a force grid molded into the cabin top via a set of studs threaded into a patented con­figuration involving stem balls set into bronze plates. (We’d prefer a set of conventional-and more easily ad­justable and replaceable turnbuckles.) The mast is stepped on a hinge for lowering the spar at bridges, trailer ramps, or for maintenance, but Beneteau says use of the hinge is not recommended without side-sway preventers- currently available as an option in Europe, but not in the U.S.

The Beneteau’s genoa sheets lead to cars riding on C-shaped aluminum tracks, which double as handrails, on the cabintop. It’s not easy to grab the tracks/rails, which require feeding your fingers through a narrow slot molded into the coach roof. We’d rather see separate handrails. We’d also prefer to see the Beneteau’s cockpit­ mounted mainsheet traveler track moved forward onto the cabintop (as the Catalina is configured), so crew moving from cockpit to cabin don’t have to dodge the mainsheet and car. But, unfortunately, moving the track forward isn’t feasible because of the long companionway bridge deck, which reaches forward beyond the boom’s midpoint.

The Catalina’s masthead rig, even with double spreaders (permitting use of a lighter spar than the Beneteau), is more conventional. Although the Catalina’s mast is shorter and its main­sail is smaller, the foretriangle height is two feet taller than the Beneteau’s, resulting in more total sail area when setting a big genoa.

The Catalina’s rig design strives for simplicity and ease of use (no backstay bridle ad­justment, no line-adjusted genoa car position as on the Beneteau). Helping to make sailing the Catalina a no-hassle experience is an impressive array of standard equip­ment not seen on the Beneteau: A double-ended mainsheet, adjustable either at a cam cleat on the traveler car or at a cabin top stopper, where a winch can be used; a pair of two-speed Lewmar self-tailing #30s (compared to Beneteau’s single speed #16s); a standard 135-percent genoa on a good ­quality Hood single-line furler (compared to Beneteau’s standard 100-percent jib and furler hardware available only as an option); a total of five cabintop rope clutches (vs. three for the Beneteau); Dutchman mainsail flaking sys­tem; and single-line reefing (though our Catalina test boat did not have single-line reefing rigged).

Other features on deck also favor the Catalina. Working aft from the bow: The welded pulpit, like the stan­chions, is 1-inch stainless steel tubing (vs. the Beneteau’s 7/8-inch), has two horizontal rails (vs. one for the Beneteau) and four legs (three for the Beneteau). There are twin anchor rollers at the stemhead (one on the Beneteau). Both boats have anchor lockers built into the forward deck, but the Beneteau’ s locker has a water tank fill cap in its bottom. This can make it extremely inconvenient to fill the tank when line and chain are piled over the cap. And the combination bow light is mounted directly behind and partly obscured by the center support of the pulpit.

Moving further aft, the Catalina’s six stanchions are fitted with double lifelines and, being 24-3/4 inches off the deck, give a good measure of security. In con­trast, the Beneteau has only four stanchions, less than 18 inches high, with sin­gle lifelines. The low lifelines are at “tripping height,” and while the scale may be aesthetically pleasing, safety is compromised.

The cockpits on both boats have comfortably high, canted coamings and angled seats. The Catalina’s cockpit is noticeably roomier, due not only to the absence of a cockpit traveler, but also to the placement of the wheel way aft, with an athwartships helm seat 5 feet wide-big enough for three for cocktails at the mooring. On the Catalina, there’s room for nine at the dock, as big a cockpit as could be desired in this size boat. And that doesn’t include a pair of “observation seats” built into each corner of the push pit.

In contrast, the Beneteau seats no more than seven at the dock, and that assumes that one passenger is seated atop the traveler and the tiller is swung up out of the way.

We have no objection to tillers-in fact we generally prefer them in this size boat—provided there’s no no­ticeable drag in the rudder tube and that the forward end is a comfortable height over the sole.

Catalina chose Edson for its 32-inch stainless steel destroyer wheel on a pedestal, a brand we associate with high quality and reliability. The size and placement is good for steering from either a sitting or standing posi­tion; brake and compass binnacle (4- inch Danforth Constellation) are stan­dard; pedestal-mounted brackets for additional instruments such as depth sounder and speedo are extra.

The Beneteau’s compass is option­al, mounted along with any other op­tional instruments on the cabinhouse bulkhead, a better position for crew viewing but not as good for the helms­man.

Both boats have swim platforms and stainless swing-down swim ladders. The Catalina easily wins the Ladder Sweepstakes with a four-step, 24-inch wide ladder with flat plastic treads, compared to the Beneteau’s three-step, 8-1/2-inch wide ladder with treads only 1-1/4-inch wide, made by flattening the stainless tubing a bit.

The Catalina’s ladder swings up to form the center part of the push pit, a clever and neat-looking design. The Beneteau ropes off the transom area with a length of lifeline and a pelican hook.

Both swim platforms are molded into “sugar-scoop” transoms, and both are elevated 9 inches off the water, with a bit of transom projecting below.

CONSTRUCTION

Both boats utilize external bolt-on lead keels, suitably thick fiberglass lay-up schedules, solid glass hulls and balsa­cored decks, with reasonably stout hull-deck connections. Both have highly engineered force grids molded into their hull liners, of particular note since the shrouds in both boats lead not to traditional chainplates but to intermediate tie rods that in turn are joined to metal plates for the most part hidden behind interior liners. On both boats we would prefer better inspection ports to view these crucial connections.

On both boats, the pulpits and stanchions are fastened to the deck with a single large threaded stud, projecting down through the deck and secured with a large washer and nut. Four through-bolts and large backing plates to distribute the load would be better.

Deck hardware (blocks, tracks, hatches, ports) on the Catalina is mostly made by Garhauer, Nibo, and Beck­son, all vendors noted for producing decent-quality but low-cost equip­ment. On the Beneteau, Harken, Spin­lock, and Lewmar are predominant and, in our opinion, something of an upgrade. As already mentioned, both boats use Lewmar winches. We judged all branded hardware on both boats to be of acceptable quality.

The interior layouts on the two boats are quite similar: a large double-berth aft, galley to port next to the compan­ionway, head opposite the galley, U­-shaped dining area around a smallish table supported by the mast compres­sion post with a V-berth forward. (See line drawings.)

All berths on both boats have com­fortable 4-inch cushions. The aft berth on the Beneteau measures 60″ x 77″, and you sleep parallel to the keel; the Catalina is slightly narrower at 57 inches wide, is 74 inches to 86 inches long depending on which side you’re on, and you sleep athwartships. We wouldn’t be inclined to sleep two in either aft berth, since the inside party not only doesn’t have much vertical roll-over room due to incursion of the cockpit sole, but also must crawl over the outside party to get up.

Neither the Catalina nor the Beneteau forward berths have these prob­lems. On the Beneteau, you can lower the table and set up the berth without undue commotion; but setting up the Catalina berth involves a lot of fussy positioning of the raised forward seat and locking it in place with a pair of hard-to-reach latches.

The forward berth on the Beneteau measures 19 inches at the front, 76 inches at the back, and is 88 inches long. On the Catalina it’s 10 inches at the front, 68 inches at the back, and 75 inches long. Tall folks will appreciate the larger Beneteau berth.

The Beneteau has the edge on locker space, with three separate hanging lockers (including one open-air unit in the head), and a liquor cabinet under what a Beneteau brochure de­scribes as a nav station.  Still, this small horizontal surface gives the galley slave some countertop space. The Catalina also suffers from lack of sufficient galley top work­ing space…one of the compromises you’ll find in boats of this size range.

The use of maintenance-hungry exterior wood has been completely eliminated on the Catalina, and min­imized on the Beneteau except for the companionway drop slides (King Star­Board plastic on the Catalina, nicely varnished cherry-veneer plywood on the Beneteau). Below, both boats use some wood to visually warm up the otherwise mostly white interior. The surface is totally fiberglass on the Catalina, but on the Beneteau, soft white foam­-backed vinyl lines the upper halves of the hull sides. .

Catalina’s use of wood is sparing (varnished teak doors and trim, teak dining table, small patch of maple and teak sole forward), while Beneteau’s is lavish (varnished cherry bulkheads and trim, full teak sole). The wood is set off on both boats by neatly made upholstery on berths and settees, on the Catalina by a combination of Ultrasuede-like material and light pat­terned cotton fabrics, on the Beneteau by a practical and soft dark green velvet.

The Beneteau interior gives an impression of good craftsmanship with a dark though pleasant­ly airy cabin. On the Catalina, the impression is of a more basic, but much lighter and equally airy boat. The Catalina’s lightness is helped by a skylight of milk-white Plexiglas (two layers thick) aft of the mast, and more area in the main cabin ports. For ven­tilation, the Catalina has six opening ports plus a forward hatch, while the Beneteau has eight plus a forward hatch. Screens for the ports (but not for either the forward or main hatch) are standard on both the Catalina and the Beneteau. Neither boat has a roll­up sunshade over the forward hatch, which would be a nice touch.

PERFORMANCE

We did our testing on the Manatee River off Palmetto, Florida. Both boats seemed quite stiff, well balanced, and very responsive to the helm. Both could be spun in more or less their own length. The day we sailed the Beneteau, it was blowing 15 knots steadily and 20 in gusts, and the 265 heeled not more than 25 degrees close-hauled with full sail. This impressed us. So did the Catalina, which was at least as stable on a breezier day (wind 20-25, occasional gusts to 30) with full sail, only burying the rail once in a particularly vicious wind burst. In short, we wouldn’t hesitate to sail either boat in dusty weather.

Though hard to judge in such strong, shifting winds, we think the Beneteau had the edge in sailing speed, as her specifications would indicate. Un­der power, however, her smaller engine and prop (single-cylinder, 9-hp., 26-CID Volvo, 15 x 12 optional fold­ing prop) was definitely not as effective upwind as the Catalina’s (three-­cylinder, 18-hp, 3 7-CID Perkins, two-­blade 13 x 10 prop). The Catalina’s Perkins also was smoother and quiet­er, despite the fact that its engine box (two removable clam-shells back to back, of fiberglass-foam sandwich construction) had no added insula­tion, while the Beneteau’s plywood box was lined with soft foam. Engine and shaft log access was very good on the Beneteau, superb on the Catalina.

At the moment, PHRF for the Beneteau is 168. The Catalina’s is 198.

THE BOTTOM LINE

To some extent, the choice between the Beneteau 265 and the Catalina 270 is a trade off between elegant French styling on the one hand, and no-non­sense American practicality on the other.

The choice comes down to the Beneteau’s lighter hull with quicker acceleration, and the Catalina’s equal­ly maneuverable but heavier hull with greater load-carrying capacity and liv­ing space below.

All boats are compromises, and personal taste and prejudices do enter the picture. That said, we admit to a clear preference for the Catalina. We especially like the lightness and bright­ness of its interior, enhanced by nu­merous large ports and an overhead skylight. Most of all, we like the Catal­ina’s greater value for the money-not just because the overall price is about 10 percent lower than a comparable Beneteau, but because of the better choice of standard items. For example, note the differences between some of the Beneteau’s items and the Catal­ina’s: 9-hp. raw-water-cooled engine vs. 18-hp. freshwater-cooled; no en­gine tach or fuel gauge vs. both stan­dard; 8.25-gallon fuel tank vs. 14 gal­lons; 16.25-gallon water tank vs. 26 gallons; holding tank 11.5 gallons vs. 18; single-speed #16 self-tailing Lewmars vs. two-speed #30 STs; a 1.6- gpm Shurflo pressure water pump vs. a 2.8-gpm Shurflo pump: a gimbaled two-burner non-pressure alcohol stove vs. a gimbaled two-burner LPG stove, and so on.

The Catalina is heavier, more stable, roomier, and better equipped. The Beneteau has more stowage lockers, faster acceleration, and French-flavored rather than California ­flavored Eurostyle. Both boats do well in heavy air. Neither is a racehorse likely to win much in competition. Neither wins the prize as the ultimate low-cost 27-footer, though the Catalina 270 may come close. Now if Catalina had only installed a good-size hanging locker, put in more working counter surface in the galley, make it easier to make up the forward berth…

This review was first published November 23, 2015 and has been updated.

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Excellent comparison on both boats. I have been looking at the B & C and your article cleared up many questions I had.

Having owned a Catalina 270 for about 8 years now, and having upgraded most of the systems to reasonably current technology, we’d say this boat is a pleasure to sail. The only rea downsides are a lack of storage, (to be expected in a 27 footer) and the steering gear cover in the aft berth. It’s really annoying.

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