Catalina 445: A Boat That's Ready to Romp

Teak laminates and solid teak trim are found throughout. In the saloon, a portside U-shaped couch surrounds a table that can be lowered to create another double berth. Opposite, chairs sit to either side of a small table that can also be lowered to form a berth or settee. Just aft is the nav station, with room for paper charts and a dedicated place to set a laptop.

Comfortable as the interior was, on the day we went sailing I spent most of my time topside, enjoying the ride. There's ample room at the twin wheels for the helmsman to get comfortable, and visibility as far as sails and telltales are concerned is excellent. On the boat we sailed, the optional wood cockpit tabletop added a bit of flare to the easy-to-maintain fiberglass topside, and the built-in cooler beneath it will be welcomed on a hot day.
All sail-control lines lead aft from the mast to winches near the companionway, as they do on all Catalinas. My one gripe is that the mainsheet leads there, too, meaning that you have to leave the wheel to trim it. That said, with an autopilot and easy-to-negotiate cockpit, the job is doable.

The 445 is powered by a 54-horsepower Yanmar and a conventional shaft and prop. Leaving the dock and while under way, the boat responded quickly under power, and noise levels below seemed within reason. Engine access is excellent, thanks to an engine box that can be moved out of the way, and I liked they way the filters were grouped together in a small closet.

The 445 comes with either a fin or a wing keel, both made of lead, which isn't always the norm on a price-conscious production boat. Fitted out in the fashion of hull number one, the new 445 carries a price tag of about $315,000; the base price is about $30,000 less for a boat delivered to the East Coast.

Because our test sail doubled as a photo shoot for the just-launched boat, I got to spend a lot more time sailing the 445 than I normally would. I found lots of comfortable places to while away the afternoon and appreciated the boat's ability to handle changing conditions of wind and sea state. Simply put, as a sometimes racer or an all-the-time cruiser, the new boat from Catalina is one that you'll enjoy spending time aboard. And that's the whole idea, isn't it?

Mark Pillsbury is CW's editor.

Specs

LOA    44' 5"     (13.54 m.)
LWL    38' 4"     (11.68 m.)
Beam    13' 7"     (4.14 m.)
Draft (fin/wing)    6' 4"/4' 10"     (1.93/1.47 m.)
Sail Area (100%)    856 sq. ft.     (79.5 sq. m.)
Ballast (fin/wing)    7,200/8,200 lb.
                                      (3,266/3,629 kg.)
Displacement (fin/wing) 23,500/24,500 lb.     
                                      (10,660/11,022 kg.)
Ballast/D (fin/wing)    .31/.33
D/L (fin/wing)    186/194
SA/D (fin/wing)    16.7/16.2
Water    178.5 gal.     (676 l.)
Fuel    66 gal.     (250 l.)
Mast Height    63' 10"    (19.46 m.)
Engine    54-hp. Yanmar
Designer    Gerry Douglas
Price    $285,000
Catalina Yachts
(818) 884-7700
www.catalinayachts.com