Catalina 42 MkII

The quick verdict

The Catalina 42 MkII is a roomy, practical coastal cruiser with a large cockpit and comfortable accommodations, and owners praise its reliability. Before buying, have a surveyor check chainplates, deck seals, voids in the deck and the rudder, since these are the issues owners and surveyors raise most often. Asking prices in listings range widely, from about $69,500 to $179,000, so compare condition, year and equipment closely.

Comfortable accommodations for a 42-foot cruiser; Large cockpits for the class; Good stowage for long coastal cruises; Reliable performance reported by owners; Capable club racer with PHRF around 105

Sluggish performance in very light air; Unprotected spade rudder exposed to grounding; Deck fittings need careful bedding and core upkeep; Chainplate and bulkhead failure, linked to chronic deck leaks; Voids between inner liner and deck core that hide leaks; Rudder damage and problems after hard groundings