2003 Catalina 380 "WATER COLORS"

Cruising World named the Catalina 380 its Midsize Cruiser of the Year in 1997, and nearly three decades later the model still has a dedicated following. The Catalina 380 International Association has more than 250 members around the world and shares technical help, owner improvements and the factory manual online.

Gerry Douglas designed the 380 heavier than most boats it gets compared with, carrying roughly 5,000 lb more displacement than its lighter rivals. Practical Sailor notes the extra weight gives "a more comfortable ride" and makes the boat "more capable in a squall or big waters." Cruising World called the construction "simple, but stiff and strong," with a molded grid bonded into the hull, and Sailing Magazine's testers found the boat "powerful, weatherly" on the wind.

The cockpit is where the 380 stands apart. Sailing Magazine called it "sinfully large with excellent all round visibility," and the stern rail seats are some of the best seats on the water. A walk through transom opens onto the swim platform.

Below, 6 ft 9 in of headroom and a 12 ft beam make the interior feel large for a 38 foot boat, and nine opening hatches fill it with natural light. The aft cabin has an island queen berth with access from both sides, and the head has a separate shower stall, which Practical Sailor calls "a luxury on a 38 ft sailboat." Engine access is a standout too: Cruising World rated it "as good as it gets on a boat this size."

Water Colors came down to Maryland from Rhode Island, and the owners made substantial investments, primarily to make that passage easier and safer. In 2023 the boat got a full Garmin electronics suite with radar, an AIS transceiver and autopilot. In 2024 the mast came out, the standing rigging was replaced completely, and a new three blade Max Prop went on. The shoal draft wing keel draws 4'10", perfect for the shallow anchorages of the Chesapeake or ICW. 



The boat was kept in fresh water on Lake Erie until 2018 and is in above average condition for its age.

For a 38 foot boat, the cockpit is spacious. The two stern rail seats are a highlight, with cup holders and BottomSider cushions of their own. The cockpit has a dodger, bimini and connector, plus a full removable screen enclosure. The open transom gives access to a swim platform with a hot and cold shower.



• Canvas dodger, bimini wind screen and connector on a 1 in stainless frame with handrails each side (2017)
• Full removable screen enclosure
• Custom fitted winter cover
• Edson pedestal steering, stainless binnacle, 5 in Ritchie compass
• NavPod instrument housing with custom cut bezel for the Garmin plotter (2023)
• Removable helm seat and closed foam humped helm seat
• Cockpit table with two drop leaves, foot rest and storage
• BottomSider closed foam cushions for the cockpit and stern rail seats
• Two stern rail seats with cup holders
• Magma rail mounted grill with camping bottle, bought new by the current owners
• Fusion stereo with cockpit and salon speakers
• Mast mounted loud hailer run from the cockpit ram mic, added by the current owners
• Swim platform with 4 step ladder, two storage lockers and hot and cold shower
• Two large stern lazarettes
• Canvas covers for wheel, cockpit table and mainsail
• Teak flag pole and flag halyard on port spreader

A 16,000 BTU reverse cycle heat and air system with analog controls sits in the salon and vents to the salon and the V berth. Five of the boat's six cabin fans have been upgraded, and the sixth, in the starboard aft cabin, is original and in good shape.



• 16,000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioning and heat, analog controls
• Six cabin fans, five upgraded by the current owners
• Cabin lights converted to LED (2019)
• Walk around queen berth aft, double V berth forward
• Two sink vanities with mirrors, one in the head and one in the forward cabin
• Enclosed shower stall with towel locker, solar powered fan, opening port and shower drain bilge pump
• Roller shades on forward and aft cabin hatches
• Screens on all hatches and ports
• Handrails throughout the salon

The L shaped galley cooks on propane and keeps food cold with 12 volt refrigeration. One of the two propane lockers was converted to an insulated ice chest.



• Gimbaled three burner propane stove with oven
• 12 volt refrigerator and freezer, 6 cu ft, with drain and foot pump
• GE microwave, 110 volt
• Double sink with pressure water sprayer and a hand pump faucet
• Built in cutting board and dry food storage locker
• Two propane lockers and two propane tanks, one locker converted to an insulated ice chest

All standing rigging was replaced in 2024 with the mast out. The North Sails main and 150% genoa both date from 2012. A Sobstad 110% headsail of unknown age is included; it was listed as like new when the current owners bought the boat, and the cloth is still crinkly, with light UV wear.



• Standing rigging replaced, mast pulled (2024)
• Double spreader, deck stepped mast with split backstay
• North Sails fully battened Dacron mainsail, loose footed, double reef points (2012)
• Dutchman mainsail flaking system
• North Sails 150% Dacron genoa (2012)
• Sobstad 110% genoa, age unknown
• Schaefer roller furler
• Two Lewmar 54 and two Lewmar 40 two speed self tailing winches, with covers
• Garhauer mainsheet traveler, jib cars, blocks and tracks
• Rigid boom vang
• All halyards and lines led to the cockpit
• Anchor light converted to LED (2020)

The Garmin suite was installed in 2023 and replaced the previous Raymarine displays, instruments and autopilot control. A Standard Horizon VHF sits at the nav station, and the cockpit ram mic runs the mast mounted loud hailer.



• Garmin GPSMAP 1243 chartplotter (2023)
• Garmin GMR Fantom 18x radar on Seaview mast mount (2023)
• Garmin AIS 800 transceiver (2023)
• Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot with GRF 10 rudder feedback (2023)
• Garmin gWind wind sensor (2023)
• Garmin GMI 20 and GNX 20 instrument displays (2023)
• Airmar DST 810 smart transducer, depth and speed (2023)
• Garmin GA 38 GPS antenna and NMEA 2000 network (2023)
• Standard Horizon VHF at nav station
• 40W loud hailer horn on the mast
• Sirius XM receiver, not used by the current owners, working condition and hookup unknown

The Yanmar 3JH3E 40HP has 1,092 hours, and its 1,000 hour service is done. The mixing elbow has been replaced, and in April 2025 the cooling system was serviced. The three blade Max Prop Easy went on in 2024.



• Yanmar 3JH3E diesel, 40HP, 1,092 hours, 1,000 hour service completed
• Mixing elbow replaced
• Heat exchanger removed, cleaned and resealed (2025)
• Engine hoses and thermostat replaced, cooling system pressure tested (2025)
• Raw water strainer replaced (2025)
• Transmission cleaned, primed and painted (2025)
• Max Prop Easy three blade feathering propeller (2024)
• PSS dripless shaft seal, replaced at the current owners' purchase

Shore power is 30 amp, with inlets at the stern and inside the anchor locker (Allows the boat to pull into the slip bow first and have a better view and more privacy in the cockpit while at the dock.) All three batteries have been replaced with AGM, and there is a single Go Power 110W flexible solar panel (2024).



• 30 amp, 125 volt shore power with stern and bow inlets
• Three AGM batteries, two house and one starting
• ProNautic 12 300 battery charger
• Go Power 110W flexible solar panel (2024)
• Two shore power cords

The bow has a Maxwell 800 windlass with foot switches. A new Vulcan 20 primary anchor is aboard, and 200 ft of Peerless high test chain was added in 2023. A 45 lb CQR conveys as a spare.



• Maxwell 800 electric windlass with foot switches
• Vulcan 20 - 44 lbs primary anchor (new)
• 200 ft Peerless 5/16 in G43 high test chain (2023)
• 20 ft Samson 9/16" Pro-Set 3-strand nylon snubber line (2023)
• 45 lb CQR spare anchor with chain and rode, currently at the owner's house
• Fortress auxiliary anchor and rode for the dinghy

Before the boat moved to salt water in 2018, the bottom was stripped and barrier coated. Bottom paint was redone in 2026.



• Bottom stripped and barrier coated with Interlux 2000 (2018)
• Bottom paint (2026)
• Shoal draft wing keel, 4'10"

The owners replaced the manual head with a Raritan electric fresh water flush head and upgraded the tank monitor to read the holding tank and two of the three fresh water tanks.



• Raritan electric fresh water flush head (replaced Jabsco manual head)
• Tank monitor reading holding tank and two fresh water tanks, upgraded by the current owners
• Three fresh water tanks, 102 gallons total
• Fuel, 34 gallons
• Holding tank, 23 gallons, with macerator
• Hot and cold pressure water
• Water heater, heats on 110 volt shore power or from the engine
• Dock water connection in the anchor locker

A mast mounted loud hailer serves instead of a horn, plus a manual horn. The CO detectors were replaced in 2025.



• CO detectors (2025)
• Two fire extinguishers, midship and aft
• Electronic flare
• Emergency tiller
• Throw ring
• Two boat hooks
• Automatic and manual bilge pumps
• Manual horn
• Lifesling II

• 2018 AB Mares 11 VSX tender with 25 hp Yamaha, davits and outboard crane
• Spare 45 lb CQR anchor with chain and rode
• Fortress auxiliary anchor and rode
• Custom fitted winter cover
• Magma rail mounted grill with camping bottle
• Assorted dock lines, fenders, winch handles and spare parts
• Engine maintenance records in a binder; many manuals

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com