Catalina 445

recommends

This boat has a linear-drive autopilot rather than a wheel/rotary drive. The owner says it has been "such a blessing" holding a course in heavy seas, and that wheel-drive autopilots can start to give way in heavy weather or weather helm: "anytime anybody asks wheel drive or linear drive, linear drive all day... if it'll fit, do it."

warns⚙ holding tank

The plastic holding tank needed full replacement this year. Replacing all the hoses did not fix a persistent smell, so the owner had the old tank torn out and a custom no-permeation plastic tank fabricated and fitted in its place.

repairs⚙ shaft seal

The owner proactively replaced the bellows on the PSS dripless shaft seal, a part with a recommended 5-to-7-year replacement interval, as a "piece of mind" job once the boat passed 10 years old.

discusses

Practical Sailor estimates this well-equipped, cruise-ready example is worth roughly $310,000 to $320,000 in the current US market, noting that a water maker is one of the few things it is missing to be fully ready for extended cruising.

recommends

The reviewer praises the deck hardware: very long jib tracks well inboard of the rail with a double car system, inboard chainplates so the genoa can sheet higher than the rail, and a main traveler whose base collects the control lines and feeds them to the clutches behind it. He calls the main sheet arrangement simple and elegant.

recommends

The reviewer likes the massive anchor locker and proud stainless double roller, which will take any anchor an owner wants. He contrasts this with the Beneteau Oceanis 46, whose integral bowsprit roller limits the choice of anchor.

discusses

The reviewer gives the Seldon rig an ICW-friendly mast height of 63 ft and a sail area to displacement of 16.76, a little lower than the 19.82 he quotes for the comparable Oceanis.

recommends

Below the companionway the reviewer finds a Yanmar diesel with nice access panels all around for the dipstick and normal maintenance. He says Catalina changed engines and layout in response to owner feedback and the daily checklist items are easy to reach.

discusses

Comparing against the Oceanis 46, the reviewer says the Beneteau feels more like a charter boat on deck, with fewer handholds, no big jib tracks and no elegant traveler, though its interior is brighter and roomier. His verdict is that the Catalina is a tougher boat and likely a better thought-out cruiser, and he notes it costs about 100,000 dollars more than its nearest competitor and asks readers what they think.

discusses

The broker's tour of a new 2022 boat being commissioned in Marina del Rey: he points to through-bolted aluminum toe rails, a double bow roller and anchor locker with a center divider, and says "one thing Catalina does is really beef up their hardware." This is a sales presentation.

discusses

The broker says the engine has access from the back, front and side, and the aft cabin can serve as a storage room with lots of storage. This is a dealer's sales description.