november/december 2016cruisingworld.com106
BOATS & GEARgrouped together in one loca-
tion in the port cabin. When
it comes to systems aboard the
425, “logical” is the word that
comes to mind.
Aesthetically, with its
81-degree stem (to prevent the
anchor from banging the bow),
minimal overhangs, low coach-
roof and gently sloping sheer
line, the 425 is a good-looking
boat. Starting at the pointy
end and working aft, there’s
a secure bowsprit with bob-
stay that doubles as an anchor
roller and a tack point for an
asymmetric kite or code zero
headsail. The modified Seldén
B&R rig has an extra set of
forward shrouds to prevent
mast pumping. An in-mast
furling mainsail and standard
100 percent self-tacking jib
are both by Doyle Sails (over-
lapping genoas are optional,
though the nearly 12-foot
tracks to accommodate them
come with the boat). There’s
a nice set of butterfly hatches
that open in opposing direc-
tions above the saloon for
maximum ventilation below
(the legendary Don Street
would be happy).
The functional cockpit
deserves a little extra atten-
tion here. A split backstay
terminates forward of twin
Edson steering pedestals to
give the helmsman plenty
of room behind the wheels
and good sightlines for the
Raymarine chart plotter, sta-
tioned just forward in its own
pod. A passageway between
the helms leads to a swim step
and boarding platform aft.
The generous starboard settee
unfolds to create a nice double
berth for outdoor snoozing
beside the central cockpit
table, which also houses a
fridge. Via a large gull-wing
hatch, the port settee opens
directly into one of the twin
aft cabins, and can be used to
stash bikes or sails when not in
accommodations mode. The
double-ended German-style
mainsheet is led to the helm
and also to the coachroof, a
versatile setup for either cruis-
ing or club racing.
Down below, the forward
owner’s cabin features a largecenterline berth with an ele-
vating adjustable mattress for
reading. A roomy adjacent
head boasts a big shower stall.
In the saloon, the U-shaped
settee and dining table to port
face a central table to star-
board, which is flanked by two
comfy seats to double as the
navigation station, complete
with USB ports and 12-volt
chargers. All air- conditioning
ducts are fixed above the cabin
windows for maximum ei-
ciency. The L-shaped galley
to port faces a second head
to starboard, at the foot of
the companionway. On our
test boat, there were no fewer
than five compressors: two
for the AC and three more for
the cockpit fridge, the deep
freezer/fridge in the galley, and
the wine cooler, respectively.
The interior LED lights are
all on dimmers, and the light
maple hardwood employed
throughout the interior is
quite handsome.Catalina has taken 18 orders
on the boat thus far; we sailed
hull number one, a shoal-
draft version, late this past
summer on Florida’s Manatee
River and Tampa Bay, in a
fluctuating breeze of 6 to 10
knots. The 425 acquitted her-
self admirably, making over
6 knots upwind in about the
same amount of breeze, and
touching 8 knots on a tight
reach in a bit more pressure
under the asymmetric spinna-
ker. At all times, the helm was
light and responsive.
Moving up from a Catalina
380, Russ Hoadley is the
owner/skipper of the first
425, called Blue Heron. After
our test sail, he was planning
a cruise down to Key West,
and later some ofshore rac-
ing to Mexico and perhaps
Cuba. Russ’ joy in his new boat
was both evident and infec-
tious. His yacht was born in
the USA, and he couldn’t have
been happier with it.Herb McCormick is CW’s
executive editor.For a complete guide to Cruising
World’s extensive online boat
reviews and to request reprints
from our older print archives of
reviews, go to cruisingworld.com/
sailboats/sailboat-reviews.SEA TRIAL
WIND SPEED
6 to 10 knots
SEA STATE
Slight chop
SAILING
Closehauled 6.3 knots
Reaching 8 knotsMOTORING
Cruise (2,200 rpm) 7.4 knots
Fast (2,900 rpm) 8.3 knotsSPECIFICATIONS
CATALINA 425
LENGTH OVERALL
43’6” (13.25 m)
WATERLINE LENGTH
39’3” (11.96 m)
BEAM
13’8” (4.16 m)
DRAFT
5’/6’8” (1.52 m/2.02 m)
SAIL AREA (100%)
865 sq. ft. (80.4 sq m)
BALLAST
7,700 lb./6,700 lb.
(3,492 kg/3,039 kg)
DISPLACEMENT
19,100 lb./18,100 lb.
(8,663 kg/8,210 kg)
BALLAST/DISPLACEMENT
0.37
DISPLACEMENT/LENGTH
134
SAIL AREA/DISPLACEMENT
20.1
WATER
117 gal. (442 l)
FUEL
62 gal. (234 l)
HOLDING
54 gal. (204 l)
MAST HEIGHT
62’11” (19.17 m)
ENGINE
57 hp Yanmar
DESIGNER
Gerry Douglas
PRICE
$262,900
Catalina Yachts
727-544-6681
catalinayachts.comThe foredeck of the
Catalina 425 is long and
expansive, with all lines led
aft and good nonskid and
handholds (above). A secure
bowsprit with bobstay
doubles as a dual anchor
roller and a tack point for
an asymmetric kite or code
zero headsail (left).HERB MCCORMICK