The Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 vs Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 at 29,1 ft versus Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 at 31,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 tips the scales at 10 600 lbs — 399 lbs less than the Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 at 10 201 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 10 201 lbs for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 and 10 600 lbs for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,2 ft and 4,4 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 uses Sloop rigging.
Hull speed is rated at 6,9 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 and 6,7 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986.
Bottom line: The Catalina Yachts Catalina 30 MkII - Fin Keel Fin Keel 1986 and Catalina Yachts Catalina 315 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2012 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.