The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 vs Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011 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 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 at 34,6 ft versus Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011 at 35,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011 tips the scales at 13 781 lbs - 1 847 lbs less than the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 at 11 934 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 30 hp for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 and 29 hp for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
Both boats are rated for 10 passengers - a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket - 11 934 lbs for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 and 13 781 lbs for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011. 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 - 5,7 ft and 6,7 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 uses Sloop rigging.
Hull speed is rated at 7,4 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011 and 7,3 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985.
Bottom line: The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 and Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Fin Keel Fin Keel 2011 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.