The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 vs Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing 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 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 at 35,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 tips the scales at 14 780 lbs — 2 846 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 - Wing Keel Wing 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.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 displaces 14 780 lbs — a 2 846-lb difference over the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 at 11 934 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 draws 5,7 ft, compared to 4,6 ft for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011. That 1,1-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
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 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 and 7,3 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985.
Bottom line: The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 14 780 lbs displacement and 35 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 34 MkI - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1985 at 11 934 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.