The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 vs Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 measures 38,6 feet overall (1987), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 at 35,4 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 tips the scales at 19 473 lbs - 4 693 lbs less than the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 at 14 780 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.
The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 carries a rated maximum of 29 hp. Engine data for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 wasn't available in our records - check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 displaces 19 473 lbs - a 4 693-lb difference over the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 at 14 780 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 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 draws 7,0 ft, compared to 4,6 ft for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011. That 2,4-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 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 uses Sloop rigging. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 has a documented auxiliary engine of 29 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 7,7 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 and 7,4 knots for the Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011.
Bottom line: The Catalina Yachts Catalina 380 - Tall Rig Tall Rig 1987 is the offshore and bluewater choice - at 19 473 lbs displacement and 39 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Catalina Yachts Catalina 355 - Wing Keel Wing Keel 2011 at 14 780 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option - easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.