BOAT REVIEW
1998 Catalina C-380 By Steve Dublin
C Caretta sports the tall rig and the deeper wing keel. She draws about 5’ 8”. The tall rig version’s mast is about three feet taller than the standard mast. To my eye, the C380 has classic lines and a profile that will never look outdated.
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January 2018
SOUTHWINDS
aretta, which is Latin for sea turtle, is a 1998 Catalina C380. Catalina Yachts actually built four versions of the C380. Each version utilized the same hull, which has a LOA of 38.5’, a maximum beam of 12’ 4” and a LWL of 32.5’. However, Catalina offered the C380 with a fin keel and standard rig, with a fin keel and tall rig, with a shallow wing keel and standard rig, and with a deep wing keel and tall rig. In addition, some C380s have in-mast furling. So the performance characteristics of the C380 will vary slightly depending on the version selected. Since the fin keel versions draw over seven feet, you won’t find very many on the East Coast. Caretta sports the tall rig and the deeper wing keel. She draws about 5’ 8”. The tall rig version’s mast is about three feet taller than the standard mast and carries about 55 square feet more sail area when you compare 100 percent fore triangles. Caretta can still get under the 65-foot tall bridges on the ICW. Contrary to Catalina’s sales brochure, she displaces close to 24,000 pounds. I would characterize her as a fast, seakindly cruiser that’s also fun to race. To my eye, the C380 has classic lines and a profile that will never look outdated. (Note: The Catalina C387, which replaced the C380 in 2003, also utilizes the same hull as the C380. However, the cabin profile, standing rigging, and interior layout, etc., are different, and the C387 has only the shallow wing keel.) We purchased Caretta in 2003 and raced her successfully for about four years. Stripped down and with a good crew, she could sail to her 120 PHRF. Caretta’s hull picks up a few feet of waterline when heeled. We’ve often topped nine knots on a close reach. With her deep wing keel, she was most competitive on the windward legs. Her rudder is almost as deep as her keel. This may explain why her rudder has never stalled even while surfing under spinnaker. However, for the last 10 years, she’s served as a laid back, comfortable cruiser. For cruising, we added a second bow roller and divided her deep chain locker. We purchased a 45-pound Delta plow as her primary anchor. The Delta has served us well, even in anchorages subject to boisterous trade winds. The C380 came, factory equipped, with a Maxwell “Freedom” windlass. The Freedom windlass can, with just occasional prodding, pass a chain-to-rope splice. For bluewater sailing, we mounted a six-man life raft in a cradle just forward of her traveler and purchased a storm jib. The storm jib can be hanked over our furled headsail. Fortunately, we’ve never had to use either. All C380s have a mid-boom traveler and a double-ended main sheet. Most of her sail handling lines are led aft to cabin-top-mounted rope clutches and two-speed winches. I did discard her single-line-reefing system, which I’m not a fan of. So I do have www.southwindsmagazine.com