What a Catalina 36 actually sells for
Nine real closed sales — asking price vs. what the boat actually sold for. The number the listing won't show you.
The Catalina 36 is one of the most-listed used cruisers on the market, which makes it a useful lens on how far asking prices actually stretch. Below are nine recent closed sales — the numbers brokers and sellers see, but buyers almost never do.
| Year | Keel / version | Location | Asking | Sold | Off asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Mk II wing keel | Swansea, MA | $79,000 | $69,900 | −12% |
| 1997 | Mk II | Fairhaven, MA | $72,900 | $55,000 | −25% |
| 1991 | Mk I | Ventura, CA | $61,200 | $52,800 | −14% |
| 1996 | Mk II wing keel | New Bedford, MA | $59,950 | $45,800 | −24% |
| 1984 | Mk I | Falmouth, ME | $47,700 | $42,400 | −11% |
| 1987 | Mk I | Seabrook, TX | $47,800 | $38,000 | −21% |
| 1984 | Mk I | Manitowoc, WI | $27,800 | $25,000 | −10% |
| 1997 | Mk II (distressed) | Port Isabel, TX | $52,300 | $24,150 | −54% |
| 1983 | Mk I (liveaboard) | Olympia, WA | $33,700 | $16,000 | −52% |
What the numbers say
The typical gap between asking and sold across the nine boats. Asking is a wish; sold is the market.
The median discount off asking. If you're paying full ask on a Catalina 36, you're paying above the market.
Every boat in this sample closed below asking. Not one seller held the line.
What this means for your offer
Anchor the conversation on comps, not asking.
A first offer 12–18% below asking on a Catalina 36 isn't lowball — it's where the market has actually been clearing. Bring the comps with you.
Save your leverage for after the survey.
Most sold prices reflect a post-survey re-trade. Plan for it: know which findings justify a credit and which don't, before you're standing on the dock with a clipboard.
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