Thanks again for all the great comments, everyone. You're doing a great job of talking us into a Catalina! I have a question specifically for the Catalina 25 to 28 owners. The main reason we're considering moving to a bigger boat (eventually) is that when I retire in a few years we want to take some long-ish trips--up the Inside Passage, for example. So weeks at a time on the boat (two people). Would you consider your Catalina 25-28 big enough to be comfortable for that kind of cruising? If not, why not, and what would you consider adequate?
I have a Catalina 25. I don't think its big enough for weeks on a boat for two people. The reason I say that is there isn't really any room for the wet rain jackets, ,tools, space parts, spare oil, the extra change of clothes, extra water, etc... You say COMFORTABLE. I guess if you can camp for weeks in a small 3-man tent, then you would be ok in a Catalina 25. I need a bigger tent (10 man) for weeks of camping.
When you add up all the extra things needed for a few weeks, my Catalina 25 get cluttered and cramped very quickly. There just isn't a place to put the stuff and you have to pack it like a puzzle to get anything stowed or unstopped..real quickly it becomes a pain.
We have spent five days on the boat with two adult, two kids.. but that was in summer with no spare clothes, minimal bedding, refilling the water every two days and going to dinner in town at night. We were essentially tent camping with a roof over our head. It did slow everyone down in their pace, as you have to move around people and things...and that was ok.
I'm a sub sailor, I'm ok with tight spaces and know how to pack and make the most use of my space, but the Catalina 25 is just a little too small for weeks and weeks to be COMFORTABLE, and even worse if the weather is bad as your cabin is small. I think really the minimum is 30' and the Catalina 30 isn't much more.
I only own the Catalina 25 as mine came with a great trailer and in Colorado I have to be able to move the boat, 25' is about as big a boat that's easy to launch.