"Out of Sight" 1995 45' Catalina/Morgan Center Cockpit
This page is for those who are interested in knowing more about our sailboat or maybe you’re just a little nerdy about sailboats in general. Here is the story of what we were looking for in a cruising sailboat, how we found it, and some of the refitting projects that we have completed.
Our Criteria
Our goal was to have a sailboat that was comfortable as a liveaboard yet very capable of ocean passages and coastal cruising. For us, this meant something in the length of 40 feet or more and a shoal-draft (less than 6′) so that we could get closer into the island bays and shorelines more easily. In addition, we wanted a fairly heavy displacement to help smooth out the rougher sea conditions and inevitable storms. We also wanted a center cockpit which we feel adds some security and allows for a design with a larger aft cabin. Shorty’s must-have was a sugar scoop for easy entrance and exits from the water. Our budget dictated we would be purchasing a used boat.
The Hunt For A Boat
We spent many hours looking at sailing yachts online, walking the local docks, and even making a trip to Florida to preview some boats we had found interesting online. In some ways shopping for a sailboat is similar to shopping for a home on land yet a bit more complex because the risks are higher. When you find one you like the looks of, you will (or should) get a Marine Survey which will be used to determine the condition and value of the boat. First, the surveyor will examine the boat’s interior, mechanical and electrical systems, and rigging. If the buyer is still interested in these survey results, the boat will be hauled out of the water for hull inspection and finally a sea trial on the water to confirm the boat’s seaworthiness.
Boats don’t sink often, typically they only sink once! But sinking is almost always avoidable if the boat is well found and maintained. Therein lies the challenge in boat buying. The most knowledgeable surveyor in the world won’t be able to identify every possible issue during the few hours spent on the boat being considered. The pleasure of identifying the full extent of the refitting/repairs needed falls on the new owner. Time spent on the boat and working with the systems reveals what you will be doing in the days, weeks, and months ahead. It took us 1-1/2 years; fortunately, we were in no hurry.
"Out of Sight" a Morgan 45 CC by Catalina Fills the Bill
Out of Sight is 45′ long and just shy of 14′ wide with a center cockpit and voluminous interior space. Two staterooms and a head for each. The galley includes a propane range with a 3-burner stovetop and oven. We are also fortunate to have a separate refrigerator and freezer.
She has a shoal draft keel that draws 5.3 feet of water and a fairly heavy displacement of 12.5 tons. For power when the sails are not enough we have a 50hp Yanmar diesel and an 8KW Kubota diesel electrical generator set.
Video Boat Tour
This is the sales video from 2020 when we purchased the boat. We are working on an updated version that will highlight the changes and upgrades we have made.
What is a Catalina Morgan?
That was my first question! Catalina Yachts are a very familiar brand name in the cruising/sailing world as is Morgan Yachts although a bit less well known. If you travel in sailing circles for a while you will eventually see one or at least hear about Morgans. However, a Catalina-Morgan tends to be a little rare and the name can be a confusing without some historical perspective.
Charles (Charley) Morgan the founder of Morgan Yachts has been a fixture in US sailing since the 1940s as a sailmaker, boat designer, and racer. Charley became well known as the designer and builder of “Paper Tiger”, winner of overall honors at the 1961 and 1962 SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Conference). Following this success, Charley went into business as the Morgan Yacht Corporation and delivered their first sailboat in September 1965. By December the company had such a backlog of orders that they temporarily stopped accepting new orders. His best-known sailboats ranged from 24 to 54 feet. He even built the submarines Disney World used in its 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. In 1968, Charley sold Morgan Yachts to Beatrice Foods and stay on board with the new owners for short while.
In 1971, Charley envisioned fulfilling the charter boat market need for a spacious cruising sailboat. He created a center cockpit sailboat with a spacious salon and aft stateroom and christened it the Morgan Out Island 41. The Out Island had a pudgy look and unimpressive sailing performance, but over time it has proven this boat to be the most popular sailboat over 40 feet ever built. This design was built by Morgan Yachts (Beatrice Foods) yet without Charley because he parted ways with Morgan Yachts in 1972. Production of the Out Island started in 1970 and ran until 1991, with more than 1,450 completed, but it is now out of production.
In 1984 Catalina Yachts purchase Morgan Yachts and continued production of the Out Island model of which there were many variations and boat lengths ranging from 28′ to 51′.
In 1991 Catalina had Nelson Marek update the Morgan design. This is what became the Catalina Morgan 45 Center Cockpit, the design for our boat “Out of Sight”.