Catalina 30 Livability

Stu Jackson · Dec 12, 2013

Storage IS an issue, but easily remedied by creativity.

The larger issues are water and holding tank capacity.

Depends on how "far" you're planning to go and where.

Electrical systems are also pretty important.

Great boats.

The Garbone · Dec 12, 2013

Well we have yet to cruise our boat but have spent quite a few nights aboard.

Coming from a 27 myself that was our first, our 30 is also the boat we think is a good before the forever boat.

The sleeping arrangements are great compared to our 27, no more bumping the head on the overhead in the Vberth or knocking knees in the quarter berth.

Water capacity is pretty good. Really like the sea water foot pump and 2nd sink. We will be adding a fresh water foot pump also. It is nice not having to grab handles. A shower setup is better than the no shower in our last boat also.

The galley does have a fair amount of storage and a the shelving is nice. No more cans adrift when healing over.

On my 78 the factory wiring was still in use in a way. Most had stopped working long ago and had been bodged. I am pretty much rewiring the entire boat from scratch. Not that bad since it is a simple setup. However all of the 1978 panels and switches seem to be in good condition and I am reusing them, retro....

Stu Jackson · Dec 12, 2013

Sanford H. said:
what are your opinions of the electrical systems on the Catalina? Anything I should specifically look for? I'd plan to change out all fixtures to LED, of course.

Electrical systems are pretty good, but you might want to check on our C34 Critical Upgrades which include electrical as well as engine systems, similar if not identical to yours:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.0.html

Fuel is OK, water a little short unless you can fill up regularly (we have twice that for essentially the same type of cruising you're planning). Just needs more refills.

azguy · Dec 13, 2013

I was on a C30 for 3 days with two others, for me it seemed small. If I was serious about cruising with a spouse I'd be in the mid 30 foot range IMHO....

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Dec 13, 2013

This is a very subjective question. Some people think the thought of living on a boat period seems crazy because of the limited space. Others are very comfortable living on a Falmouth Channel Cutter 22 with no power, stove, refer, running water, etc.

I can say that we find a 30 footer to be comfortable as a live aboard. Well technically ours is a 31. And we also feel that Catalina has done great jobs of maximizing the space needed. It's all personal choices. For us its a balance of a boat big enough to take us where we want to go (through the Caribbean down to South America and back) and a boat that's not so big we spend all of our time maintaining it. Our purchase budget was $75K. You can get some mid to high 40 footers for that. We settled on a newer Catalina 31 footer because it gave us the balance we were looking for of manageable size and comfortable living.

As to cruising ability, search the internet. You will find people who have taken C30s on great voyages. I email with a guy who took his stock C30 from Cali to New Zeeland. He keeps a blog but I can't remember the name of it right now (something with a P?). You can sail that boat far and wide but you have to know what you are doing.

The advice I will give you is don't let someone posting on a forum make this decision for you. Do your own research. Look at the boat. Educate yourself. Then make your own opinion on the size necessary.

Good luck and fair winds,

Jesse

tmiller1116 · Dec 13, 2013

We live on an '83 ... it is great and just right for the two of us. Yes, it gets a little crowded when we relax and let things pile up... but then it just seems "cozy"

we have enough food stuffs in our galley that we could go a couple weeks no problem. (we have an electric fridge that sits on the couch area for absolute minimum stuff and use the icebox as our pantry)

Sleeping in the v-berth is not an issue... toes get close but it is as wide as a king at the head. Just have to do a little 'boat yoga' to turn around up there

if you are far enough out, the holding tank is not an issue, but if you are in too close to dump overboard, you will find yourself going to a pump out at least every two weeks, maybe more.

HOWEVER, if you anticipate using the shower much, I would say no. Just a bit too small for comfort. Given the chance, I would use it fine... wife not so much. We use the dock shower mostly. Most of the time it has a clothes bar in place with coats and such that need to dry out. Ours has a cockpit shower as well, but again, only useful in certain circumstances.

Conclusion: plenty big enough as long as you know its limitations.

Sanfelice · Dec 13, 2013

Other options

To answer your question directly the Catalina 30 can easily cruise two people along the coast of Florida. I have a 1988 Catalina 30 which I really enjoy the room down below and in the cockpit. There are a few things to consider which may affect your decision. I cruised on a Hunter 30, 1990 I believe. It has more storage room than the Catalina. One important feature is the sugar scoop stern which is really a nice feature when using a dinghy. It also has a smaller head sail, fractional rig, which makes tacking easier. I also think it is more responsive under sail and power. Downside is that it has a smaller cockpit and interior although the aft berth runs across the stern and is bigger than the Catalinas'. Galley and head about the same size. The Hunter engine is smaller but seemed to work fine along the ICW. You should look 3 cynlinder diesel. The Atomic 4 on earlier models also works well and parts are still available. For my purposes the Catalina 30 works better for me due to the larger cockpit and cabin. I have a cockpit shower . I also prefer the dinette version and have modified it so we can sleep width wise. An inflatable queen bed will fit across the aisle for a super berth. If you could only take the best features from both boats it would be a hell of a coastal cruiser. Dependent on your budget the Catalina Mark 3 gives you an open transom.
Good luck in your search.

Jack - La Paz Mx · Dec 14, 2013

We are in our 16th year living totally on our 83 Catalina, 30 footer for 4 months a year. My wife and I and a dog are quite comfortable. We are in the Sea of Cortez with days of 75 to 80, nights of 65 or so. No rain, but sometimes quite a bit of wind. We carry extra water or stop at villages to top off. Due to the weather we are in the boat, in the cocpit, or on deck. Plenty of boat and cost effective. Just so you know we are not young supple folks, she is 70 and I am 72.

Bob4203 · Dec 14, 2013

As a 1988 Mark II owner, what a wonderful question about long term livability. I recommend first and foremost that you use the v-berth for sleeping. Go on line and find the "pillow topper" that you can get custom made for the v-berth. They will send you a paper template for sizing. The pillow topper fir the V-perfectly and took the discomfort out of sleeping on the ordinary foam cushions with just a sheet. It will save your back and its pure comfort. If you look at the improvements many have posted in the v-berth you can add shelving in the v-berth area near the foc'sle for anything from storing bedding to installing a TV. Since the existing shelves in the v-berth are narrow and limited this is a great idea unless you opt for the hanging nets. Going aft, the head is just fine as it is, but buying a suction cup shower head holder for the bulkhead to allow hands free showering is a plus. Put this on the top of the list!

Take advantage of the quarter berth for storage. You can move one cushion (leave it at home if no one is going to use the berth for sleeping) and you have a huge area for storing just about everything and its out of the way of traffic. Thats your sweet spot!! Tons of room in there.

In the galley, many have gone to 12-volt refridgeration, others added insulation and like me, many have just put up with that small, poorly insulated cooler that melts ice in no time and makes keeping food and drinks cold a real pain on any extended cruise. You have many options here to consider. Otherwise the galley I feel is very accomodating since you have ample counter space, dual sinks, propane gas cooking and just enough storage for utensils, dinner ware, etc. Can goods, pans, pots, etc go in the quarter berth.

I could go on about the merits of the Catalina 30 regarding interior size and comfort, but I will let others chime in. It has been our intent to take our Mark II to the coast for an extended ICW cruise and I have no concerns over needing more space. She is a very accomodating vessel.

Good Luck

Bob
'88 Mark II
Breezin II

jimmcgee · Dec 14, 2013

We have a MK III and live aboard most weekends. Some things we found that help with storage:

Tupperware containers that store on the port side shelves. There's a wide variety of sizes available from big box stores. They do a great job of keeping cereal, crackers and chips fresh. Just take everything out of its cardboard box and stow the bags in the Tupperware with chip clips.

We use our fridge and ice cube trays - makes a big difference in livability. 2 sizes of zip lock bags instead of Tupperware mean leftovers take up less fridge space, and a pack of small containers (2x4x2) are good for stuff you don't want to spill.

To save space in the galley we went with Magma nesting cookware. Everything fits into the large cookpot and gets stored in the stove when underway. We picked up some collapsible cookware items (colander, bowls) from a camping store so they take up very little room in a drawer.

Did you realize the Catalinas have storage behind the seat cushions?

A smaller version of a milk crate from staples is tucked under the settee on the port side of the engine compartment that holds spares, antifreeze, a funnel and some service odds and ends.

Right now my tool bag nestles under the v-berth insert, but one of this winter's projects is to build in a tool chest in this area and open up the small storage cabinet on the port side there. We're also adding cabinets along the v-berth sides where there's only a small shelf now. This will more than double the space we now have in the drawers.

The trash can in the lazerette is used for more spares, and we recycle grocery bags hung from the ladder as small trash bags instead.

Another thing to consider for livability is a set of doors like the Zarcors that make coming and going MUCH easier. On our boat a solar fan and two dorades help keep the boat fresh.

If you're looking for more fresh water, there is room for a soft bladder under the aft berth next to the water heater and fuel tank. You could probably get a 15-20 gallon bladder in there, and tie it into the fresh water system. You'll also find some room under the forward seat cushion on the starboard side for long term storage items parts/etc.

Best of luck cruising with her,
Jim

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Dec 16, 2013

The blog I couldn't remember for a guy who is cruising his Catalina 30 and crossed the Pacific in it is www.sailpanache.com. Check out some of his stories if you want to know what a Catalina 30 is capable of.

Jesse

jrowan · Dec 16, 2013

JK_Boston_Catalina310 said:
The blog I couldn't remember for a guy who is cruising his Catalina 30 and crossed the Pacific in it is www.sailpanache.com. Check out some of his stories if you want to know what a Catalina 30 is capable of.

Jesse

I believe that one of these blogs describes when the owner lost his rudder at a remote island & had a hell of a time getting it fixed, so not sure if that is a good thing or not to promote. The C 30 was obviously designed as a coastal cruiser & was never designed to be sailed across oceans, which could be fool hardy. As far as livability I don't think the C 30 can be beat for the money.
She is the beamiest 30 footer around from the 70's - 80's era. All 30 foot boats have their limitations, but I agree with past posts about using the aft berth for storage, as it does not have enough head room to use for a regular berth. You can store a TON of goods in the aft berth, but be careful as without organization in crates etc. it can get out of hand. (I've always figured that's what aft berths were always meant for, no matter what the make!)
We have the dinette model with the wrap around setee, which is great for turning into a good size double berth. We stay on our boat for about a week at a time & the double makes a great place for the kids to sleep. The forward berth can only really be used at anchor as there's a lot of rolling around up there under way. I also do not use the shower in the head, as without an optional wrap around curtain track it will make a mess of water everywhere. We always shower when we reach our destination or at home port. I beleive that the biggest & best improvements that one can make for livability are to recover all of the cabin coushions unless they're in good shape. Nothing worse then sleeping in musty cushions. We have a flat screen TV mounted to the bulkhead in the main cabin which takes up no room & is great for the kids. We replaced our alcohol stove with a larger front loading refrigerator, which is worth the trade off, unless your boat has cold plate ice box refrigeration. A Magma grill for the stern is a must for summer cooking to keep the heat & smoke out of the cabin. its also safer to keep the propane out of the cabin all together. If you're buying a Mark II, I would pay extra for a model which has built in AC unit with reverse cycle heat, if you're serious about living aboard. Being comfortable in the 100 deg+ Florida heat requires AC when at the dock. The humidity down south is a killer.
One thing to consider before purchasing that I'm surprised that no one else addressed is: the C-30 has a standard 5' ft 3" draft keel depth that would be considered rather deep for Florida's very thin waters. You may want to send a message to Capt. Ron on this group, as he lives in Fl. waters with a C 30.
This is likely why you tend to see a lot of water ballast, swing keel, or shoal draft full keel cruising boats in Florida. Full keel shols draft boats are slower & don't point well upwind, but may be a necessary evil in the shallow waters of Fl., especially the West coast. If I were cruising extensivley in FLorida & buying a boat for this area, I would also take a look at a Gemini catamaran.
(Sacrilidge, I know)
They can sail in less then 2 feet of water & can still fit in standard slip.
I assume your Mark II has a roller furling jib & self tailing winches which aid in handling a big genoa jib. Lastly lazy jacks are great for handling the main quickly & a bimini is an absolute must to prevent heat stroke!
Good luck & enjoy the hunt.

fox islander · Dec 16, 2013

...my wife & I spent a month cruising the San Juan and Gulf islands last August. Key for us was planning the trip with marina stops around every 5-6 days. Gave us a chance to reprovision, top up on fuel, water, ice and charge up the electronics. This was our longest cruise and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The boat was rock solid, no issues. Just wish it could have been a month longer.

jimmcgee · Dec 17, 2013

Sanford, you'll find a lot of differences in Catalina 30's. The boat really evolved over the years it was produced and most owners have done upgrades over the years. The alcohol stove was replaced with a propane stove/oven on later models and I'm pretty sure this is what your MKII would have. My boat (1995) came with a factory fridge; earlier models had an ice box that drained to the bilge. So take a close look to see how this boat is equipped. And JRowan is right about upgrading the cushions. It's probably the best money we've spent on our boat.

I'd recommend a wing keel for Florida waters. The wing only draws four feet and the difference in draft can be a big deal in opening up thin water areas to sail.

As for performance, the PHRF rating difference between a Catalina 30 fin and a Catalina 30 wing is 9 seconds per mile because there is a slight difference in pointing ability.

1 MPH is 3600 seconds per hour, 9 seconds is 0.0025 MPH, so the performance difference at the helm is not really noticeable. The condition of your sails and the skill of the skipper will have a greater impact on performance that the type of keel. We have a wing and are very happy with it.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Dec 17, 2013

jrowan said:
I believe that one of these blogs describes when the owner lost his rudder at a remote island & had a hell of a time getting it fixed, so not sure if that is a good thing or not to promote. The C 30 was obviously designed as a coastal cruiser & was never designed to be sailed across oceans, which could be fool hardy. As far as livability I don't think the C 30 can be beat for the money.
... I would also take a look at a Gemini catamaran.

I find your response a little odd for two reasons.

First, I know that it was pointed out to you in a previous thread (http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=149643&page=2) that the issue with the rudder and hitting the reef was due to operator error and nothing to do with the design of the boat. The "hell of a time" he had getting it fixed was because he had limited funds and did the repair without hauling the boat. I can't imagine any rudder that would be easy to fix while working underwater.

Second, that a recommendation would be the Gemini Catamaran given the concerns you have raised about the C30. The combination of the low deck clearance, solid foredeck (no trampolines so limited ability to twist) and narrow beam to length ratio (for a catamaran) would put all of the same, if not more, limitations on the Gemini as you would have with the C30.

Back to the OP's question and as you have pointed out, its a fine boat for coastal cruising and learning how to sail while waiting for his "forever boat".

Catalina 30 Livability

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.