310 questions from a potential buyer

[matts997]

I just sold my Hunter 280 and I’m looking for a smaller Catalina (31’ to 34’) to replace her, preferably a 310.

Does anyone know in what year Catalina began putting the Yanmar 3GM30F in the 310s? I‘d prefer a Yanmar over a Universal only because I’m familiar with Yanmars from working on my previous boat.

Are there any other significant changes in the 310 by production year that I should be aware of? Two of them for sale here in the Pacific Northwest both had in-boom reefing and hardtop dodgers—were these options that Catalina offered during certain years? (or just a coincidence?)

Any advice for finding/selecting a 310? I know they’re hard to come by, at least here in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve started putting notes on ones I see, asking if someone wants to sell…and I’ve gotten one “maybe” response so far.

Thanks!

 

[Steve_Catalina]

WWW.catalina310.org may offer some insight.

 

[Deleted member 117556]

I think very few 310's have yanmar engines and am only aware of 1 or 2 that do. Mine is hull #1 from 1999 and has a 2GM20F which I am quite happy with. We cruise from GA to FL every year for several months and the engine performs very well. It has also been very well maintained.

 

[leo310]

Mine is a 2000 hull #44 with a 3GM30. I think that Catalina put in engines that they had on hand at the time of each hull was built.

 

[matts997]

Interesting--thanks everyone for the input.

 

[jssailem]

hardtop dodgers—were these options that Catalina

A Hard top dodger would be an after market item.
Here is the Specifications brochure http://catalina310. org/specifications.html
A hard top would be a nice item in the PacficNW.

My opinion, Yanmar/Universal likely makes little difference. They are small diesel engines with much in common. 90% plus of your knowledge of one will be transferable to the other. That you are purchasing an older boat means (in my way of thinking) all of the parts may not have been maintained fully to your standards. So all of the parts should be suspect until you replace or confirm that they are properly working. It goes with the process of good seamanship. Parts for both are readily available.

The move from your 280 to a Catalina 30-34 will feel big… You are at a great time to purchase as many owners see winter as an expensive cost to house a boat they will not use. Look for a boat with a solid hull that keeps the water out and newer sails. The rest is fluff, you will be modifying, servicing, or replacing over the next few years.

I like both the 310 and the 34. I would be partial to a 34. Interior space in the PacificNW is a premium feature.

 

[matts997]

I do worry about the move from 28' to say, 34’, especially in tight docking situations. My 28' was very easy to dock--perhaps too easy in that I was never forced to acquire more technical docking skills--e.g., using prop walk/wash or a spring line. I also had a very easy, single slip at my homeport, next to a boat house that had little to no current and was somewhat shielded from the wind.

One of the reasons I've preferred the 310’s is that the ones I’ve been on did not feel much larger to me than my 28---just beamier and more solid and stable in the water.

Good to hear that Universals and Yanmars are that similar.

 

[jssailem]

310 vs 34 could be a toss up or decided by what the wallet can bear.

Just because you had a bike and it was easy to handle should not be a reason to fear a motorcycle or car. The skills to dock, use spring lines, get in and out of a slip are learned or not… If it is your boat you will learn what and how to do it or the boat will sit comfortably in the slip and be a space for parties like several in the marina.

You did not sound like the dock party only type. Once you practice a couple of time and remember the golden rule.. Don’t come in to the slip any faster than you are willing to ram the dock and mar the boat, you will soon become a master.

 

[jssailem]

Check out these master captains and their docking procedures…

Or boats larger than the boat you are considering.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Mostly 310 "trivia" but might be helpful.
The first 100 & something (123-125??) were built at the California factory before production moved to the Morgan plant in Florida.
They mostly got their engines from Boatswain's Locker in Costa Mesa, they would get bids and buy them in lots, then use where appropriate. Boatswain's Locker Don't know where they got engines after the move.
Some of the boats had the exhaust elbow too close to the bulkhead which scorched it, a heat shield was added, and modified in later boats.
2002 models lost a portlight on starboard side aft, there used to be an '01 and '02 next to each other on my dock. One with portlight one without, might have been #88 and #89, that's what "pops" to mind. Think there was a closet or locker in the way.
We considered the 310 but got a 320, I intended on getting a 36 later but ran into a problem with the companionway access for my wife who has a leg injury.

 

[jssailem]

There is a beautiful 356, brand new on Q dock in Everett’s South Marina. Way beyond my boat budget, but none the less a pretty girl.

 

[matts997]

I like the trivia, thanks. Most production lines have a pretty interesting history. And thanks for the docking video John, I’m going to need it.

With no newer Catalinas on the horizon here in the PacNW, we’re going to go look at a Marlow-Hunter 31’ tomorrow. The MH 31 is a fairly large 31 footer, over 32’ LOA with an almost 12’ beam. Haven’t seen one before, they’re pretty rare on the West Coast. Has a sail drive, with which I’m totally unfamiliar.

Sometimes I think looking for boats is almost more enjoyable than owning one!

 

[Calif. Ted]

The MH 31 is a fairly large 31 footer, over 32’ LOA with an almost 12’ beam.

I've seen one, very attractive boat, the tilting helm is intriguing, this one had a furling main and seemed a little under canvassed for very light airs.

 

[Alansails]

310 vs 34 could be a toss up or decided by what the wallet can bear.
You did not sound like the dock party only type. Once you practice a couple of time and remember the golden rule.. Don’t come in to the slip any faster than you are willing to ram the dock and mar the boat, you will soon become a master.

I would add to that quote-going into a dock at a speed that equates to the size of the check you are willing to can write!
We went from a Catalina 25 to a 310 and have never regretted it. Though we do not live in the NW we sail on the Great Lakes.
We have owned Anam Cara for more than 10 years, and sail all the time, tough we do enjoy having dock mates and friends over for Sun Downers. We have the M25XPB and she is only used in fresh water but is reqularly maintained.
Our headsail is a 135% which is what the boat was designed for. I think that there are not alot for sail because Catalina made less than 400 of them as they got costing more than the price point.. They are well built and sail nice-not a J boat. Ours is a 2001 sail #155.
If you have more questions let us know and I would keep searching..You will find YOURS!

 

[matts997]

We looked at the MH 31 yesterday and it is indeed a beautiful boat. But it has a few awkward design features on the exterior; e.g., you have to step up and around the dodger to access the foredeck...and you’re hanging out over the water a little bit when doing so--in rough seas one would need to be very careful. Also the freeboard seems exceptionally high for a 31’ boat and my wife had a difficult time getting on/off the boat--and it wasn't that easy for me either (and I'm 6 ft tall). Very different than either the Catalina 310s or 320s that we’ve been on, which seem very easy to board and disembark from during docking. We haven’t crossed the Marlow off our list yet, but we want to keep looking for those elusive 310s and 320s.

I appreciate the input and interest here, thanks.

Matt

 

[jssailem]

the freeboard seems exceptionally high for a 31’ boat

This is an issue of design age. The older boats usually have higher freeboard than the new designed boats. The designers played to the desires of the boat owner to give the crew a dry ride. The higher freeboard helped to provide this. New designs with low freeboard have a tendency to be wetter boats. Their bows are more plumb and the idea is the boat will “cut” through the waves. Green water will splash up over the bow and be directed towards the sides of the cabin - off the boat or down the deck. Trouble is water does not always follow the intended path. Thus you see in heavy seas the water running over the cabin into the cockpit. This is addressed by the installation of a dodger…. Remember that free board… It was lowered to reduce the wind affect on the boat. Sticking a dodger up in the air defeats that desire. Dodgers and biminis act like big sails.

Ah it is a boat. Constructed by compromise.

 

[SJN]

Hello! Yacht world lists a Catalina 310 for sale right now, located in Gig harbor.

As an owner of a 2004 Catalina 310 that sails the Salish Sea, and as a person who has sailed for over six decades and looked at boats for many years before buying my 310, as the saying goes, it is possible that the Catalina 310 is THE perfect boat. Of course not for everyone, yet, the claims are more than a marketing slogan.

Good luck in your quest. Do not get discouraged and settle for something that bothers your instincts.

 

[matts997]

Thanks SJN for the encouraging words. I've talked to the broker selling the 310 in Gig Harbor. The primary negative is its engine hours--4800. I guess you could argue that an engine with that many hours must be doing something right, but then again, there’s a good chance that some type of major engine work is just around the corner. So the possibility of a re-power in the near future would need to be considered.

 

[JRT]

Great feedback so far, I'm coming up on 5 years since moving up from an O'Day 25 to our 310. Lots of stress and learning for me since this was my 1st inboard and extensive interior comfort! Now I'm pretty confident even bring RoseLeigh back at night in limited visibility by myself is comfortable. Docks is just practice and not afraid to stop and try again.

My thread has our adventures and history. My plan is to get my Six Pack Inland waterways license next year. We are considering moving RoseLeigh to the gulf after to start and log near costal time in preparation for our 55 early retirement plan to run small private charters, probably on a larger boat then the 310. I know RoseLeigh will be great and since she is a 100% freshwater boat will be in good shape for coastal cruising and learning till we upgrade.

 

[SJN]

Thanks SJN for the encouraging words. I've talked to the broker selling the 310 in Gig Harbor. The primary negative is its engine hours--4800. I guess you could argue that an engine with that many hours must be doing something right, but then again, there’s a good chance that some type of major engine work is just around the corner. So the possibility of a re-power in the near future would need to be considered.

Hello again. While 4000 engine hours seems high, a well maintained Kubota diesel (A Universal is a marinized Kubota) will last 10,000 hours. In many ways, more hours is better then really low hours. Just like our bodies, mechanical things need exercise or bad things happen. A really low hour diesel could have more problems than one with four thousand hours.

If you like the rest of the boat, get a really good survey including a separate mechanics survey that includes an oil analysis.

Cheers!