I am new to Catalina but when I saw them at the 2017 St. Pete boat show. I thought the quality was much better than a French Beneteau or Jenneau. ?? What are your thought about Circumnavigation with Catalina 36 early 2000's
I agree and I also don't have circumnavigation experience although my father does and I use to live aboard with him. Taught me most of what I know. The biggest secret is planning and paying attention. Don't put yourself in a position where you HAVE to go NOW or the weather will surely go against you.sailing around the world is more about the crew and how they set the boat up as it is about a boat you can buy at a marina.
Your observations on the abandon boats floating proves the point. The boat can take far more than the crew, in most instances. So it's the experienced crew that knows when to sail with what configuration and what safety precautions to take. The right sea, at the right time going in the right direction.On your question folks here often defer to crew experience and preparedness as the gold standard as to whether or not a certain model of sailboat might make a circumnavigation. Certainly, that is ultimately true even though vessels have been found abandoned, or otherwise floating for years, w/o living crew aboard (e.g., the case of the mummified German sailor).
Who is doing 25,000 nm in one shot unless they are trying to set some kind of record? You need a boat that can go a month or two of sailing and the level of comfort in doing this varies greatly. What the Pardey's were fine with most would never want to try. They also lacked modern technology that helps make more things possible. Watermakers that allow you to shower while crossing oceans. Solar panels that allow you to have refrigeration and watch TV when off watch. Satellite communication that allows detailed weather forecasts while thousands of miles from land. Materials and construction techniques that can make things stronger at a fraction of the weight. Computer aided designs that can be more efficient than wooden model test hulls.The question should be is the vessel built and equipped well enough to withstand the rigors of a 25,000 n.mi. journey and bring everyone home safely?
Name recognition? Marketing hype? Brand snobs? Magic pixie dust?So, you mention quality. Normally, quality and price/cost rise and fall together. The best built blue-water vessels are much more expensive than Catalinas at any given length. Why is this? Higher quality materials? Stronger construction? More safety features? Greater endurance with comfort, etc.?
Here is how I liken the decision. The Catalina, Beneteau or Jenneau are like a Toyota. It's well built, not too flashy and get you where you are going.It's hard to imagine that someone would actually choose a Catalina for a circumnavigation if s/he could have a Swan, Moody, or even a Tartan, instead.
Yeah--but we're talking about a circumnavigation, even if not in one long trip; something I had not meant to suggest. Sure, Catalina, Beneteau, BAVARIA, Hunter, and etc., due to their fine qualities that you mention, are superb models for the short-hop/weekend sailor. And Lord knows, I have not waited myself to afford the higher-quality vessel, at least at the point were higher quality equals much higher cost, before going sailing. (To the contrary, I've often mused as to why someone needs an IP380 to go across the San Pedro Channel to Catalina Island and hang on a mooring a few times a year during summer?) But then I'm not contemplating an around-the-world trek in the Bavaria. By the time I got it ready to do that I may as well have traded her in and just bought myself a world class, blue-water cruiser--preowned, of course!!People look at all the impressive bright work on the Swan and think how pretty it is. I look at the lack of exterior wood on my Catalina and think less maintenance and more time free diving for fish and lobster. Sure, she is not at pretty but she is what I wanted, easily maintained and easy to sail.
Maybe between themselves and Hunter, but these techniques were in place in many builders before they showed up in Cats. But I do agree, the 5-series are pretty well built.Look at the list of safety features built into a 5 series Catalina. Show me another boat better built with safety in mind. Maybe an Etap. Catalina was among the first builders to go to vinylester resigns and eliminate blistering. One of the first to use bidirectional and cross woven fiberglass to add strength. One of the first to adopt vacuum bagging to full wet out the fiber glass at a lower weight. One of the first to eliminate core material below the waterline. One of the first to design core free areas for mounting critical deck hardware so bad maintenance doesn't compromise safety.
Keep thinking that. And I'll keep making new friends in Bavarias, Benny's, Jenny's and Catalinas who arrive here in the Caribbean after crossing the pond on their keels. Some completing circumnavigations and talking about doing it again.Yeah--but we're talking about a circumnavigation, even if not in one long trip; something I had not meant to suggest. Sure, Catalina, Beneteau, BAVARIA, Hunter, and etc., due to their fine qualities that you mention, are superb models for the short-hop/weekend sailor. And Lord knows, I have not waited myself to afford the higher-quality vessel, at least at the point were higher quality equals much higher cost, before going sailing. (To the contrary, I've often mused as to why someone needs an IP380 to go across the San Pedro Channel to Catalina Island and hang on a mooring a few times a year during summer?) But then I'm not contemplating an around-the-world trek in the Bavaria. By the time I got it ready to do that I may as well have traded her in and just bought myself a world class, blue-water cruiser--preowned, of course!!
Indeed, if you look at events like the ARC you see that the vast majority of boats making the crossing at production boats in the 40-50 foot range.Keep thinking that. And I'll keep making new friends in Bavarias, Benny's, Jenny's and Catalinas who arrive here in the Caribbean after crossing the pond on their keels. Some completing circumnavigations and talking about doing it again.
My father had an Amel 50. It was a nice boat but still pretty basic. That's why I liked it. Of course that was 20+ years ago. I have no idea what they are like now. I think he traded it in for a J44. He liked the J boats a lot. I'll have to ask him but I think the 44 was the one he took around the world.Given the choice between doing it in a Beneteau 50 next year or an Amel 50 in ten years, I'm going next year
Yeah, it's my redefining truth. (Going to call me "fake news" next?)This like saying "truth" is whatever someone is willing to believe--from their own perspective. Thus, a boat that crosses blue water is a blue-water cruiser, etc. Fair enough!(BTW: I love my Bavaria. It does extremely well doing what is was designed to do--take two couples to the Island for the weekend, in comfort.)
All boats 30+ years ago were pretty basic. The Amel 50 is a brand new boat... Older Amels were give product names (like Maramu). The new 50 is an amazing craft. If you've got 15 minutes prepare to have your mind blown. This pretty much defines what is a modern blue water boat. Watch in full screen HD.My father had an Amel 50. It was a nice boat but still pretty basic. That's why I liked it. Of course that was 20+ years ago. I have no idea what they are like now. I think he traded it in for a J44. He liked the J boats a lot. I'll have to ask him but I think the 44 was the one he took around the world.
- Will (Dragonfly)
I'll not forget that day I boarded a nice Valliant 40 for the first time at the St. Petersburg boat show around 1988, and then a newish Pacific Seacraft 37 that same day. I swooned; but, alas--no more. Only Catalinas, Hunters, Beneteaus, Bavarias, & Dufours. Your basic "MacBoat" collection is all you (typically) see. How inexpensively can you build the basic yacht and still have it be distinctive? I think we are under that now.Or could it be that you notions of what a boat needs to be to sail the oceans are routed in the 1960s and 1970s?
Great decision... May not be here 10 years from now...I'm going next year.