1987 Catalina 34

jssailem · Feb 3, 2019

I would tend to agree @Kings Gambit. I drove to Seattle (250 miles one way) about 6 times during my boat search. Great times while the sun was out. Walking the docks and inspecting boats.. What fun. My score came when a friend saw an ad and checked out the boat. Gave me a call and said... " John you got to come up again..." That was at the start of my relationship with Hadley.

jssailem · Feb 3, 2019

John Sounds like you are ready for the next adventure. Hope the boat lives up to your expectations. Best of luck. This is an exciting time for you. enjoy the moments.

Justin_NSA · Feb 3, 2019

John Tubb said:
Thanks all, the key was my wife liking the idea of a used boat and what she saw. I was surprised she is willing and interested as I've shown her a fair amount of options. I don't think the drive is a big deal, and given to poorly maintained local options this is hopefully a step in the right direction.

I have mixed feelings as I really do enjoy my 25 and it is cheap and comfortable. But my wife doesn't like it and wasn't comfortable on it last year. So this is more about getting her on a large enough boat that could be an overnight trip and comfotable in moderate winds. I expect I'll miss being able to sail in the ridiculous low wind conditions we have here often, but that is a trade off.

That C34 site is a big selling point for sure. A ton of lessons to learn and look out for. @Stu Jackson amazing job

The right set of sails should provide good sailing in any wind. We never regretted the move from the lightweight Mac26S to the Hunter.

Stu Jackson · Feb 3, 2019

John Tubb said:
I have mixed feelings as I really do enjoy my 25 and it is cheap and comfortable. But my wife doesn't like it and wasn't comfortable on it last year.

We had a similar experience. I liked the simplicity, could take the outboard off to get it repaired (heck, what did I know?), but Cory said "I haven't been sailing with you as much as I'd like. We should get a bigger boat." Who's gonna argue with that? We'd seen the C34 at the '87 boat show when they first came out, and decided, after looking, that a C30 was just a bigger C25 and we liked the aft head and aft cabin.

John Tubb said:
That C34 site is a big selling point for sure. A ton of lessons to learn and look out for. Stu Jackson amazing job

It's a true group effort. I just tend to keep track of stuff.

Ward H · Feb 3, 2019

@John Tubb Here's the link I talked about in my post this morning but of course I forgot to post.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7323.0.html
In the first post the guy links to a C34 Buyers guide. Great info and a lot of really cool projects.

Ward H · Feb 3, 2019

I remember a thread I started asking questions about the C30. One was concerning stability.
One poster explained that if the O'day 25 moved like a break dancer, the C30 moved like a ballet dancer.
In your case even more so.
I thought I would miss the feedback of the tiller and the sportiness of 25, not that anyone would really call it sporty.
With the wheel steering, room in the cockpit and ample room on deck, as well as being stable while on deck I found it a different type of sailing and more enjoyable than the 25.

But the big difference was the comfort for the Admiral. She at a point where she only wanted to sail on perfect 8-12 wind days.
Now she doesn't care how hard it blows, she knows I can keep it flat and stable.

Your wife will love it. Hope you get to take out for a sail.

Justin_NSA · Feb 7, 2019

Well that explains the transom.

Simon Sexton · Feb 7, 2019

John Tubb said:
J30 and Sabre 32

Two great boats! I've sailed both, and honestly would have to say it's a close draw between the two. The Sabre is a bit more of a cruiser, a little more comfortable than the J. But that J...soooo many races you could win with her!

Parsons · Feb 7, 2019

John Tubb said:
UGGG, I called out the pics not matching a 1991 model and asked for HIN and verification of year. update says it is a 1987 now!

I don't want to patronize, so don't take this the wrong way ... Do you really want to do business with someone who made a "mistake" about four years and an entire model changeover? There are many used sailboats out there with honest owners.

Justin_NSA · Feb 7, 2019

Parsons said:
I don't want to patronize, so don't take this the wrong way ... Do you really want to do business with someone who made a "mistake" about four years and an entire model changeover? There are many used sailboats out there with honest owners.

Is it possible that you could own a sailboat and not know this? I always thought sailboat ownership bordered on compulsiveness

Meriachee · Feb 7, 2019

Bordered? Blasphemy, @Justin_NSA

Steve_Catalina · Feb 7, 2019

John Tubb,

Sorry just noticed.................
If you look at the 5th picture on the Yacht World link you will see the solar vent over the aft port head and a opening port on the same fixed glass. In 1988 model years and newer Catalina 34s had an opening port overhead on the head only instead of the solar vent and removed the opening port on the fixed port glass.

Steve

Ward H · Feb 7, 2019

I agree it’s another warning sign to be cautious about how the boat is represented but as you said, the trip is planned so take a look. If your wife loves the C34 at least you know that. As I said before, my wife fell in love with the C30. It was up to me to find the right one.

Stu Jackson · Feb 7, 2019

Ward H said:
It was up to me to find the right one.

Very good advice. FWIW, and I think I may have mentioned this to John in a one of our pms, we looked for ONLY a C34 for an entire year! We saw some newer ones that had been horribly neglected. We put an offer in on a "newer" one but it failed the survey. The "older" one we bought, 20 years ago now, was in pristine condition. Older doesn't mean squat by now.

1987 Catalina 34

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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