34 Draft Questions...

[Sumner]

Hi, and first of all I'm new to this forum. Ruth and I have a MacGregor 26 Classic and are very happy with it, but have considered keeping it and in addition buying a larger boat for a couple years and living aboard it for say in 3-4 month intervals returning home in Utah between them.

We have more or less narrowed our search to either a Catalina 30 or 34, most likely a 34 in the 1986-1990 years for cost considerations.

We want a shoal draft boat and I'm confused on the draft in the '86 to '90 boats. One source said that all 34 shoal draft boats were 4'3". I found the brochures on line for '86-'87-'89-90' (can't find the '88 one).

Here is what they say about the wing keel:

'86 == 4'8"
'87 == 3'10"
'88 == ?'?"
'89 == 3'10"
'90 == 4'3"

Looking at boats for sale in those years and the specs on them I see that some agree with the factory brochures above and some don't.

We would like the 3'10" first as we like to get back into places, like the 10,000 Islands/Glades where we are now. 4'3" would be the second choice.

Anyone know what the draft is on the '88?

Any info on the draft of the above boats would be appreciated. Also any info on things we should look for when buying one of these year? I see where some were deck stepped and some keel stepped. Any preference there?

We are Everglades City and have Internet today/night, but hope to head south towards Cape Sable in the morning stopping at New Turkey. Hopefully be over by the keys by maybe Sat.-Mon.. Until then we won't have Internet, so it might be a while before I can check back in here.

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sum, the drafts on the C34s HAVE been confusing for many, many years. The short answers: 1) 3'-10" WAS FLAT, 4'-3" was when tilted; 2) the design weight of the C34, like almost all Catalinas, is actually heavier and she sits lower in the water.

Make what you want of it, but them's the "facts" I've been able to glean over the last 14 years as Association Secretary. If you haven't yet, please feel free to "use" our C34 Message Board (http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html) and the other features of our C34 website.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Deck stepped vs keel stepped was an option until 1994 when the Mark IIs started rolling out, then all deck stepped. Not an issue. Some people like the smaller diameter of the post rather than a full mast down below. Either way, it ain't goin' anywhere.

 

[Stu Jackson]

These old FAQs (not website things, but boat related) may be helpful to you in your initial searching. They have all been incorporated into the C34 Tech wiki, but spread out in different "categories".

http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq.html

 

[Sumner]

Thanks Stu, so one draft is on the motor and the other is when the boat is heeled over?

Also do any of the 34's have the keel 'smile' issue like on the pre '89 30's. How about under the mast step in the bilge area? Can that also be a problem. Seems like I read somewhere that Catalina replaced the wood in that area on the 30's with steel, but not sure about that.

Thanks again and I've spent some time on the other site and it has been real helpful,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Stu Jackson]

Thanks Stu, so one draft is on the motor and the other is when the boat is heeled over?

Pretty much, yup.

Also do any of the 34's have the keel 'smile' issue like on the pre '89 30's. How about under the mast step in the bilge area? Can that also be a problem. Seems like I read somewhere that Catalina replaced the wood in that area on the 30's with steel, but not sure about that.

The Catalina smile is ubiquitous to all models and ages. Some get 'em, some don't, some sometimes. We bought our '86 in '98 and was fine until five years ago. Had it fixed, is just fine now (latest haulout was last December, before that when discovered was 2005).

The mushy keel step is NOT an issue on C34s. Only ones I've heard about were the earlier C30s.

Thanks again and I've spent some time on the other site and it has been real helpful

Consider becoming a registrant there and ask away. You won't be the first to take that route as a "prospective" owner. Most ended buying. Hope you do, too.

 

[Sumner]

Thanks Stu....we are headed south in a minute. I'll register there the next time we have Internet,

Sum

 

[Stu Jackson]

More C34 Info

Sum & Ruth,

This is an explanatory thread about our website and how it developed and how you can use it to gather information:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2629.0.html