I am returning to sailing as all my soccer players are out of the nest. I used to own a Catalina 36 but I am looking for a boat that can be single-handed more easily and can handle the close/choppy seas of Western Lake Erie. The Nonsuch 36 and 30U have made my short list; but which one to buy as I have never sailed either. Questions: 1) Is the Nonsuch 36 nearly as easy to singlehand as the 30U? 2) In 25 knot open seas conditions is the seas motion of both boats about the same or does the extra waterline of the 36 really make a difference?
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We are also looking..
We are too are looking for a Nonsuch and also used to own a Catalina 36. The Nonsuch 30 in either the Classic or the Ultra layout is almost as roomy as our Catalina 36 was but they have significantly more storage and the tankage is also more significant. As for the water line the NS30 has a LWL of 28'9" and the Catalina 36 has a LWL of 30'3" so from a LWL perspective the 30 is closer in water line length to the C-36 than the NS36 is. The NS36 is a HUGE boat and quite a bit to maintian. If it's just you and the wife perhaps the 30 or 33 would be a better choice. The sail on a NS36 is also very, very big! We actually prefer the Classic layout to the Ultra for sailing with a child but if it were the two of us the Ultra would make more sense.. The Nonsuch Photo Database does not yet have any interior pictures of the 36 but lots of pictures of the 30C & 30U if your trying to get a feel for space. The link to the Nonsuch Picture Galleries is here: http://www.pbase.com/nonsuch
We are too are looking for a Nonsuch and also used to own a Catalina 36. The Nonsuch 30 in either the Classic or the Ultra layout is almost as roomy as our Catalina 36 was but they have significantly more storage and the tankage is also more significant. As for the water line the NS30 has a LWL of 28'9" and the Catalina 36 has a LWL of 30'3" so from a LWL perspective the 30 is closer in water line length to the C-36 than the NS36 is. The NS36 is a HUGE boat and quite a bit to maintian. If it's just you and the wife perhaps the 30 or 33 would be a better choice. The sail on a NS36 is also very, very big! We actually prefer the Classic layout to the Ultra for sailing with a child but if it were the two of us the Ultra would make more sense.. The Nonsuch Photo Database does not yet have any interior pictures of the 36 but lots of pictures of the 30C & 30U if your trying to get a feel for space. The link to the Nonsuch Picture Galleries is here: http://www.pbase.com/nonsuch
Electric Halyard Winch
Maine Sail notes the fact that the 36 has a large sail. On the Nonsuch 36 does an electric halyard winch, the lazyjack system, and all reefing lines lead aft to cockpit enable a reasonably healthy 50someyearold to singlehand this boat.
Maine Sail notes the fact that the 36 has a large sail. On the Nonsuch 36 does an electric halyard winch, the lazyjack system, and all reefing lines lead aft to cockpit enable a reasonably healthy 50someyearold to singlehand this boat.
The 36 in General
The 36 is enormous. The sail is more enormous. Price tags for repair and insurance are justifiably enormous. The 33 and the 30 are still really big boats, but not quite so big. 25 knot open conditions depends exactly what you mean. The Nonsuches all do handle heavy weather well, provided the skipper is not a nincompoop. Reef when it first pops into your head, not when it's too late, or you can and will break things. I'm caretaking a 36 that's been through more than a few masts due to non-brilliant skippering. 25 knot open seas conditions translates into a Sea State 5. Conservatively estimating, you'll probably have a significant wave height of 14 feet. Significant wave height refers to the average of the 1/3 highest waves. So, siginificant wave height of 14 means that some waves will be higher, and some may be smaller. The average period of the wave will be 7 seconds (and that's from crest to crest). In other words, there's a lot of energy in that wave. On the great Lakes, you'll have a bit more of a chop--probably a shorter wave period. Bigger is better in big waves and wind, and yes it makes a difference. The cockpit on the 36 is proportionally not as large as on the 30--less volume to get pooped full of water. The engine is larger, there's a Westy 58 on this one. The stern is proportionally not as large than on the 30. You want a smaller transom proportionately because any quartering waves will kick her around less. With the short chop, you'll be much more comfortable on the 36 than the 30. In a gulf coast chop, the 26 (yes, the 26) can get uncomfortable--the boat handles it, but the crew ain't amused. Less noticable on the 36, tho I haven't been out on it much. The 36 can be singlehanded, but I don't know of anyone who bothered to try. This one was taken across the Atlantic. She did it (broke the mast along the way) but I don't know that she's the best suited for that kind of thing. She's a handful when the weather kicks up or the minute anything goes wrong. 742 square feet of sail is a LOT of sail area in one single sail. It'll be well worth it to visit with the 30, 33, and 36. The 33s and 36s seem to generally come with electric winches and should have all lines led aft. Not always the case--some of these boats have been modified or were custom Hinterhoeller builds (like the one I'm on--no electric winches, and not every line led aft, but vast majority are).
The 36 is enormous. The sail is more enormous. Price tags for repair and insurance are justifiably enormous. The 33 and the 30 are still really big boats, but not quite so big. 25 knot open conditions depends exactly what you mean. The Nonsuches all do handle heavy weather well, provided the skipper is not a nincompoop. Reef when it first pops into your head, not when it's too late, or you can and will break things. I'm caretaking a 36 that's been through more than a few masts due to non-brilliant skippering. 25 knot open seas conditions translates into a Sea State 5. Conservatively estimating, you'll probably have a significant wave height of 14 feet. Significant wave height refers to the average of the 1/3 highest waves. So, siginificant wave height of 14 means that some waves will be higher, and some may be smaller. The average period of the wave will be 7 seconds (and that's from crest to crest). In other words, there's a lot of energy in that wave. On the great Lakes, you'll have a bit more of a chop--probably a shorter wave period. Bigger is better in big waves and wind, and yes it makes a difference. The cockpit on the 36 is proportionally not as large as on the 30--less volume to get pooped full of water. The engine is larger, there's a Westy 58 on this one. The stern is proportionally not as large than on the 30. You want a smaller transom proportionately because any quartering waves will kick her around less. With the short chop, you'll be much more comfortable on the 36 than the 30. In a gulf coast chop, the 26 (yes, the 26) can get uncomfortable--the boat handles it, but the crew ain't amused. Less noticable on the 36, tho I haven't been out on it much. The 36 can be singlehanded, but I don't know of anyone who bothered to try. This one was taken across the Atlantic. She did it (broke the mast along the way) but I don't know that she's the best suited for that kind of thing. She's a handful when the weather kicks up or the minute anything goes wrong. 742 square feet of sail is a LOT of sail area in one single sail. It'll be well worth it to visit with the 30, 33, and 36. The 33s and 36s seem to generally come with electric winches and should have all lines led aft. Not always the case--some of these boats have been modified or were custom Hinterhoeller builds (like the one I'm on--no electric winches, and not every line led aft, but vast majority are).
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