A little help finding Catalina 30 info

[caltom]

I'm currently looking for Catalina 30 to buy (will probably be a mid 80's MKI, Diesel 21HP) . I keep seeing references to info but no links. I looked on the Catalina Yachts web page and couldn't find any technical info.

Things I would like to find are: Plumbing, wiring diagrams. Technical bulletins, Recommend upgrades. Known issues. Etc.

Any tips on what to walk away from would be helpful as well. I'm aware of the mast compression, Catalina Smile, stanchion mounts, chain plates issues.

Thanks

Tom

 

[mortyd]

all your questions will be obviated by hiring a good surveyor. we have a case in our club of someone who found a bargain 30 and decided not to waste money on a surveyor. it's now three years, the boat is still on the hard, and sucking big bucks. bargain boats rarely are. with so many real improvements over the years why are you looking at such old boats? don't wind up spending money for the next guy who buys your boat. i certainly don't mean to insult older boats, but there really have been many big improvements over the years. better engines, better spreaders, hull upgrades, open sterns, much better cockpits, ......

 

[justsomeguy]

There are plenty of good old boats out there.

And there's plenty of information out there in cyberspace, and at the docks, caltom. Just takes a little time to suss it out.

 

[caltom]

Thanks for the info.

We will defiantly hire a surveyor. My thought is if I can spot serious problems we can walk before we send the money for a surveyor.

I'm not sure where we will end up regarding the year of the boat. I understand your comments. We're not looking for value not bargain. Value may be in a newer boat.

 

[mortyd]

depending on how far you are willing to go, i believe the boats, after 91, with walk thru sterns might represent some of the best value. that was a major change. also, before that, the t shaped cockpit on the mkii was another major change. both of these really changed the boat for the better.

 

[jonelli]

Caltom,
I would go down to the local yacht sales offices. When I was looking, there was often a lot of boats for sale that weren't always listed.

I looked online first, and only found one here and there, but when I went to the yacht sales guys, they showed us 6 Cat30's.

You have several offices where you are. There's one over by West Marine in Alamitos bay, then by the boat yard is Flying Cloud Yachts - Eric the owner is a long time family friend of ours. Then there's the one in Shoreline which had lots of boats to choose from.

They can also call you whenever one becomes available.

 

[Kestle]

Caltom, I would go down to the local yacht sales offices. When I was looking, there was often a lot of boats for sale that weren't always listed. I looked online first, and only found one here and there, but when I went to the yacht sales guys, they showed us 6 Cat30's. You have several offices where you are. There's one over by West Marine in Alamitos bay, then by the boat yard is Flying Cloud Yachts - Eric the owner is a long time family friend of ours. Then there's the one in Shoreline which had lots of boats to choose from. They can also call you whenever one becomes available.

I second the note on Flying Cloud...they've been very helpful to me. Nice folks.

Jeff

 

[caltom]

Thanks for the info guys. We're currently working with Heritage Yachts but will talk to Flying Cloud soon.

I understand and appreciate all the urging's to go newer. It is something we have considered and as I mentioned before that may be where we find value. However, I'm not sure if our intended use warrants it.

Regardless of year, my interest in finding info remains.

Just for the record, I have complete faith in Surveyor's but the money on the table is mine. My quest for Cat 30 knowledge is two fold, to keep the Surveyor honest and I believe you need to know every inch and every thing about the boat you sail.

Tom

 

[caltom]

jonelli I sent you a private message.

 

[mortyd]

the international catalina 30 associaton has a complete list of all the factory updates and modifications on its website. also, get your hands on a catalina 30 owners handbook and read it. yachtworld has a big listing of 30's for sale. read all the specificatons of boats for sale which will teach you about what has been done to many boats over the years.

 

[Bob S]

the international catalina 30 associaton has a complete list of all the factory updates and modifications on its website. also, get your hands on a catalina 30 owners handbook and read it. yachtworld has a big listing of 30's for sale. read all the specificatons of boats for sale which will teach you about what has been done to many boats over the years.

http://www.catalina30.com/c30yacht/c30yacht.htm

 

[mortyd]

nice post and correct website but not the update list. requires a little searching on the website.

 

[jonelli]

Not to change the subject, but it is related. My surveyor wasn't that great. He also wasn't that expensive. I mean, he did his job, and he did inspect the main items, but it wasn't as thorough as some surveys I've seen. My survey was about 15 pages, most of which was cut/pasted and lists of items specific to me here and there.

I've seen 140 page surveys, and they inspected and reported EVERY DETAIL.

My guy was enough to let me feel safe buying the boat and met the insurance criteria <<<<<ANOTHER REASON TO GET A SURVEY!!!!!
I think I paid a total of around $400 or so for the boat to be hauled and inspected.

 

[mortyd]

i entered 'catalina factory upgrades' on google and up popped the complete list.