Advice on Purchase of 400 MK II

[sailorsteve]

I am interested in purchasing a 2000 or newer 400 MK II and am looking for guidance from current MK II owners. Problem areas, best years, prefered options, stay-aways, etc. I currently own a Catalina 34 which has served well, but looking to move up and would like as much information as possible.

 

[Mark7500]

C400 thoughts

Look at some of the owner reviews on the 400. I have mine there and I really enjoy this boat. Since you know Catalina, suffice it to say that the C400 MKII is a wonderful boat. I have a 2000 model and I loaded it down with cruising gear; I would cruise full-time if I could keep my wife and child aboard for more than a couple of weeks.Options: we have the in-mast main furling and it's fine, I don't think it affects performance much. Ditto with the wing keel. I would get all the electronics you may want already installed. There's plenty of room for cable runs below but getting them to the helm through the cockpit table aft post is difficult. I have a radar cable, power cable for a Raymarine chartplatter/radar and Seatalk and nothing else will fit through. There are a lot of spaces below the floorboards if you lift them and cut access holes through the fiberglass sole--including room for 2 additional 4D batteries.Cons: it's a beamy boat which is great unless you're in steep breaking seas--which goes without saying. Having said that I just sailed 150 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico in 10 foot chop and 25 knots wind and never heeled farther than about 35 degrees while making 6.5 knots reefed way down. Also, you'll need to add some more cabin handholds but what production boat doesn't need more?I could go on and on but I think overall it's great for coastal cruising and can be outfitted for longer cruising as well.