Beneteau, Pearson or Catalina???

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Morgan0505

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Jun 25, 2009
7
2 22 Long Point Marina, Earlville, MD
I'm a relatively new sailor, dusting off skills learned when I was a teenager many years ago, and looking to buy my first serious boat. I'm comfortable in the 26' to 28' range and have been spending time looking at used boat listings. I intend to keep the boat on the Chesapeake. So, any opinions out there on the Beneteau 285, vs the Pearson 28, vs a Catalina 27 or 28 in the 1985 - 1990 age range?

Thanks,

New Sailor, Bob
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
I am very biased(former Pearson 28 owner) so I will suggest the Pearson 28. The MKI(mid 70s to mid 80s) is a wonderful boat that sails well, is roomy, built like a tank and is very competitive in PHRF.

The MKII(mid 80s) is a little more cushy inside with an aft cabin/head setup. Still well built and a good sailor. Pretty with an up to date appearance. Nice ones can be had for mid 20s.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Of your list the Catalina 27 is probably the best 'sailer'. Very responsive, easy to set-up, was designed as a 'cruise-racer', points very well, handles 'chop' quite well. Many available at decent prices, but will vary from very bad to very good condition.

Pearson28 is OK but a bit on the slow side w/r to speed and responsiveness .... I'd recommend a Pearson30 over a P28.
On the Ches. the P30 is actively raced in the Annapolis area and you can probably find a 'good' boat ($12-20K) that has all the 'go-fast' additions already installed. The P30 is an exceptionally nimble and responsive boat; the P28 is more or less set up for 'amenities'. The P30 has been out of production for a long time, so you need to carefully evaluate (survey) one if interested.

The B285 is OK but wont have the 'sailing ability' of the above - IMHO.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,032
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Choices, choices, choices...

The C28 was the most overpriced C ever made. They did a great job but tried to pack a C34 into 28 feet. If you're in that size territory, the C27 is a much better deal.
 
M

MafaldaII

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Dec 5, 2007
18
- - Deale MD
Another biased response...I once was in your same situation and finally bought a Catalina 27 which I sold only because I needed a bigger boat. I sailed the Chesapeake for 7 years and loved the boat, which is very roomie and confortable for a 27". Construction was not the best, so you would need to check for stuff like keel bolt, compression under the compression post and so, but you can get really good deals out there. Good luck
 
Clark

Clark

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Jun 30, 2004
886
Hunter 280 Lake Guntersville, AL
Of those, I'd vote for the Pearson as well. Second would be the C27. Not as roomy as the C28 but it does have a faster hull. Of course, any boat can be a nightmare if neglected too long.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,269
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
No need to limit your selection ...

If you are discounting fractional rigs and looking for a masthead rig, you can look for a mid 80's Starwind 27 or a later model Precision 27 or 28, sistership of the Starwind. A Wellcraft made Starwind is quality built, roomy, and judging by the PHRF rating, a speedier cruiser than all three that you mention and Hunter 27 or 28 to boot (even with an inboard propeller blade on Starwind vs outboard on others). With a lesser known name, you should get a better price as well. No need to worry about replacement components as Kenyon spars, Schaeffer hardware, and Lewmar winches are all replacable in kind. The designer of Starwind & Precision, Jim Taylor, is well known with Sabre.

I find the interior layout to be very nice, if a little short on headroom. At 6', I have to stoop whereas my wife at 5'7" has no problem. The enclosed head is pretty small, but private.

I'd guess that the drawback would be that they are a little difficult to find for sale.
 
S

s sauer

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Jun 4, 2004
844
Hunter 28.5 Tolchester, MD
I'm a little biased toward a boat you've not mentioned that can outsail all of those you did mention.. the mid to late '80's Hunter 28.5.
At 7,000 lbs with a 5'2" deep keel rated at 174 PHRF on the Chesapeake, she out sails the Pearsons, the Catalina's, Cal's and O'Days at least up to and including the 30 footers. They have a nice open 'U' shaped interior, aft head with shower and a 2GM20 Yanmar diesel. The interior woodwork is veneered plywood and the ports are Grey Marine (plastic), shes's got a cast iron keel that I wish were lead so taking care of rust spots wouldn't be as much work. C and C 29's or 30's are about the same speed but better built and much more expensive.
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
The boat that I own is SUPERIOR to the other boats mentioned. I weighed all of the options, and for anyone's requirements there is no better selection than the choice I made. It is better looking and better made, sails better and easier and faster, is better equipped and easier to maintain. You should select the boat I selected.;)
 
SoSound

SoSound

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Nov 21, 2007
673
Beneteau Oceanis 34 Kingston, WA
jviss said:
The boat that I own is SUPERIOR to the other boats mentioned. I weighed all of the options, and for anyone's requirements there is no better selection than the choice I made. It is better looking and better made, sails better and easier and faster, is better equipped and easier to maintain. You should select the boat I selected.;)
Click to expand
How could I when you have it already, is yours for sale?
 
Jimm

Jimm

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Jan 22, 2008
372
Hunter 33.5 Bodkin Creek - Bodkin YC
Look at them all and pick the one you are most comfortable in, and is in first rate condition - hopefully you'll spend a lot of time in it.
I've owned both a Beneteau 235 and Catalina 30 (current), and a good friend sails a B285 with which he is VERY happy ------ ALL good boats, hard to go wrong if that's your universe from which to choose.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
I downsized from a Catalina 36 to a 27-29 ft two years ago. At first, I was going Catalina 27, cuz for a time they were the most popular boat on the west coast. But after looking at a number of older ones, well, they just don't stand up. The small Hunters are even worse. I don't know the Pearson (it's an east-coast boat) but I hear they're pretty solid.

I ended up looking at Cals and wound up with a Crown 28 (basically a Cal 29, built in North Van). I'm not sure how many Cals there are in your area though. But they're amazingly fast and solid - mine's over 35 years old and apart from some cosmetics it's fine.

But one boat I was looking at that I couldn't find out here was an Ericson 29 (NOT the 27, unless you like going slow!). It's fast, well built and roomy.

druid
 
sand sailor

sand sailor

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Sep 19, 2006
643
SCHOCK santana27' lake pleasant,az
make sure you do a thorough survey of whatever boat you look at and follow your gut instinct if it feels wrong looks wrong or smells wrong look onward there's plenty out there so don't settle for something your not sure of.
I bought my santana on e-bay for scrap price so i couldn't get hurt and the pic didn't do it justice but it has nice lines and i love it (turned out to be the pony in the pile of manure)i knew of the builder and talked to the p/o extensively so i had a good feeling about it .
now that i've had it a couple of years i wont sell it until i move up to a 40ft+ or too far from water to keep it:D
so just make sure it feels right or walk away
 
M

Morgan0505

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Jun 25, 2009
7
2 22 Long Point Marina, Earlville, MD
Would you consider a Cal 28'? Happens to be one for sale in the area that looks to have the right equipment. Might be a good deal.

Thanks,
Bob
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Cal made good boats. One of the best offshore racers to date is the Cal 40.
 
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