I'm looking for a Catalina 25 or 27, preferably from the early to mid 1980s. The people who advertise them seem to like the boats alot, but then there's always the question, "If you like the boat so much and it's in such great shape, why are you selling it?" So tell me Catalina owners, are they as nice as they're portrayed? What is a reasonable asking price? What are some of their notorious bad habits (if any) that I can sound educated in asking about when I go and see some of the boats locally? Thanks in advance for your help.
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Randy
Catalina 27--A good boat
Jeff-- Your question is a good one--if the boat is so good, why would you sell it? People sell good boats for a lot of reasons, though--financial pressures, getting married or divorced, buying another boat, etc. As to whether the Catalina 27 is a good boat...YES! I bought mine last fall, and launched it this spring. Mine's an 84, with a Universal diesel, and wheel steering. It's turned out to be just what I hoped it would be: roomy enough to store all equipment on board, big enough to be comfortable for coastal/ocean sailing, self sufficient for weekend or overnight trips, etc. If your going to buy one, though, have it surveyed. Even a relatively simple, uncomplicated boat can have lots of hidden problems, especially as it ages. The oldest 27s can sometimes be had for only a few thousand $, while newer ones cost $20,000 plus. Sometimes it's worth it to spend more for a boat that's in better shape. Either way, a surveyor will help you identify problems before you get involved. Try to talk to some owners of 27s in your area. Better yet, see if you can sail with them a couple of times to get a feel for the boat. Good luck, and I'm sure you'll enjoy being a C-27 owner. Randy
Jeff-- Your question is a good one--if the boat is so good, why would you sell it? People sell good boats for a lot of reasons, though--financial pressures, getting married or divorced, buying another boat, etc. As to whether the Catalina 27 is a good boat...YES! I bought mine last fall, and launched it this spring. Mine's an 84, with a Universal diesel, and wheel steering. It's turned out to be just what I hoped it would be: roomy enough to store all equipment on board, big enough to be comfortable for coastal/ocean sailing, self sufficient for weekend or overnight trips, etc. If your going to buy one, though, have it surveyed. Even a relatively simple, uncomplicated boat can have lots of hidden problems, especially as it ages. The oldest 27s can sometimes be had for only a few thousand $, while newer ones cost $20,000 plus. Sometimes it's worth it to spend more for a boat that's in better shape. Either way, a surveyor will help you identify problems before you get involved. Try to talk to some owners of 27s in your area. Better yet, see if you can sail with them a couple of times to get a feel for the boat. Good luck, and I'm sure you'll enjoy being a C-27 owner. Randy
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Ken Killian
A bigger Boat
Why would somebody be selling a Catalina 27 or any boat that they like? Why else. How many boaters have you met that were not always thinking of a bigger boat. I have moved up three times and loved every boat that I have had. I now own a Catalina 34
Why would somebody be selling a Catalina 27 or any boat that they like? Why else. How many boaters have you met that were not always thinking of a bigger boat. I have moved up three times and loved every boat that I have had. I now own a Catalina 34
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pass@fcgnetworks.net
Boating is a sickness
Jeff, I owned a lancer 25 which was a fast and stable boat but lacked the head and storage room. It had wheel steering and many features only found on a larger boat. I sold it and bought the catalina 27. My boat is a 1974. The six foot head room is great and it has so much storage. I wish it had wheel steering because the tiller is ackward. The hull was in excellent shape along with the interior. I purchased the boat off an elderly gentleman in Florida and had it shipped up by truck to NH. That cost me $1600 dollars but since I only paid $6,700 for the boat I thought it was a steel. My boat has an outboard johnson 15hp long shaft. It's nice because where the inboard would go is now a huge storage room. catalina's are a nice boat. If you shop around and not buy on impulse you can find a nice boat for cheap money. I plan on installing the wheel steering and a new rollerfurling. That will cost about 3,500 dollars but the gear will be new. I also put in the 15hp Johnson and traded my Yamaha 6hp. I like a little extra power. If I were you I would buy one private sale. You will get a much better deal and won't have to pay the broker mark up. If you need to get the boat shipped I can give you the name of the guy I used he is real cheap and knows what he is doing and does an excellent job. Well shop around and remember you will probabley buy a bigger boat every two or three years because boating is a SICkNESS. See Ya, Joe Passanisi
Jeff, I owned a lancer 25 which was a fast and stable boat but lacked the head and storage room. It had wheel steering and many features only found on a larger boat. I sold it and bought the catalina 27. My boat is a 1974. The six foot head room is great and it has so much storage. I wish it had wheel steering because the tiller is ackward. The hull was in excellent shape along with the interior. I purchased the boat off an elderly gentleman in Florida and had it shipped up by truck to NH. That cost me $1600 dollars but since I only paid $6,700 for the boat I thought it was a steel. My boat has an outboard johnson 15hp long shaft. It's nice because where the inboard would go is now a huge storage room. catalina's are a nice boat. If you shop around and not buy on impulse you can find a nice boat for cheap money. I plan on installing the wheel steering and a new rollerfurling. That will cost about 3,500 dollars but the gear will be new. I also put in the 15hp Johnson and traded my Yamaha 6hp. I like a little extra power. If I were you I would buy one private sale. You will get a much better deal and won't have to pay the broker mark up. If you need to get the boat shipped I can give you the name of the guy I used he is real cheap and knows what he is doing and does an excellent job. Well shop around and remember you will probabley buy a bigger boat every two or three years because boating is a SICkNESS. See Ya, Joe Passanisi
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Bob Camarena
C-27
The Catalina 27 is, by far, the better choice as long as you don't need the trailerability of the C-25. The other postings are right on, except I disagree with Joe on wheel steering. The 27's responsiveness is one of it's strong points and a wheel would compromise it. Sure the tiller can get in the way with a full cockpit, but everything's a compromise. Aside from responsiveness the tiller can be lifted out of the way when at anchor or at the dock while the wheel just takes up space. My choice would also be an outboard instead of an inboard. They're faster under sail and cheaper to maintain and/or replace.
The Catalina 27 is, by far, the better choice as long as you don't need the trailerability of the C-25. The other postings are right on, except I disagree with Joe on wheel steering. The 27's responsiveness is one of it's strong points and a wheel would compromise it. Sure the tiller can get in the way with a full cockpit, but everything's a compromise. Aside from responsiveness the tiller can be lifted out of the way when at anchor or at the dock while the wheel just takes up space. My choice would also be an outboard instead of an inboard. They're faster under sail and cheaper to maintain and/or replace.
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Pat DiFelice
Catalina 27
I had a 1977 Catalina 27 and had no complaints, I put roller furling on and also did lots a cosmetics and preventative maintainance. It was my first boat and learned alot on it, even though I loved the boat, it was time to move on to bigger and better things a 1989 Catalina 30. You'll probably be doing the same thing after a few years. And Catalina is so easy to get factory parts for, and there customer service is great, if you do decide on the Catalina join the Catalina Club they have great tech support and owners inputs. Good luck
I had a 1977 Catalina 27 and had no complaints, I put roller furling on and also did lots a cosmetics and preventative maintainance. It was my first boat and learned alot on it, even though I loved the boat, it was time to move on to bigger and better things a 1989 Catalina 30. You'll probably be doing the same thing after a few years. And Catalina is so easy to get factory parts for, and there customer service is great, if you do decide on the Catalina join the Catalina Club they have great tech support and owners inputs. Good luck
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Dave
2 foot itis
We looked at both the 27 and the 25 after we sold our 22 - not becuase there was anything wrong with it but we just wanted something a little bigger-it's called 2 foot itis all boat owners get it eventually. We ended up getting a 25 in very good condition for a reasonable price. The biggest difference I found between the two was the headroom. The big difference was I could get the 25 for about half of the price of an older 27 which left me more money for other boat toys - another contagious boat owner disease. Dave
We looked at both the 27 and the 25 after we sold our 22 - not becuase there was anything wrong with it but we just wanted something a little bigger-it's called 2 foot itis all boat owners get it eventually. We ended up getting a 25 in very good condition for a reasonable price. The biggest difference I found between the two was the headroom. The big difference was I could get the 25 for about half of the price of an older 27 which left me more money for other boat toys - another contagious boat owner disease. Dave
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