I am looking at a 1986 Catalina 30 and the only turn off is that I've heard that the Cat. 30 does not do well in light airs and then develops a heavy weather helm when the wind gets much above 15 knots and requires early reefing. Anyone want to comment. I live in Destin which has mostly 10-15 knots but everyone says the wind dies later in the summer. I just want a boat that sails well in a range of conditions including limited off shore (panhandle to the Keys maybe). I'm also considering an Islander which from all accounts is a great sailing boat with a good turn of speed and goes to weather like nothing else. How well does the 3'11" draft Cat 30 go to WX? Feel free to e-mail me at drak130@aol.com. Any comments would be appreciated. Tim
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Hayden Watson
I love my C30
I have an ‘88 tall rig / bow sprit C30. I have had no problems with weather helm. I did some tuning when I first commissioned the boat until I got the handling the way I wanted it. I do reef fairly early (15 - 20), but the tall rig has almost as much sail area with 1 reef and full genny as a standard rig with full sails. I can put in a reef in less than a minute so that’s no problem. I have been very happy with the performance. Last weekend I was sailing at a close reach(15 knots. 50 deg. apparent) and was hit with a gust of about 25 with a 30 degree lift. That put me in a broad reach with the sails WAY TOO TIGHT. I didn’t remember to look at the inclinometer but someone said something about washing the cabin windows. The boat handled the excessive heel angle very politely and was easily steered up into the gust. The action of the boat was surprisingly gentle (of course everyone below was dodging the decor.) All in all it was no big deal. It didn’t even scare my 7 yr. old daughter or my 14 yr. old niece who had been afraid of sailing several years ago. Hayden Watson 1988 C30 tr/bs Papillon Spokane, WA
I have an ‘88 tall rig / bow sprit C30. I have had no problems with weather helm. I did some tuning when I first commissioned the boat until I got the handling the way I wanted it. I do reef fairly early (15 - 20), but the tall rig has almost as much sail area with 1 reef and full genny as a standard rig with full sails. I can put in a reef in less than a minute so that’s no problem. I have been very happy with the performance. Last weekend I was sailing at a close reach(15 knots. 50 deg. apparent) and was hit with a gust of about 25 with a 30 degree lift. That put me in a broad reach with the sails WAY TOO TIGHT. I didn’t remember to look at the inclinometer but someone said something about washing the cabin windows. The boat handled the excessive heel angle very politely and was easily steered up into the gust. The action of the boat was surprisingly gentle (of course everyone below was dodging the decor.) All in all it was no big deal. It didn’t even scare my 7 yr. old daughter or my 14 yr. old niece who had been afraid of sailing several years ago. Hayden Watson 1988 C30 tr/bs Papillon Spokane, WA
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h.banick
Dollar 4 Dollar
If they din't sail well Catalina would not have been around long and made as many boat as they have. Like rabbits, they have good speed & pop up everywhere you go. One very BIG club of fellow boat owners.
If they din't sail well Catalina would not have been around long and made as many boat as they have. Like rabbits, they have good speed & pop up everywhere you go. One very BIG club of fellow boat owners.
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Dick Keenan
We also loved our C-30
Tim, I started with a sunfish, then a Lido 14; in 1981 we bought a new C-30 and later sold it for a new C-36. All standard (not tall) rigs). I've crewed on several other big boats but never an Islander. I loved our C-30. It points like a bird dog and was easy to handle. The C-36 is of course faster, except downwind, where it successfully impersonates a turtle. The 30 is a better downwinder. Time has passed, but my recollection is that the only significant issues I had with the 30 were that the Universal Diesel was salt-water cooled, and the head/shower drained to the bilge rather than directly overboard. Otherwise, if I ever get into a situation where a 30-foot boat is what I should have, a new C-30 is the one for me. I know people who are less than satisfied with the workmanship on some of the earlier Catalinas, but that's on all their boats and is not an indictment of the 30's sailing ability. There are literally hundreds of C-30s here on S.F. Bay, where sailing is sometimes a bit of a test. I have never heard a major complaint.
Tim, I started with a sunfish, then a Lido 14; in 1981 we bought a new C-30 and later sold it for a new C-36. All standard (not tall) rigs). I've crewed on several other big boats but never an Islander. I loved our C-30. It points like a bird dog and was easy to handle. The C-36 is of course faster, except downwind, where it successfully impersonates a turtle. The 30 is a better downwinder. Time has passed, but my recollection is that the only significant issues I had with the 30 were that the Universal Diesel was salt-water cooled, and the head/shower drained to the bilge rather than directly overboard. Otherwise, if I ever get into a situation where a 30-foot boat is what I should have, a new C-30 is the one for me. I know people who are less than satisfied with the workmanship on some of the earlier Catalinas, but that's on all their boats and is not an indictment of the 30's sailing ability. There are literally hundreds of C-30s here on S.F. Bay, where sailing is sometimes a bit of a test. I have never heard a major complaint.
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Chuck Collins
wing or fin keel ?
Greetings, I think the main question to answer is which keel are you looking at. I think that a tall rig, with a wing keel is not the best combo. With wind much over 15, you'll want to reef. I've driven both and if you have enough water under you ( about 5'3" ) go for the Cat 30 w/ fin keel and tall rig. I'd spend some time talking with sailors in your area about sails- racing vs.crusing and talk with folks at a couple of local sail lofts about their recommendations. In someone elses reply, they said, more or less, there are lots of Cat 30's out there and there's a good reason why. A lot of boat for the money and if properly oufitted, is a blast to sail.
Greetings, I think the main question to answer is which keel are you looking at. I think that a tall rig, with a wing keel is not the best combo. With wind much over 15, you'll want to reef. I've driven both and if you have enough water under you ( about 5'3" ) go for the Cat 30 w/ fin keel and tall rig. I'd spend some time talking with sailors in your area about sails- racing vs.crusing and talk with folks at a couple of local sail lofts about their recommendations. In someone elses reply, they said, more or less, there are lots of Cat 30's out there and there's a good reason why. A lot of boat for the money and if properly oufitted, is a blast to sail.
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LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
Try sailing some
I would guess that there is a multitude of C30s that you could hop a ride on and pick the owner's brain. My guy Rob had an 87 C30 and it really was a great boat. TONS of room inside and sailed like a champ. The thing could turn on a dime and had a pretty decent time going to weather. He always reefed early which really balanced the boat out and was a snap to do. I'm not saying you *should* buy a C30 - you need to buy the boat that calls to you and makes you feel all fuzzy inside - but you wouldn't be going *wrong* if you did! Good luck and let us know what you decide. LaDonna
I would guess that there is a multitude of C30s that you could hop a ride on and pick the owner's brain. My guy Rob had an 87 C30 and it really was a great boat. TONS of room inside and sailed like a champ. The thing could turn on a dime and had a pretty decent time going to weather. He always reefed early which really balanced the boat out and was a snap to do. I'm not saying you *should* buy a C30 - you need to buy the boat that calls to you and makes you feel all fuzzy inside - but you wouldn't be going *wrong* if you did! Good luck and let us know what you decide. LaDonna
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Chuck Graser
C-30 sailing qualities
We sail our C-30 in SF Bay where the summer wind usually varies between 15-25 knots. It doesn't take long to realize that you can reef or furl the boat so that it will self-steer. In light air, you can always use a larger head sail. Most sailors learn that you just keep the boat healing at no more then 15 degrees for good speed and handling.
We sail our C-30 in SF Bay where the summer wind usually varies between 15-25 knots. It doesn't take long to realize that you can reef or furl the boat so that it will self-steer. In light air, you can always use a larger head sail. Most sailors learn that you just keep the boat healing at no more then 15 degrees for good speed and handling.
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