Hello,
I am looking at buying a 1985 Catalina 30 tall rig. I have had my heart set on a full fin keel as I like to do some racing, but I recently found and made an offer on a shoal draft model. It is in much better condition than most fin keels I've looked at. With the boat market what it is, I decided to make an offer and he accepted. He attested to the boats performance saying that he never seemed to think that it had any major disadvantage over fin keels. At least not enough to worry about. But he did not race it.
I know the first question is, what am I going to use the boat for. I'd say, 60/40 maybe 70/30 cruising to racing. I like to do a few long distance cruising type races a year. I am in the Baltimore area of the chesapeake. I guess my main question is, if I enter a race, do I even have a chance at competing/winning in a tall rig shoal draft? Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the performance difference? I know the fin keel is better windward, but is it reflected in the PHRF or ORR ratings? I really enjoy racing, but I would not even bother if it will never even stand a chance.
Thank you for any advice.
Ryan
I am looking at buying a 1985 Catalina 30 tall rig. I have had my heart set on a full fin keel as I like to do some racing, but I recently found and made an offer on a shoal draft model. It is in much better condition than most fin keels I've looked at. With the boat market what it is, I decided to make an offer and he accepted. He attested to the boats performance saying that he never seemed to think that it had any major disadvantage over fin keels. At least not enough to worry about. But he did not race it.
I know the first question is, what am I going to use the boat for. I'd say, 60/40 maybe 70/30 cruising to racing. I like to do a few long distance cruising type races a year. I am in the Baltimore area of the chesapeake. I guess my main question is, if I enter a race, do I even have a chance at competing/winning in a tall rig shoal draft? Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the performance difference? I know the fin keel is better windward, but is it reflected in the PHRF or ORR ratings? I really enjoy racing, but I would not even bother if it will never even stand a chance.
Thank you for any advice.
Ryan