Catalina 30 vs Hunter 31

[RENATO]

Hi,I am very new to sailing looking for advice for a 1st boat. My budget is $30k-$35k. I am comparing 89/90 H31 with 84/85 C30.I like the Hunter interior (my interest is more leisure than performane sailing). People tell me Catalina is bette investment for resale.I can predict that I will get Catalina bias from this forum but I would appreciate some objective info w/ it.Thank you,renato

 

[Bob Robeson]

Cat vs Hunter

I currently own a Hunter 34 and a Catalina 36.Boats a a very personal thing. When you first step on a baot and it fells right, that is the boat for you.Yes Cat will have a better resale, but a hunter bought at the right price can be just as good a value.The Cat may preform a touch better but it is not night a day difference..So my advise is to go aboard each boat, then buy the one that feels right. Good luckBob

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Which makes you happiest?

I stepped on a lot of different boats before chosing my baby. Literally, the first time I saw her, I fell in love, though I had seen several 70s C27s. No going back from there! Bob's advice is sound. I may prefer Catalinas but it really depends on which gives you that mushy feeling inside. Have fun!LaDonna

 

[Richard]

No question

I sail on San Francisco bay which has a large number of both catalinas and hunters. I learned at a US sailing association school on hunter 29.5s and bought a catalina. I just upgraded from my 27 to a 30, but still a catalina.Catalinas have more interior room, tend to be much more rugged, have better rigging, etc. Hunters do have a better interior, but that seems to be all. Several hunters have been dismasted in our every day winds of 20 to 30 knots out here including a hunter 45! For some reason the new hunters don't seem to have a back stay and are lighter than a catalina...My girlfriend recently took sailing lessons also on a hunter 28 and 29.5 and said they don't compare to the catalina at all! They don't even have travelers!  If you are just lake sailing in mild conditions I doubt it matters what you get. If you want to have something more rugged (not blue water ready) then go catalina.

 

[Daryl]

Since you asked

For that kind of money you could get a nicely equipped Hunter 34 which will outperform that Cat and have a better interior layout. (more headroom, better accomodations) If you go with the Catalina I suggest you go 1987 or newer since the factory barrier coat was available. Mid 80 Cat 30's are blister prone. You could get an '87-88 in that price rangeDaryl