Walked the dock on a gray Saturday morning and stumbled upon this new Catalina 309 - hull #20. Suprised how much it reminds me of my C350 - has a lot of the same parts in the same layout. Wide, open stern. Has a Yanmar engine instead of the Universal. This one has a roller main. Wasn't able to go below. I'll post another thread with one other picture. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Catalina 309
- Thread starter Tim C350 April IV
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C309
I think we've come to the conclusion that the C309 is the C310 hull with a more traditional interior layout (head forward to port, smaller v berth, smaller aft cabin, and a maybe-smaller galley in aft port corner). Also has some minor deck detail differences. I believe the furling mainsail is the standard configuration on this model. The mast is two feet taller (my guess is to offset the reduced roach of the furling main) and is a slight fractional rig. Its sail area is rated at about 28 more sq. ft., but roach area, which the std. C310 has more of, is not included in rated area calculations. So I have to wonder what the actual sail area increase would be? The C309/C310 are not unlike the overall design of the C350 as far as hull shape goes (or any of the later Cxxx boats). I still haven't exactly figured out why they came out with this version. They obviously think there is a market for it. Some people have speculated it's so they could offer a cheaper boat (No std. windlass, only one Std. halyard winch, smaller fridge, I think the ovens missing too!), but from the price the local dealer is asking, it doesn’t seem cheap to me. My guess is they have reduced the size of the head, bed and galley of the C310 to add space back to the main below decks seating area, to make it more of a family boat. The C310 was marketed as a “couple’s” boat with more space allocated to the head, bed, and galley than you usually find in this size. I have not seen inside a C309 to test my theory, but ays.com has some pretty good pictures on their page. I know the C310 has a much more open layout in comparison. The C309 is more compartmentalized, with both the forward and aft berth considerably smaller (but more private?). BTW- that aft cabin’s got to be a little dark, with only the underseat cockpit hatch, and the one portlight in the trunk to allow light in. I don’t know why they don’t include the portlight in the aft side of the hull like they used to do in the C310. I guess only Catalina knows for sure. PS. I just noticed that the main shrouds are anchored by tie rods to the hull liner. With the C310, chain plates are bolted directly to the main bulkheads and through the fiberglass liner. I noticed a few other things as well, but I’m getting tired of typing
I think we've come to the conclusion that the C309 is the C310 hull with a more traditional interior layout (head forward to port, smaller v berth, smaller aft cabin, and a maybe-smaller galley in aft port corner). Also has some minor deck detail differences. I believe the furling mainsail is the standard configuration on this model. The mast is two feet taller (my guess is to offset the reduced roach of the furling main) and is a slight fractional rig. Its sail area is rated at about 28 more sq. ft., but roach area, which the std. C310 has more of, is not included in rated area calculations. So I have to wonder what the actual sail area increase would be? The C309/C310 are not unlike the overall design of the C350 as far as hull shape goes (or any of the later Cxxx boats). I still haven't exactly figured out why they came out with this version. They obviously think there is a market for it. Some people have speculated it's so they could offer a cheaper boat (No std. windlass, only one Std. halyard winch, smaller fridge, I think the ovens missing too!), but from the price the local dealer is asking, it doesn’t seem cheap to me. My guess is they have reduced the size of the head, bed and galley of the C310 to add space back to the main below decks seating area, to make it more of a family boat. The C310 was marketed as a “couple’s” boat with more space allocated to the head, bed, and galley than you usually find in this size. I have not seen inside a C309 to test my theory, but ays.com has some pretty good pictures on their page. I know the C310 has a much more open layout in comparison. The C309 is more compartmentalized, with both the forward and aft berth considerably smaller (but more private?). BTW- that aft cabin’s got to be a little dark, with only the underseat cockpit hatch, and the one portlight in the trunk to allow light in. I don’t know why they don’t include the portlight in the aft side of the hull like they used to do in the C310. I guess only Catalina knows for sure. PS. I just noticed that the main shrouds are anchored by tie rods to the hull liner. With the C310, chain plates are bolted directly to the main bulkheads and through the fiberglass liner. I noticed a few other things as well, but I’m getting tired of typing
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