I noticed that Catalina will be introducing the 315 at the Chicago Strictly Sail show the end of January. Anyone know anything about this boat? Another knock-off of the 310 in the 309 image? Why a 309 and a 315 and a 320 - seems rather crowded.
It is a bit disappointing. From my perspective, I would rather have my 310 every day of the week. A larger chart table would be nice, but other than that I really like the 310 layout so much better. A quick look at the specs and it is really a 309/310 size hull. Now if Catalina had taken the 320 hull (that I hear is fast) and put the 309 configuration/amenities on it upsized to fit the hull that may have been something to really get excited about. Just my $0.02:neutral:Nice boat, and don't get me wrong I'm really thinking hard on a 309, but the 315 just looks so much like a C30 MarkII layout. Am I missing anything? I mean, for a $116K I really expected something more like the C310 layout.
Look at the stats guys. Waterline length, beam and draft identical to the 310/309 so it looks more like a new deck moulding and internal changes than an all new hull. Looks to have the updated transom style of the 5 series and layout of the 309 updated to 5 series style, but I doubt that there is any fundamental difference in construction standard from the 310/309 which are pretty well made anyway. Details are now on the Catalina website.Based on information that I have been able to gather from the Houston Catalina dealer, Josh, the 315 is a significant step up in quality of construction from the 309. See the web link, http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=97489.
In my view the 5 series construction standards are long overdue improvements to the Catalina sailboats. Josh tells me the 315 looks a lot like the 309 from a size and accomodation plan but it is a new hull.