After 6 years of sailing on a 1974 Catalina 27 we have sold her. We are a family of five and decided that it was time for a larger boat. We are definately set on buying a Catalina again and are debating on a 32 or 34 footer.(1990-1996 model). I would appreciate and comments, posititve or negative for either size boat. We live in the Great Lakes Region and do not have much inventory for either boat...and have only been aboard the 32 footer once. I'm leaning towards the 32 while my husband seems keen on the larger boat.. Might I add that my husband do enjoy Wednesday racing and I understand that the 32 would be a better choice should he choose to continue his club racing.
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One of the comparisons, in addition to the boat
are the supporting websites Try www.c34.org and this link to the FAQs: http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq.html There's also a daily Message Booard for questions and answers: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?board=11.0 Important to have a built in support group for a new-to-you boat. C34s also race, just came back from one this weeeknd. Added 3/19: There's this, too: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=190.0
are the supporting websites Try www.c34.org and this link to the FAQs: http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq.html There's also a daily Message Booard for questions and answers: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?board=11.0 Important to have a built in support group for a new-to-you boat. C34s also race, just came back from one this weeeknd. Added 3/19: There's this, too: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=190.0
We Had The Same Decision To Make
... and we decided on the C320. The main reason for us was that the C320 had more what I call face space in the aft berth. That is the space on the starboard side between your face and the underside of the cockpit seat. However, we had no kids to consider as regular occupants on our weekends at the boat. If we had then maybe we would have opted for the C34 as we felt the forward V berth is where the extra 2 feet is. We did have my wife's mother regularly and she found the V berth just fine and we also had couples on weekends a couple of times and it worked OK but more room would have been better. Either way you'll love which ever boat you pick. Happy sailing
... and we decided on the C320. The main reason for us was that the C320 had more what I call face space in the aft berth. That is the space on the starboard side between your face and the underside of the cockpit seat. However, we had no kids to consider as regular occupants on our weekends at the boat. If we had then maybe we would have opted for the C34 as we felt the forward V berth is where the extra 2 feet is. We did have my wife's mother regularly and she found the V berth just fine and we also had couples on weekends a couple of times and it worked OK but more room would have been better. Either way you'll love which ever boat you pick. Happy sailing
Which One??
C320 owners will tell you their's is best; C34 owner's will tell you their's is best. Check them both out and then decide, can't go wrong with either one.
C320 owners will tell you their's is best; C34 owner's will tell you their's is best. Check them both out and then decide, can't go wrong with either one.
We got the 320
Birgitta: We had been looking for 3 years trying to answer the question. We settled on the C320 over the C34. They are both fine boats with similar features. The C320 fit a cruising couple in that it offers everything the C34 has but in a slightly smaller foot print more appropriate for our current waters; the Ottawa River. Our club also has 3 C34s but as I sail alone or with spouse only (except for racing) the smaller foot print was important. As to the restricted inventory available...nonsense. My purchase closed on February 28th. I have not yet seen the boat, but it is scheduled to be delivered to Ottawa from Boyne City Michigan on April 03. The shipping cost is $850 CDN for my 2001 model. Try a search on Yacht World and you will find many to pick from in various ages. My favourite was a 2004 fresh water only example in Willsboro NY with only one year's use, 87 hours on the motor and inmast furling. I had to pass on it for as a non co-brokerage boat I found I could not complete the purchase by the February 28th deadline for being on the local club waiting list for a 2007 slip. It was important to me that what ever C320 I got needed to be a fresh water only boat. If you have questions, e-mail to brian.amirault@pwgsc.gc.ca and I will get back to you on what I have learned about cross border shopping and the history of some of the boats available. Brian
Birgitta: We had been looking for 3 years trying to answer the question. We settled on the C320 over the C34. They are both fine boats with similar features. The C320 fit a cruising couple in that it offers everything the C34 has but in a slightly smaller foot print more appropriate for our current waters; the Ottawa River. Our club also has 3 C34s but as I sail alone or with spouse only (except for racing) the smaller foot print was important. As to the restricted inventory available...nonsense. My purchase closed on February 28th. I have not yet seen the boat, but it is scheduled to be delivered to Ottawa from Boyne City Michigan on April 03. The shipping cost is $850 CDN for my 2001 model. Try a search on Yacht World and you will find many to pick from in various ages. My favourite was a 2004 fresh water only example in Willsboro NY with only one year's use, 87 hours on the motor and inmast furling. I had to pass on it for as a non co-brokerage boat I found I could not complete the purchase by the February 28th deadline for being on the local club waiting list for a 2007 slip. It was important to me that what ever C320 I got needed to be a fresh water only boat. If you have questions, e-mail to brian.amirault@pwgsc.gc.ca and I will get back to you on what I have learned about cross border shopping and the history of some of the boats available. Brian
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