My friend is considering a used Catalina 34. Cruising, mostly, and maybe an occasional club race. He "heard" that the 34 doesn't sail as well as the other Catalina models. Any opinions on this?
Catalina 34 Sailing
- Thread starter FredB
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Not true to a significant degree - Similar boats 320, 34, 36. Yes, the 36 is faster. Some folks feel the 320 will sail a bit faster upwind than a 34, but I get spit out the back boat for boat with a 34. It's more equipment, sail condition, and skill related than boat design. For a cruiser, he won't see a significant difference. If he races a lot, the 34 group has more owners available to share information and fix any GAPs in his performance. There are more 34s, they have been in production longer, and there are older and less expensive boats available. The money he saves on purchase can buy him a folding prop, new sails, and a smooth bottom, which all will make the 34 sail to it's potential. The 34 has a larger v-berth, the 320 has a better galley and head, and the 36 is just a bigger boat. The 34 has a bit more sheer and a stiffer/heavier rig than the 320. All of the fin keel boats outsail the shoal draft versions. YMMV
You might be interested in the tons of information on our C34 website:
Like these ---
http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq.html
http://c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html
We know a lot about these boats. They sail well, we even have our own one design fleet here on San Francisco Bay. In So. Cal they sail PHRF and do well. Great sailing boats.
The 320 is a completely different boat, not only down below, but sailing. Doesn't matter which points higher or is faster, since many C320 skippers don't race, least what I hear, Maybe I'm way wrong. But we don't race each other here, and I don't see any racing here.
The C320, C34 and C36 Associations have great websites. If it has happened on their boats, they've captured it so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
Tell your friend!
Like these ---
http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq.html
http://c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html
We know a lot about these boats. They sail well, we even have our own one design fleet here on San Francisco Bay. In So. Cal they sail PHRF and do well. Great sailing boats.
The 320 is a completely different boat, not only down below, but sailing. Doesn't matter which points higher or is faster, since many C320 skippers don't race, least what I hear, Maybe I'm way wrong. But we don't race each other here, and I don't see any racing here.
The C320, C34 and C36 Associations have great websites. If it has happened on their boats, they've captured it so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
Tell your friend!
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