Catalina 34 vs 36?

[jimm22n]

Hi Everyone,
I’m Jim and I love to sail. I learned to sail in small day sailors; 420, Laser, and 14-17’ day sailors in Norfolk VA in the early nineties. I’ve had an FJ-14’, two fixer uppers Catalina 22 & 27 neither of which did I actually sail, and a very nice Catalina 25. Now I have a nice fiancée in my life and she wants, you guessed it, a sailboat!
Our goal will be hanging out at the marina on the weekends and some local sails. We are in Corpus Christi TX. She and I hope to do “The Great Loop” in aprox 7 years when we both retire. I’m 6’3” and we want something big enough to be comfortable but easily controllable. We’d also like an aft cabin, walk-thru transom, and a wing keel for the loop should we actually go.
My questions are what are the differences between and merits vs. negatives of the 34’ vs. 36’ models?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jim, very simple: the layout down below. Essentially and statistically, they are almost identical boats. They both have great owners associations and information.

The 34 has an aft head and a HUGE V berth. Some folks like the saloon better on the C36.

You simply can't go wrong.

 

[SawyerCurt]

"We’d also like a...walk-thru transom....".

Did the C34s ever have a walk-through transom? Maybe the very, very late models? Stu would know. I know that I had a 1988 C34 and it did not. I have a C310 now and love, love, love the walk-through. It gives the kids a place to sit and dangle their feet in the water and makes swimming off the boat so much easier.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Of course the C34s have walk through transoms, not all of them.

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Evolution_of_the_Catalina_34

1,800 hulls built. 1994 when the walk throughs started were about hull #1100 or so, then the Mark IIs.

 

[Meriachee]

Stu,
I think I prefer the cabin seating in the 320. We've looked at the 355 at the show a couple of times, and the two seats along one side just doesn't do it for us.
You're right though, the walk through - fall off transom is the best deal going, particularly when you're on a mooring and trying to get a load of crap out of a tiny little dinghy and there's stupid wake boaders creating huge wake and using the anchorage as an obstacle course. (But there is no issue there. Honest)
Cheers
Gary

 

[Stu Jackson]

The 36 has the double seating, the C34 does not, just a straight settee.

 

[jimm22n]

I had not considered the Catalina 34’ or 36’ since I was sure the Hunter 34’-37’ would be my boat because it has my 6’3” headroom. The problem is the Hunter seems to be of “lesser quality” than the Catalina. I’ll be here reading up on what info is available. I’m fond of Catalina simply because they seem to be the all around better boat. Thanks and I’ll be reading and learning.

 

[IainB]

My issue with the hunters is the lack of a back stay, YES I know the physics say it is safe, but the tuning of the mast is more complicated and just for my own piece of mind I like to have that back stay in place. Though at times with some the Catalina v Hunter thing is akin to the Chevy v Ford issue. Go sit in each of the boats and see which is more appealing to you and your fiancee below decks. I have always preferred the Catalina line. Another to consider IF you can find one is the Sirius 28, I say this as the designer was 6'3" and made sure the boat has head room for him and all berths were 6'3" long.

 

[jrowan]

Even the C-30 has 6 ft. 3" headroom, but I think that you really have to go to some yacht dealers & check out each boat & how they vary from year to year. The older models will always be cheaper, but usually don't have a walk through transom till the mid 90's time frame. I think that 80's era Hunter's do have some quality control issues, but then again so do Catalina's. I don't know why Catalina's are seen as better quality built, when they have so many issues with the Catalina smile, core rot under the keel bolts, compression post rot, 70's era chain plate & keel stud failure, etc.
When we looked at the more modern Hunter's built in the 90's era, their finish quality & construction is good, & is more innovative then Catalina. They do take more risks, such as the B & R rig, but a back stay can really get in the way, & the traveler arch is truly an innovative design. We walked through a newer Hunter 36 with a beautiful cabin layout, a real shower stall with cylindrical glass, even a wine fridge, etc. & it was no slouch. Hunter also installs Yanmar engines, which I feel are superior in every way to the Universal.
But what do we sail? A Catalina 30 which is the best bang for the buck you can buy. Cheers.

 

[Solstice]

Stu,
I think I prefer the cabin seating in the 320. We've looked at the 355 at the show a couple of times, and the two seats along one side just doesn't do it for us.
You're right though, the walk through - fall off transom is the best deal going, particularly when you're on a mooring and trying to get a load of crap out of a tiny little dinghy and there's stupid wake boaders creating huge wake and using the anchorage as an obstacle course. (But there is no issue there. Honest)
Cheers
Gary

Gary,
Those two seats along the port side convert to a straight settee on the 355, which allows for a lot of flexiblility. We typically only use the 2 seat setup when we are entertaining down below. I also owned a 320 and the settees are pretty much the same as far as length, depth etc.