Catalina 36 1989 aft cabin and more

[kate dexter]

Going to look at a 1989 Catalina 36 to purchase. What can you tell me about the aft cabin? The little curtain is hideous -- did anyone modify this in a more attractive way. How does it work out, with the less than adequate headroom? Presently have a Pearson 33 - looking for a bit more room in the same price range -can stand in the aft cabin, but it really only sleeps one.Those of you that have an older 36 - love it? like it? hate it? Any standard foibles or concerns? My husband is a surveyor, however has never done an older 36. Any particular structural concerns to look for? Areas of deck/hull prone to excessive moisture, leaks?Any nifty modifications to add to cruising comfort/looks etc. Is there adequate storage for a 3 week cruise?Any help and/or suggestions would be most appreciated! Kate

 

[Trevor - SailboatOwners.com]

Catalina 36

Hi Kate -You'll find almost unanimous rave reviews of both the older and newer Catalina 36 boats. I owned a 1986 model that excelled in both sailing characteristics and comfort - she really beat my expectations on both fronts. Like all "production" boats, you'll have to watch for movement in bulkheads, chainplate leaks, deck voids, blisters etc. That being said, there are a ton of owners out there for support and likewise a ton of accessories and owner modifications to glean info from. If I didn't have long term plans for extended voyaging, I'd still have my Catalina 36 - she is a great boat by all accounts.I'm sure you'll here more...Best,Trevor

 

[Dennis Thomas]

Rotten mast block

I own one of the first, (hull #34) from 1983. My wife and I love it. We haven’t been able to do some of the projects that we have planned. But we are going to have the boat for a long time. The previous owner did have one problem and I have heard that the same problem has occurred in other older boats. The mast is stepped on the cabin sole, not the keel. There is a wooden block beneath the floor that fills the bilge space down to the keel. It’s a kind of short compression post. Being in the damp of the bilge the block deteriorated and began to collapse. This caused the bulkhead to begin to separate from the headliner and caused the door to the head to be miss-aligned. He said that the original block had raw wood exposed. He replaced it with new wood completely sealed in epoxy resin. He had to cut away some of the fiberglass liner to get to the area and jack it back up to the right height. Those cuts are hidden beneath the wood flooring.I’m not sure about the 89 model but older models require a wiring harness upgrade from Catalina. I believe most owners have already done this.You should go to the Catalina 36 International Association web site for lots of upgrades and ideas.S/V Anodyne