I currently have a better than avarage MK II, with extended fuel , water, electronics, and com gear. I plan on sailing up and down mexico and sea of Cortez This is all costal in nature Catalina has an " official " position that the boats are for costal use only. I presume that this is because of their weight and the heavy weather that may be encountered offshore. I'd like to hear from other 38-42 folks that have done passages or cruise stuff What has your experience been...Where did you sail..how did you equip ? Any comments ,opinions and advice are sought, pro or con. Dan Smith Reunion (hull 533) E-mail: dsmith5@mindspring.com
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LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
Not a big boat owner but
I do have an opinion. I think the C42 is fine for cruising to Mexico as long as you are very careful about picking your weather windows. I've cruised Mexico & Chubascos can come up fairly quickly and can cause extensive damage (remember the Cabo San Lucas disasters of the 80s?). Now that they're fairly inexpensive (they were prohibitive when I cruised), I've heard watermakers are a must. There are, for all intents & purposes, no facilities to easily fill your water tanks. You have to jerry jug water back & forth from shore to the boat. It's a horrible thing to do on a nice day, believe me! Watermakers not only make that unneccesary but you can feel free to use as much water as you want since you basically have an unlimited supply (you're only limited by how much the thing makes). Sounds like you probably already have radar, which is also a good thing to have cruising. The only "problem" you might encounter is the boat possibly hobby horsing at anchor, compared to heavier bluewater boats. Don't expect to find marinas in every port! As a matter of fact, most spots in Baja don't have marinas. Besides, it's a lot more fun to go exploring where the crowds ain't! Have fun! LaDonna
I do have an opinion. I think the C42 is fine for cruising to Mexico as long as you are very careful about picking your weather windows. I've cruised Mexico & Chubascos can come up fairly quickly and can cause extensive damage (remember the Cabo San Lucas disasters of the 80s?). Now that they're fairly inexpensive (they were prohibitive when I cruised), I've heard watermakers are a must. There are, for all intents & purposes, no facilities to easily fill your water tanks. You have to jerry jug water back & forth from shore to the boat. It's a horrible thing to do on a nice day, believe me! Watermakers not only make that unneccesary but you can feel free to use as much water as you want since you basically have an unlimited supply (you're only limited by how much the thing makes). Sounds like you probably already have radar, which is also a good thing to have cruising. The only "problem" you might encounter is the boat possibly hobby horsing at anchor, compared to heavier bluewater boats. Don't expect to find marinas in every port! As a matter of fact, most spots in Baja don't have marinas. Besides, it's a lot more fun to go exploring where the crowds ain't! Have fun! LaDonna
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M Kolbenschlag
42s go the distance
If you plan to cruise a 42 to Mexico you should be following the travels of Moonspun at the following URL:www.moonspun.com/november99.html
If you plan to cruise a 42 to Mexico you should be following the travels of Moonspun at the following URL:www.moonspun.com/november99.html
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Michael Yorke
C42 is cruise capable!
I have a C42 Mk II, hull number 573. In answer to your question, I believe the the C42 is very "cruise capable". It is a strongly built boat, albeit not an Alden or Hinckley, and a number of them have been on extended passages. At last year's Atlantic City Sail Expo Catalina featured an exhibit showing the various blue water passages of a number of Catalina boats. With regard to the specific cruising ground that you mentioned, an earlier reply referred to C42 "Moonspun". He is doing exactly the cruising that you indicate. His website is good. You will see what he did to the boat. From a personal experience standpoint, I have cruised my C42 Mk II to Bermuda and back and I was very impressed with its sea-keeping qualities. I did make some modifications, including adding an inner forestay/running backstays to carry a staysail, bolts on the companionway washboards, secured the anchor locker,proper safety and communications equipment, etc. I actually talked with Gerry Douglas of Catalina about the kind of modifications one would make for offshore sailing, and they are pretty much the list above. Basically I equipped my boat in accordance with the offshore racing regulations. The disadvantages of the C42 for extended cruising includes the limited fuel storage. I would be most interested to learn about your increased fuel capacity. What did you do? Did you give up water tanks? Did you add additional tanks? Jim Goodrich of Moonspun took his fuel capacity up to around 170-180 gallons, but added tanks under the cabin sole where, on the Mk II's, water tanks are installed. I'd also be very interested to learn what other extended capabilities you have on #533. Best of luck with your cruising plans. I'm envious!!! Hope this helps, and many thanks Michael Yorke C42 Mk II, #573, Certa Cito Port Washington, Long Island, New York
I have a C42 Mk II, hull number 573. In answer to your question, I believe the the C42 is very "cruise capable". It is a strongly built boat, albeit not an Alden or Hinckley, and a number of them have been on extended passages. At last year's Atlantic City Sail Expo Catalina featured an exhibit showing the various blue water passages of a number of Catalina boats. With regard to the specific cruising ground that you mentioned, an earlier reply referred to C42 "Moonspun". He is doing exactly the cruising that you indicate. His website is good. You will see what he did to the boat. From a personal experience standpoint, I have cruised my C42 Mk II to Bermuda and back and I was very impressed with its sea-keeping qualities. I did make some modifications, including adding an inner forestay/running backstays to carry a staysail, bolts on the companionway washboards, secured the anchor locker,proper safety and communications equipment, etc. I actually talked with Gerry Douglas of Catalina about the kind of modifications one would make for offshore sailing, and they are pretty much the list above. Basically I equipped my boat in accordance with the offshore racing regulations. The disadvantages of the C42 for extended cruising includes the limited fuel storage. I would be most interested to learn about your increased fuel capacity. What did you do? Did you give up water tanks? Did you add additional tanks? Jim Goodrich of Moonspun took his fuel capacity up to around 170-180 gallons, but added tanks under the cabin sole where, on the Mk II's, water tanks are installed. I'd also be very interested to learn what other extended capabilities you have on #533. Best of luck with your cruising plans. I'm envious!!! Hope this helps, and many thanks Michael Yorke C42 Mk II, #573, Certa Cito Port Washington, Long Island, New York
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John Daley
Across the world
We first came across " Catalina" sailing with good friends of ours on their 42 in Greece. They had sailed theirs around the Mediterranean for four years and last year sailed it back across the Atlantic and the Pacific home to New Zealand. Getting down to New Zealand can be a bit treacherous at times but they had a well found boat, a small watermaker, and they are very competent and they had no reported problems at all. We were so impressed with their boat that we ordered a 34 Mkll for ourselves.
We first came across " Catalina" sailing with good friends of ours on their 42 in Greece. They had sailed theirs around the Mediterranean for four years and last year sailed it back across the Atlantic and the Pacific home to New Zealand. Getting down to New Zealand can be a bit treacherous at times but they had a well found boat, a small watermaker, and they are very competent and they had no reported problems at all. We were so impressed with their boat that we ordered a 34 Mkll for ourselves.
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Rick Lioio
Cruising Mexico on 42 MkII
I just returned from taking my 3 cabin C42 #704 down to Puerto Vallarta. We did a lot of coastal cruising and at least one "bluewater passage" from Cabo to Mazatlan across the Gulf. I was quite happy with the boat in moderate weather, 20 kts and 10' seas. I agree the limited fuel capacity is a problem, especially for me on the return trip. Water was not much of a problem if you are careful. A SSB is a must for keeping in touch and getting weather reports. I also found the chart plotter invaluable although charts of Banderas Bay are inaccurate. I'll let you know how the return trip to weather works out. Rick, "Dolfino"
I just returned from taking my 3 cabin C42 #704 down to Puerto Vallarta. We did a lot of coastal cruising and at least one "bluewater passage" from Cabo to Mazatlan across the Gulf. I was quite happy with the boat in moderate weather, 20 kts and 10' seas. I agree the limited fuel capacity is a problem, especially for me on the return trip. Water was not much of a problem if you are careful. A SSB is a must for keeping in touch and getting weather reports. I also found the chart plotter invaluable although charts of Banderas Bay are inaccurate. I'll let you know how the return trip to weather works out. Rick, "Dolfino"
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