I am buying a used Catalina 310 and will be doing a sea trial soon. As this is a 2002 model are there specific things I should be looking for on the inspection and sea trial? Also, is there somewhere to get a soft or hard copy of the owners manual? Thanks Ray
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Owners Manual
Ray: The original owner should have the manual - it is about an inch thick and in a blue 3-ring binder. If you can't get your hands on the original contact Warren Pandy at the Catalina factory in Largo, Florida and ask him to send you one. He has been of great help to many owners. I think you will like the 310. Mine is an '01 model and this will be my 7th season. The boat is like new and we still love it. Road test the bed!!!
Ray: The original owner should have the manual - it is about an inch thick and in a blue 3-ring binder. If you can't get your hands on the original contact Warren Pandy at the Catalina factory in Largo, Florida and ask him to send you one. He has been of great help to many owners. I think you will like the 310. Mine is an '01 model and this will be my 7th season. The boat is like new and we still love it. Road test the bed!!!
Great Boat choice!
I don't know of any specific things to look for in a C310. Just check the things that you would on any boat. But, Some boats can have a vibration, actually a shake, in gear at idle, if the idle is set too low. Mine needs to have the Idle set to at least 1,000 rpm to avoid the shakes. Other boats may be different depending on what prop it has. Maybe look for signs of a coolant leak. Green water (water+antifreeze) in the pan under the engine. There have also been other things that come loose on the engine due to vibration. I had to replace my tempature sending unit on the engine. One of the electrical terminals broke off. I have heard reports of the brackets holding the heat exchanger cracking. Well maybe these boats aren't exactly perfect after all.
I don't know of any specific things to look for in a C310. Just check the things that you would on any boat. But, Some boats can have a vibration, actually a shake, in gear at idle, if the idle is set too low. Mine needs to have the Idle set to at least 1,000 rpm to avoid the shakes. Other boats may be different depending on what prop it has. Maybe look for signs of a coolant leak. Green water (water+antifreeze) in the pan under the engine. There have also been other things that come loose on the engine due to vibration. I had to replace my tempature sending unit on the engine. One of the electrical terminals broke off. I have heard reports of the brackets holding the heat exchanger cracking. Well maybe these boats aren't exactly perfect after all.
The 310 is a GREAT boat
Not perfect-but Great. Here is my review: 2004 Cataliana 310 Hull #282 Updated January 1st 2007 What I like Best about my 310: Design: Exterior: looks good. Not too modern, not too old. Graceful lines. Easy to walk around the stays to get forward. Great Cockpit: can accommodate more than a few friends. Easy to get around wheel and nice wide cockpit. You do not feel cramped and first timers don't feel like they are getting in the way. Swim ladder and swim platform are great touches as well as the Propane Locker being stashed back there along with an additional locker-great for swim fins/masks etc. Interior: Spacious, airy and bright. Easy to appreciate the galley area. Oven is Standard. Refer works excellent and holds plenty of stores. Extra dry storage area is fitted with drain so you can use as an ice box to add additional cold storage. Plenty of nooks and crannies to hold a wealth of items. I find the recessed area under the oven perfect for paper towels. Flatware Cabinet is awesome and a built in trash can under the sink! V berth is sooo comfortable. A real inner spring mattress-roomy-light and airy. Cedar lined hanging locker to starboard and storage and shelf unit to port. We installed our heat/ac unit in front of the water tank under the v berth. Only down side is makes the boat just a tad bow heavy and the stern deck area does not drain completely. Some lead pigs stern would fix that problem. Easy access to engine, tankage and other critical areas. 2 4D batteries provide plenty of power. Brand Names: Alder Barbour refer unit, Garhauer ridgid boom vang and traveler, Schafer Roller furling, Dutchman Flaking system (works great if adjusted Properly), Samsung Microwave, Maxwell windlass (standard). What I like least about my 310: Fit and finish. From gelcoat to woodwork. Not terrible, it just could have been better without costing Catalina ANY money. She is not very close winded, rounds easily (Need to reef any anything over 18kts for best performance). Need additional water and holding tankage. Not bad just a few gallons more would be nice. Nav station could have been better-seems like an after thought. She is not the fastest 31 footer around, but sails solidly even in heavy air if reefed down. Been out in 35-40 kts gusts and did not feel over whelmed. My Swim ladder is not square in its opening. I had a fixed port window separate from the bedding after only 2 years. Almost $500 to fix. I believe it has been coming on for some time as ever since the boat was 4 months old I had a very small leak that I could not find on the starboard side. Then one day during a heavy rain the port light separated from the bedding compound-no bedding was remaining on the port light-almost as if it had some grease on it from the factory that caused the bedding not to adhere to it, we'll see what Catalina says. Overall I really do like the 310. Fairwinds! On the Heat Exchanger Brackets-Universal replaced them for me for free. All i did was contact them and told them the problem, I did the labor myself-a pain in the a$$ but doable. E mail me with specific questions Kgezella@aol.com Fair winds Skipper Ken Hull #282 ps My website has a page of factory tour photos from Largo Fl where the boats are made-
Not perfect-but Great. Here is my review: 2004 Cataliana 310 Hull #282 Updated January 1st 2007 What I like Best about my 310: Design: Exterior: looks good. Not too modern, not too old. Graceful lines. Easy to walk around the stays to get forward. Great Cockpit: can accommodate more than a few friends. Easy to get around wheel and nice wide cockpit. You do not feel cramped and first timers don't feel like they are getting in the way. Swim ladder and swim platform are great touches as well as the Propane Locker being stashed back there along with an additional locker-great for swim fins/masks etc. Interior: Spacious, airy and bright. Easy to appreciate the galley area. Oven is Standard. Refer works excellent and holds plenty of stores. Extra dry storage area is fitted with drain so you can use as an ice box to add additional cold storage. Plenty of nooks and crannies to hold a wealth of items. I find the recessed area under the oven perfect for paper towels. Flatware Cabinet is awesome and a built in trash can under the sink! V berth is sooo comfortable. A real inner spring mattress-roomy-light and airy. Cedar lined hanging locker to starboard and storage and shelf unit to port. We installed our heat/ac unit in front of the water tank under the v berth. Only down side is makes the boat just a tad bow heavy and the stern deck area does not drain completely. Some lead pigs stern would fix that problem. Easy access to engine, tankage and other critical areas. 2 4D batteries provide plenty of power. Brand Names: Alder Barbour refer unit, Garhauer ridgid boom vang and traveler, Schafer Roller furling, Dutchman Flaking system (works great if adjusted Properly), Samsung Microwave, Maxwell windlass (standard). What I like least about my 310: Fit and finish. From gelcoat to woodwork. Not terrible, it just could have been better without costing Catalina ANY money. She is not very close winded, rounds easily (Need to reef any anything over 18kts for best performance). Need additional water and holding tankage. Not bad just a few gallons more would be nice. Nav station could have been better-seems like an after thought. She is not the fastest 31 footer around, but sails solidly even in heavy air if reefed down. Been out in 35-40 kts gusts and did not feel over whelmed. My Swim ladder is not square in its opening. I had a fixed port window separate from the bedding after only 2 years. Almost $500 to fix. I believe it has been coming on for some time as ever since the boat was 4 months old I had a very small leak that I could not find on the starboard side. Then one day during a heavy rain the port light separated from the bedding compound-no bedding was remaining on the port light-almost as if it had some grease on it from the factory that caused the bedding not to adhere to it, we'll see what Catalina says. Overall I really do like the 310. Fairwinds! On the Heat Exchanger Brackets-Universal replaced them for me for free. All i did was contact them and told them the problem, I did the labor myself-a pain in the a$$ but doable. E mail me with specific questions Kgezella@aol.com Fair winds Skipper Ken Hull #282 ps My website has a page of factory tour photos from Largo Fl where the boats are made-
sea trial
one presumes on a boat as new and costly as a 2002 310 - if it's not costly, beware - there's little you will find on a quick sail that a good survey will miss. if you are using this wonderful boat for what is was designed - a cruising couple with guests - enjoy and use the sea trial for what it is, a spin.
one presumes on a boat as new and costly as a 2002 310 - if it's not costly, beware - there's little you will find on a quick sail that a good survey will miss. if you are using this wonderful boat for what is was designed - a cruising couple with guests - enjoy and use the sea trial for what it is, a spin.
A 2002 should have all papers...
with it. I'd ask the previous owner where the manuals are? As for issues with these boats they don't have any that I have found and I'm very very picky just ask my BMW dealer. It's sad that in this day and age my car has had more issues than my boat! We own and are selling our 2005, need to pay for college, and have had zero issues. After owning over twenty boats in my life the 310 has been absolutely the most trouble free vessel we have ever owned. We really love the furling main and will really, really, really miss it!!!! If you want to dream over some 310 pictures while waiting to take delivery check out my 310 galleries here: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/acoustic
with it. I'd ask the previous owner where the manuals are? As for issues with these boats they don't have any that I have found and I'm very very picky just ask my BMW dealer. It's sad that in this day and age my car has had more issues than my boat! We own and are selling our 2005, need to pay for college, and have had zero issues. After owning over twenty boats in my life the 310 has been absolutely the most trouble free vessel we have ever owned. We really love the furling main and will really, really, really miss it!!!! If you want to dream over some 310 pictures while waiting to take delivery check out my 310 galleries here: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/acoustic
Thanks
All, Thanks for the input. I have asked for the manual, and the dealer contacted the owner who said they thought it was on the boat; but after looking around on the boat no manual. I agree with all of the comments about the 310 as I was hooked a few years ago when I first saw one at a boat show. I really felt at home in the cockpit. I have had a lot of time to go over the boat everywhere and check it out and except for some of the newer systems I have not used before (e.g. propane stove, AC electrical, inboard diesel) everything else is in excellent shape. I am taking a diesel maintenance class this weekend, and I have read through the diesel's manual (it is a Westerbeke 30BThree). I am just trying to be thorough with all the onboard stuff, like the proper sequence for turning things on and off. Ray
All, Thanks for the input. I have asked for the manual, and the dealer contacted the owner who said they thought it was on the boat; but after looking around on the boat no manual. I agree with all of the comments about the 310 as I was hooked a few years ago when I first saw one at a boat show. I really felt at home in the cockpit. I have had a lot of time to go over the boat everywhere and check it out and except for some of the newer systems I have not used before (e.g. propane stove, AC electrical, inboard diesel) everything else is in excellent shape. I am taking a diesel maintenance class this weekend, and I have read through the diesel's manual (it is a Westerbeke 30BThree). I am just trying to be thorough with all the onboard stuff, like the proper sequence for turning things on and off. Ray
Chafed fuel lines
Hello Ray, I purchased a 2002 - 310 last summer. One of the things I discovered on haul-out was that the supply line from the diesel tank has chafed on the edge of the heat exchanger and will be replaced. The cause was likely due to vibration. I am not sure if I read it in the engine manual but the diesel should not be idled below about 1000 RPM. Don't worry, you will have no doubt as to when you have put your throttle control too low. I do have a persistent small leak of coolant in the engine pan. I believe it may be the cap leaking. I have yet to observe the leak but will like put a pressure test on it this Spring. The battery guage on my panel has seized up, but I know that there is power to the system - I checked with a multimeter. During my survey, the survey commented that the trim on the doorway to the W.C. was cracked. There wasn't much to do on the boat. When I bought her, I arrived on a Saturday morning, I touched up the bottom paint, the previous owner rigged the sails. We launched that day, and I departed the following morning for the East Coast of Canada from Toronto. It is my intention to do a few upgrades this Spring before I launch again. I am going to fit a scanner for the colour Chartplotter/Scanner that was installed when I purchased the boat. Also, I am considering adding a starter battery and connecting the two existing batteries in parallel to increase my house capacity. I May install a small heater. I have not decided whether or not to go with a Webasto or Dickenson heater. If I go Dickenson, I will likely install it on the bulkhead forward on the starboard side above the settee. A folding wheel would be very nice, although the cockpit is huge. One issue that I have with my boat which may or may not apply to yours has to do with reefing the main. I do not have in-mast furling. My set up has the Dutchman furling system. At the spar, the mainsail comes down to the track stop which is a screw and washer just above the sail entrance on the aft side of the spar. Because the stop is about 12 inches above the boom, it is impossible in my present configuration to pull the tack and clew completely down to the boom. There are several options to correct this - you can install mastgates - some Catalina models aleady have them pre-fabricated or you can put jacklines on the luff of your mainsail to let it come down completely to the boom. I am not sure which method I will use. I am considering installing the Dutchman track system but have not determined if this will allow the slugs to come all the way to the boom (below the entranceway). Hopefully someone else can comment. All in all - after purchasing the boat, I sail/steamed her from Toronto Ontario to Halifax Nova Scotia - without a hitch. The boat is ideal for my spouse and I. I guess I should say that wherever I use the pronoun 'I'above I mean 'We.' I am the Captain in the family. My wife is the Master. REgards, Chris
Hello Ray, I purchased a 2002 - 310 last summer. One of the things I discovered on haul-out was that the supply line from the diesel tank has chafed on the edge of the heat exchanger and will be replaced. The cause was likely due to vibration. I am not sure if I read it in the engine manual but the diesel should not be idled below about 1000 RPM. Don't worry, you will have no doubt as to when you have put your throttle control too low. I do have a persistent small leak of coolant in the engine pan. I believe it may be the cap leaking. I have yet to observe the leak but will like put a pressure test on it this Spring. The battery guage on my panel has seized up, but I know that there is power to the system - I checked with a multimeter. During my survey, the survey commented that the trim on the doorway to the W.C. was cracked. There wasn't much to do on the boat. When I bought her, I arrived on a Saturday morning, I touched up the bottom paint, the previous owner rigged the sails. We launched that day, and I departed the following morning for the East Coast of Canada from Toronto. It is my intention to do a few upgrades this Spring before I launch again. I am going to fit a scanner for the colour Chartplotter/Scanner that was installed when I purchased the boat. Also, I am considering adding a starter battery and connecting the two existing batteries in parallel to increase my house capacity. I May install a small heater. I have not decided whether or not to go with a Webasto or Dickenson heater. If I go Dickenson, I will likely install it on the bulkhead forward on the starboard side above the settee. A folding wheel would be very nice, although the cockpit is huge. One issue that I have with my boat which may or may not apply to yours has to do with reefing the main. I do not have in-mast furling. My set up has the Dutchman furling system. At the spar, the mainsail comes down to the track stop which is a screw and washer just above the sail entrance on the aft side of the spar. Because the stop is about 12 inches above the boom, it is impossible in my present configuration to pull the tack and clew completely down to the boom. There are several options to correct this - you can install mastgates - some Catalina models aleady have them pre-fabricated or you can put jacklines on the luff of your mainsail to let it come down completely to the boom. I am not sure which method I will use. I am considering installing the Dutchman track system but have not determined if this will allow the slugs to come all the way to the boom (below the entranceway). Hopefully someone else can comment. All in all - after purchasing the boat, I sail/steamed her from Toronto Ontario to Halifax Nova Scotia - without a hitch. The boat is ideal for my spouse and I. I guess I should say that wherever I use the pronoun 'I'above I mean 'We.' I am the Captain in the family. My wife is the Master. REgards, Chris
C310 diesel...
Ray, I'm surpised that the diesel in the boat you're buying is a 'Westerbeke 30BThree'. My boat is a 2003 hull no. 211 and it has the Universal 25xpb. A frien of mine has a '02 C310 and his also has the Universal 25. I thought that all the 310's, with the exception of some of the earliest models, had the 25xpb.
Ray, I'm surpised that the diesel in the boat you're buying is a 'Westerbeke 30BThree'. My boat is a 2003 hull no. 211 and it has the Universal 25xpb. A frien of mine has a '02 C310 and his also has the Universal 25. I thought that all the 310's, with the exception of some of the earliest models, had the 25xpb.
Westerbeke on a Catalina 310
The engine is definitely a Westerbeke 30BThree. I also was surprised as I thought Yanmar and Universal were the two engines Catalina uses, but apparently they also use Westerbeke. Personally, I do not have a real preference, and Westerbeke apparently builds a good enginer. From Catalina's perspective, I guess, an engine is an engine; you just bolt it in an hook up the engine controls.
The engine is definitely a Westerbeke 30BThree. I also was surprised as I thought Yanmar and Universal were the two engines Catalina uses, but apparently they also use Westerbeke. Personally, I do not have a real preference, and Westerbeke apparently builds a good enginer. From Catalina's perspective, I guess, an engine is an engine; you just bolt it in an hook up the engine controls.
If Westerbeke...
If Westerbeke corp was out of stock with the M25 XPB's they may have shipped Catalina the 30B Three at the same price. For some reason the Westebekes are slightly more pricy than the Universal. There are most like a few more out there with the 30B Three too but most use the M25 XPB-C. Universal and Westerbeke are the same company but different engine base blocks. If I'm not mistake the 30B Three is a Mitsubishi block and the Universal is a Kubota..
If Westerbeke corp was out of stock with the M25 XPB's they may have shipped Catalina the 30B Three at the same price. For some reason the Westebekes are slightly more pricy than the Universal. There are most like a few more out there with the 30B Three too but most use the M25 XPB-C. Universal and Westerbeke are the same company but different engine base blocks. If I'm not mistake the 30B Three is a Mitsubishi block and the Universal is a Kubota..
Speaking of Westerbeke...
It's always a good idea to go on their website and stay up to date on service bulletins...last year I replaced the fuel filter bracket on my (2 year-old) M25XPB because it was listed in a service bulletin as possibly failing. Westerbeke shipped me the new part free of charge and I replaced with no problem.
It's always a good idea to go on their website and stay up to date on service bulletins...last year I replaced the fuel filter bracket on my (2 year-old) M25XPB because it was listed in a service bulletin as possibly failing. Westerbeke shipped me the new part free of charge and I replaced with no problem.
Westerbeke Service
I will say that when I contacted Westerbeke on their website and asked for information on the 30BThree they sent me an owners manual. The manual answered most of my questions about operation and maintenance. This is similar to the service I got from Catalina when I bought my Catalina 22 (my first boat) and asked them questions and they sent me the original build drawings. Makes you want to go back and do business with them again. Ray
I will say that when I contacted Westerbeke on their website and asked for information on the 30BThree they sent me an owners manual. The manual answered most of my questions about operation and maintenance. This is similar to the service I got from Catalina when I bought my Catalina 22 (my first boat) and asked them questions and they sent me the original build drawings. Makes you want to go back and do business with them again. Ray
Chafed Fuel Lines ... Mainsail reefing
Chris The "factory" sails came with the luff "jacklines" They are simple clean and almost foolproof. If you want pictures for your sailmaker, I can forward some... just email me at for.petes.sake@sympatico.ca. The dutchman has no impact on the sail slugs/mast gate. I installed a starting battery, but have not made a bank out of the other two as yet. I used a GlassMat spiral wound and laid her on her side behind the engine throughull in unused space there. I 5200'd a couple of wood blocks to the hull to secure it. I installed an ON-OFF from BlueSea just to stbd of the opening to access the engine through hull. Pete Sandford C310-147 For Petes Sake Oakville, ON
Chris The "factory" sails came with the luff "jacklines" They are simple clean and almost foolproof. If you want pictures for your sailmaker, I can forward some... just email me at for.petes.sake@sympatico.ca. The dutchman has no impact on the sail slugs/mast gate. I installed a starting battery, but have not made a bank out of the other two as yet. I used a GlassMat spiral wound and laid her on her side behind the engine throughull in unused space there. I 5200'd a couple of wood blocks to the hull to secure it. I installed an ON-OFF from BlueSea just to stbd of the opening to access the engine through hull. Pete Sandford C310-147 For Petes Sake Oakville, ON
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