Catalina vs. Hunter

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Wolf Krieg

We want to buy our 2nd. boat. We had a Catalina 27 and now want to upgrade to a 30ft boat with walkthrough transom. In order to keep the cost down we are also looking at used boats. Any comments on what to look for and watch out for? We are trying to compare Hunter and Catalina 30. Appreciate any comments and suggestions. Thanks Wolf and Julie
 
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Gary Jensen

movin up

Skip the 30 and go for the 36 Catalina. I had an O'Day 27 and moved up to the 36. I thought it would be too big but in 4 years I outgrew it and moved up even bigger.The 36 isn't that expensive. Keep an eye out and you can get a great deal. They are great boats!
 
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Bob Camarena

If you like Catalinas, stick with them.

I like Catalinas, I went from a 27 to a 30. There are several Hunters in our marina and I just can't warm up to them. I'm sure they have a lot to offer, but I just like Catalinas better. They have a traditional feel that I like. If you like your 27, you'll like the 30 even better, although you may miss the nimbleness of the 27. Although I disagree with Gary's advice to skip the 30 and go to the 36, you might find that a little older 36 or 34 isn't too much more than a newer 30. Remember, the bigger you go, the more expensive everything gets (sails, hardware, haulouts, berthing, etc.). I sail in the San Joaquin Delta so we tack a lot in close quarters. The 30 is fine, but people with 36's just can't get up to speed between tacks. That's probably not as big of a problem in Vancouver but you may appreciate the cabin space of the 36 on those drizzely days.
 
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Brad Elbein

Movin' on up

I own a C30, my third boat after a Siren 17 and then a Catalina 22. I love my C30. The thing I like about it is that when I'm sailing alone, I can singlehand (and as everyone on the list undoubtedly knows by now, I singlehand a lot of the time that my family is aboard, because my wife deals with shifting cargo [kids, dogs]). So, I love the C30. Also, I sail a lake, so a C36 is overkill. HOWEVER, I completely agree with Gary Jensen--buy the biggest boat you can possibly afford, because boats shrink as soon as you buy them. I couldn't afford the C36s I fell in love with, and as it turns out the C30 is the perfect size for me. One other point: Do whatever you have to do to get the walk-through transom, unless you're planning on sailing the southern ocean and have to worry about following seas and getting pooped. Our C30 doesn't have it, and it makes getting on and off very difficult for kids, dogs, etc. Oh, one other point: I personally don't like Hunters, and I think Catalinas are better quality. However, two things to consider: they're both lake/coastal cruisers, not blue water boats, so they're in the same class; second, Hunter has really lead the field in stuffing space into small boats. Something to ponder.
 
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patrick e. boole

used

no comparison to an older catalina and an older hunter. if you look in the buy and sell you will find that the hunters are more chearer then the cat. that is because the older hunters were made by different co and standard. the newer hunters are where they built their reputation, not the older ones.
 
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