considering a Cat 30

[woodyt26]

We currently sail a Tanzer 26 and find that this light displacement cruiser/racer leaves us feeling uncomfortable as it heels under fairly light winds. We use the traveler to reduce the heel but still find the heel uncomfortable for some on board. Our plans are to be more "cruiser" then "racer" and I am interested on any feedback Cat30 owners may have on expected heel range for 10-15 knot winds.

I know the best way to answer this is go sail on a Cat30 - but here in northern Ontario - sailing season has wrapped up as the forcasters call for snow flurries. Now all I can do is ask for your thoughts and watch boat ads.

Thank you

Woody

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Woody,

I own a 1980 C30 fin keel. It's a roomy boat & handles fairly well.
It was a "fixer-upper", so if you hear this term used while shopping, beware.
I've gone this route & looking back would never do it again.

Sure, the price is cheaper, but depending on the work needed to get her up to satisifaction, in the long run would you do it that way again?

My next boat will be newer rather than older. What you save up front will be offset in costs, repairs & upgrades + all your unpaid & paid manhours.

What I can comment on is I helped my pal bring his new 1984 Newport 30/winged keel on a 180 mile Gulf trip home. The conditions were spirited w/5 footers off the beam clocking forward thru the nite. Then around 2:00AM, clocking off the stern with 6+ growlers.

For fifteen hours, we experienced all wave angles, but the surprising thing was that the boat didn'd heel & roll as my C30 fin does. I was a comfortable steady ride without gusts/growlers causing roll or roundup tendencies. deck-stable all around.

Len was lucky, as the boat was in good shape & in no time had the upgrades completed. We took it out one day to sea trial the electronics & came acoss a brand new Hunter 34(?). We were about a half mile out from JP Pass. Well, 2 sailboats on the same course headed West and, the race was on.

The Hunter had 4 or 5 crew with matching outfits, a battened main & I believe a 130+ ginney. It was a fin keel, by the way it reacted. Winds were 15 KTS and we were clos-hauled. The hunter was about about 1/8 mile up. We took the pressure side & seemed to sail closer-hauled without loss of speed.

We passed upwind about an hour later doing 7.4 KTS, all the while with "OTTO" our new autopilot doing all the work. We got up 1/8 mile when the hunter turned back. The NEW race was on.

We again passed them and won leg two. All in all, about 5 miles each way. The reason for this story was the performance of the wing in my estimation.

Back to the C30, great boat, lots of room, doesn't like wave conditions off the hind quarters in wind, Seems to loose speed inside 35° w/my 155 (45° gives me the best overall ride), will have some roundup tendencies in gusting winds, but rather stable generally.

So there, my thoughts. However, if you get the opportunity, see about trialing a wing keel boat. I'll bet I will hear some gruff on this..........

CR

 

[dj2210]

We own a C30 tall rig with a wing keel and I find that the boat heels just like most monohull boats. We were racing yesterday and had the rub rail in the water a couple of times and got water through the head open port. Now being 10k lbs and beamy it does not rock with weight changes or waves from power boats like out C27 did but when the wind is up it heels. If you want a boat that doesn't heel as much maybe a multihull would be worth looking into.

 

[woodyt26]

Thanks for the input Captn Ron.

 

[jimmcgee]

Woody,
Remember, how she heels will depend on how aggressively you sail her.

I find our boat likes to sail on her feet and she'll actually loose a bit of speed if you sail her rail down. We sail in chop and gusty conditions quite a bit on Barnegat Bay and she handles it well.

A trick a friend taught us was to release the vang in gusty conditions. When a gust hits the boom will lift, spilling air from the top of the sail. This way you can carry sail when you'd normally reef. It prevents that feeling of wanting to round up when a strong gust hits and the boat isn't going rail down with each gust so it's a more comfortable ride.

We have a standard rig, wing keel with a 135 jib and really enjoy our boat. She'll hold her own against similar sized boats on the bay, and she's very liveable at the dock.

Best of luck,
Jim

 

[woodyt26]

Thanks Jim for the message

 

[jrowan]

I second what the guys have said so far, but I find that the standard rig C 30 with a 135 genoa, like we have is a very stable boat for a 30 footer. She weighs more then most a 10,000 lbs empty. Add another 1k + for water, fuel tankage , stored items & crew weight. Also half of that weight is keel weight below the water line. Also the engine is placed low, amid ships, the best place for weight distribution. Her beam being 10' 10" is the widest of any 30 foot boat of her era. She definitely has a big boat "feel" about her. She also has the most head room at over 6 feet of any 30 footer I know of.
She is a very stiff boat under sail, until the winds pick up over 15 to 20 knots, then it is prudent to reef the jib (as she's 70's design with big jib & smaller main). At over 20 knots you should defintely reef the main & let up on the vang & main sheet / traveller to take the pressure off the sail & ease healing. She will round up into the wind with over 25 degrees of heel before she broaches. I cannot think of a more forgiving boat to sail in her size & price range. All boats have trade offs. I do not consider her to be a single handed capable boat, with the main sheet mounted on the cabin top out of reach of the helmsman to adjust. Unless you modify the main halyard to run aft to the cockpit, you must go up to the mast to rise & lower it or reef. I highly recommend buying a model that has a good roller furling genoa, a must for such a big, cumbersome sail. This is really a safety must, not just for convenience. I would also spend more for a newer C 30 with a diesel engine, preferably an MX25 Universal 3 cylinder model, producing 25 hp.
She's a heavy boat & my lil' 5411 11 hp diesel is marginal power, & requires a clean bottom & prop to function properly. Good luck & enjoy the hunt for the right boat.

 

[woodyt26]

I second what the guys have said so far, but I find that the standard rig C 30 with a 135 genoa, like we have is a very stable boat for a 30 footer. She weighs more then most a 10,000 lbs empty. Add another 1k + for water, fuel tankage , stored items & crew weight. Also half of that weight is keel weight below the water line. Also the engine is placed low, amid ships, the best place for weight distribution. Her beam being 10' 10" is the widest of any 30 foot boat of her era. She definitely has a big boat "feel" about her. She also has the most head room at over 6 feet of any 30 footer I know of.
She is a very stiff boat under sail, until the winds pick up over 15 to 20 knots, then it is prudent to reef the jib (as she's 70's design with big jib & smaller main). At over 20 knots you should defintely reef the main & let up on the vang & main sheet / traveller to take the pressure off the sail & ease healing. She will round up into the wind with over 25 degrees of heel before she broaches. I cannot think of a more forgiving boat to sail in her size & price range. All boats have trade offs. I do not consider her to be a single handed capable boat, with the main sheet mounted on the cabin top out of reach of the helmsman to adjust. Unless you modify the main halyard to run aft to the cockpit, you must go up to the mast to rise & lower it or reef. I highly recommend buying a model that has a good roller furling genoa, a must for such a big, cumbersome sail. This is really a safety must, not just for convenience. I would also spend more for a newer C 30 with a diesel engine, preferably an MX25 Universal 3 cylinder model, producing 25 hp.
She's a heavy boat & my lil' 5411 11 hp diesel is marginal power, & requires a clean bottom & prop to function properly. Good luck & enjoy the hunt for the right boat.

Thanks for the wisdom.

 

[Bob4203]

Woody, you can go to the Catalina 30 Universal website to get insight into the different models (Mark I, II and III), changes and upgrades through the model lines and a whole lot of good technical information. I have owned my 1988 Mark II going on ten years now and like everyone else praise many of its better points (large and comfortable interior, cockpit, light wind performance etc), but yet critical of it in varying ocean conditions. With over 7,500 hulls built the 30 Catalina maintains its reputation as an overall great family boat with a big support network, parts availability, excellent resale, coastal cruiser and good performer. She does heel quickly and you can get her rail wet at 15-20, after that its a fight until you reef. A good fair weather boat. She was not designed as a heavy weather boat as she is light, finicky and not recommended for long open water passages. If you plan on being comfortable with the family below, she's the greatest. Many trade-offs but certainly a great value.

Good luck

Bob
'88 Mark II (tall rig with wing keel)

 

[woodyt26]

Thanks Bob for taking the time to share your experiences.

 

[jimmcgee]

Unless you modify the main halyard to run aft to the cockpit, you must go up to the mast to rise & lower it or reef.

All controls run to the cockpit was standard on newer boats, though I'm not sure what year that started. My halyards and reefing line are run to the cabin top.

If I want to adjust the main sheet I'll set the auto pilot, step in front of the wheel and do a quick adjustment by popping the mainsheet out of the clam cleat.

The way my boat is set up she's easy to single hand. A few bucks sent to the folks at Garhauer and you can set any C30 up this way.

I also tend to reef a little later than JRowan, but that has more to do with your personal style than with the boat.

I highly recommend buying a model that has a good roller furling genoa, a must for such a big, cumbersome sail. This is really a safety must, not just for convenience. I would also spend more for a newer C 30 with a diesel engine, preferably an MX25 Universal 3 cylinder model, producing 25 hp.

This is excellent advice.