I have a 1984 Catalina 30 for 2 years now, I've done some work to get her into ship shape, and she is quite nice. I'm very satisfied with all except the engine. When I bought the boat I was looking for a 3 cyl., engine but this one was near by in very nice shape and the price was right so I settled for the M18 14hp engine.
I sail in from the west end of Long Island Sound so I have to deal with currents, at times a lack of wind, and a predominant SW wind which makes getting home a lot of work. The engine now, and I've played with the prop, I think I have that as good as I can get it, will push the boat at a max of 4 or so kts. Any current or wind and its downhill from there. I do motor sail when possible which helps, but the dominant wind pattern and the shape of the sound means my homeward bound leg is often dead into the wind. The lack of power has kept me from venturing too far east, with my previous boat we've gone as far as Mystic, I'd like to take the boat to Block Island and Martha's Vineyard as things are I only feel comfortable to stay in the western half of the sound, I've spend solid days beating into 10-15 to get home and its exhausting and time consuming.
My question is how much horsepower is needed to push a Catalina 30 reliably at hull speed, even with some headwind and current, I'm not expecting at make hull speed against a gale but I do want to push reliably against 10-15?
I'm probably getting 11 or 12HP in cruising range, take off something for the transmission and fiction. Is 20 enough?
For those with the M20 or M25 or M25XP how is you performance? I've talked to a shop, they recommend the Yanmar 20 or 30 HP. The cost differential is maybe 1500 bucks for the extra 10 HP, I wouldn't want to undertake this as be just short. After these 2 years of being a turtle want to hit the gas and go. No if ands or buts...
Thanks for your thought,
John
I sail in from the west end of Long Island Sound so I have to deal with currents, at times a lack of wind, and a predominant SW wind which makes getting home a lot of work. The engine now, and I've played with the prop, I think I have that as good as I can get it, will push the boat at a max of 4 or so kts. Any current or wind and its downhill from there. I do motor sail when possible which helps, but the dominant wind pattern and the shape of the sound means my homeward bound leg is often dead into the wind. The lack of power has kept me from venturing too far east, with my previous boat we've gone as far as Mystic, I'd like to take the boat to Block Island and Martha's Vineyard as things are I only feel comfortable to stay in the western half of the sound, I've spend solid days beating into 10-15 to get home and its exhausting and time consuming.
My question is how much horsepower is needed to push a Catalina 30 reliably at hull speed, even with some headwind and current, I'm not expecting at make hull speed against a gale but I do want to push reliably against 10-15?
I'm probably getting 11 or 12HP in cruising range, take off something for the transmission and fiction. Is 20 enough?
For those with the M20 or M25 or M25XP how is you performance? I've talked to a shop, they recommend the Yanmar 20 or 30 HP. The cost differential is maybe 1500 bucks for the extra 10 HP, I wouldn't want to undertake this as be just short. After these 2 years of being a turtle want to hit the gas and go. No if ands or buts...
Thanks for your thought,
John