Would appreciate any opinions or advise on the new 320. Will be primarily sailing SF Bay, delta and some short distance costal cruising.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
M
Michael McCann
Catalina 320
Greg; My friend in Montana is making some big lifestyle changes, and is willing to part with his 320. I believe it is a 1996, and if you have a large pickup you can bring it home your self. It includes a trailer. If you are interested his name is Darrell Olson, and you can e-mail him at tireswing2@montana.com. Michael McCann
Greg; My friend in Montana is making some big lifestyle changes, and is willing to part with his 320. I believe it is a 1996, and if you have a large pickup you can bring it home your self. It includes a trailer. If you are interested his name is Darrell Olson, and you can e-mail him at tireswing2@montana.com. Michael McCann
B
Bob
Used is Better
Don't underestimate the value of a used boat in excellent condition. In many cases you get much more for your money in a fully equiped, used boat. Dodgers, electronics and other add-ons can add up on top of a new boat premium price.
Don't underestimate the value of a used boat in excellent condition. In many cases you get much more for your money in a fully equiped, used boat. Dodgers, electronics and other add-ons can add up on top of a new boat premium price.
S
Stan Rogacevicz srogacev@holycross.edu
Buying a c320
Greg, I just traded my c28mkII in for a new c320 this summer and I love it. I like new, and there have been some improvments over the years, the major one being replaceing the shallow bilge of the earlier models with one that won't slosh water into parts unknown. Of course in a perfect world you keep your bilge dry or go with a PYI drippless which I may anyways. If you can find one a couple years old, which I couldn't, you can save some serious sticker shock and take advantage of sombody else's upgrades. Stan
Greg, I just traded my c28mkII in for a new c320 this summer and I love it. I like new, and there have been some improvments over the years, the major one being replaceing the shallow bilge of the earlier models with one that won't slosh water into parts unknown. Of course in a perfect world you keep your bilge dry or go with a PYI drippless which I may anyways. If you can find one a couple years old, which I couldn't, you can save some serious sticker shock and take advantage of sombody else's upgrades. Stan
G
Greg
Thanks for the feedback
Did you consider anyother new sailboats like the Hunter 310 before buying the 320? I also prefer new. Regards
Did you consider anyother new sailboats like the Hunter 310 before buying the 320? I also prefer new. Regards
S
Stan Rogacevicz srogacev@holycross.edu
Catalina vs whatever
Greg, To answer your 2nd question - NO. I would not consider a Hunter or Benneteau or any other lightweights over a Catalina especially in the SF Bay. I look at the Disp. and the Ballast/Disp. ratio to keep me on my feet and there is no other boat in its price range that compares with Catalina for a solid, stable, and forgiving boat. Stan
Greg, To answer your 2nd question - NO. I would not consider a Hunter or Benneteau or any other lightweights over a Catalina especially in the SF Bay. I look at the Disp. and the Ballast/Disp. ratio to keep me on my feet and there is no other boat in its price range that compares with Catalina for a solid, stable, and forgiving boat. Stan
G
Gary
32 alternative
I too was looking to buy the 32 Catalina, but opted to get the 36. Both are excellent boats!!I must admit the first 3 or 4 times I had her out, I thought I was sailing the Queen Mary. That has changed and I am now moving UP! The 36 fleet on the S F bay (fleet 9) is very active.There are alot of them. Either way you will be getting a great bay/delta/coastal cruiser! Gary
I too was looking to buy the 32 Catalina, but opted to get the 36. Both are excellent boats!!I must admit the first 3 or 4 times I had her out, I thought I was sailing the Queen Mary. That has changed and I am now moving UP! The 36 fleet on the S F bay (fleet 9) is very active.There are alot of them. Either way you will be getting a great bay/delta/coastal cruiser! Gary
G
Guest
ballast/disp ratio
So if I am understanding you correctly, the more ballast to displacement, the more stable (i.e. less tendency to heel). That's probably why the Catalina 320s and 340s we've been on do not noticeable heel at dock when you step aboard or walk up to the foredeck. We did noticed a heeling when stepping aboard a Benateu at the same dock. Is there a point while under sail that this higher ballast to displacement ration starts to work against you? I think someone wrote in an earlier e-mail or evaluation about the new 320s that his was initially stable but required more attention as the wind and boat speed increased. Thanks for the information.
So if I am understanding you correctly, the more ballast to displacement, the more stable (i.e. less tendency to heel). That's probably why the Catalina 320s and 340s we've been on do not noticeable heel at dock when you step aboard or walk up to the foredeck. We did noticed a heeling when stepping aboard a Benateu at the same dock. Is there a point while under sail that this higher ballast to displacement ration starts to work against you? I think someone wrote in an earlier e-mail or evaluation about the new 320s that his was initially stable but required more attention as the wind and boat speed increased. Thanks for the information.
M
Mike
Waterboy
I wouldn't sail a Catalina 320 into the SF Bay. I would be afraid it would break apart under me in rough seas. Spend some real money and get a decent boat like a Pacific Seacraft, Mason, or buy a used Columbia 35 for example, and you will get a much better boat at half or less the price of a Catalina 320. Keep your eyes open for a deal. i.e, A used Bristol, or maybe a Cal 34 or 36.
I wouldn't sail a Catalina 320 into the SF Bay. I would be afraid it would break apart under me in rough seas. Spend some real money and get a decent boat like a Pacific Seacraft, Mason, or buy a used Columbia 35 for example, and you will get a much better boat at half or less the price of a Catalina 320. Keep your eyes open for a deal. i.e, A used Bristol, or maybe a Cal 34 or 36.
L
LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
That's a crock, Mike
No offense or anything but a 320 is NOT going to break apart in SF Bay. Maybe after sailing it halfway around the world it might start having problems but to say it isn't up for a coastal cruising is ridiculous. That's what Catalinas are made for! If someone is planning on playing in relatively protected waters (as opposed to the North Atlantic, say), there is absolutely no reason a Catalina shouldn't work for them. I would be the first to say they aren't world cruisers. The point is to look at the type of sailing one is planning and choose the boat that suits their needs the most. Catalinas are perfectly suitable for SF Bay & short coastal hops. As a side note, my guy sailed his C30 from Oregon (yes, he had to cross the infamous Columbia River Bar EVERY time) to Hawaii, SF (twice) & Puget Sound (countless times). He just sold it in February & was in excellent condition! Obviously, they're tougher than you think, Mike! LaDonna
No offense or anything but a 320 is NOT going to break apart in SF Bay. Maybe after sailing it halfway around the world it might start having problems but to say it isn't up for a coastal cruising is ridiculous. That's what Catalinas are made for! If someone is planning on playing in relatively protected waters (as opposed to the North Atlantic, say), there is absolutely no reason a Catalina shouldn't work for them. I would be the first to say they aren't world cruisers. The point is to look at the type of sailing one is planning and choose the boat that suits their needs the most. Catalinas are perfectly suitable for SF Bay & short coastal hops. As a side note, my guy sailed his C30 from Oregon (yes, he had to cross the infamous Columbia River Bar EVERY time) to Hawaii, SF (twice) & Puget Sound (countless times). He just sold it in February & was in excellent condition! Obviously, they're tougher than you think, Mike! LaDonna
S
Stan Rogacevicz srogacev@holycross.edu
Reply to B/D Ratio
The initial stability at dock is more due to the disp. or the mass of the boat. For an example of balast: tape a weight to the end of a ruler, let it hang down by holding it lightly at the 6" mark and see by moving the top (top of the mast) how easy it is at first, but notice it gets proportonatly harder to push the top of the mast to the water. So in effect the balast gets heavier by healing and in a lot of cases the force against it, being the wind in the sails, gets less as it falls out of the usually better wind higher up. All boats need more attention as the wind picks up, but I have never heard of more balast making a boat more tender. The more expensive blue water cruisers mentioned by someone else are usually heavier and may have a 40% + B/D ratio while Catalinas are around 37 %. Catalina adds more balast to the wing keels because of the shorter lever arm, ( the keel ) to keep the stability equal for wing and fin, which some others don't so that should be factored in when comparing. Stan
The initial stability at dock is more due to the disp. or the mass of the boat. For an example of balast: tape a weight to the end of a ruler, let it hang down by holding it lightly at the 6" mark and see by moving the top (top of the mast) how easy it is at first, but notice it gets proportonatly harder to push the top of the mast to the water. So in effect the balast gets heavier by healing and in a lot of cases the force against it, being the wind in the sails, gets less as it falls out of the usually better wind higher up. All boats need more attention as the wind picks up, but I have never heard of more balast making a boat more tender. The more expensive blue water cruisers mentioned by someone else are usually heavier and may have a 40% + B/D ratio while Catalinas are around 37 %. Catalina adds more balast to the wing keels because of the shorter lever arm, ( the keel ) to keep the stability equal for wing and fin, which some others don't so that should be factored in when comparing. Stan
G
Greg
That sounds more logical
I agree. We looked at a island Packet 32 which is a very stout sailboat and definitely more akin to our current Cape Dory 25. The price at 150k+ is just too much for our sailing range. If we were serious offshore sailers with the time for extended crusing, I would feel differently about the cost and would prefer a full keel. Because I don't have the time to fix or replace the gear on an older sailboat, We just want something new or newish to keep our bay day/weekend sailing outings troublefree and enjoyable. Now, with that said, I know that the Catalina's are not perfect sailboats (none really are), but I would like to understand the negatives as well as the positives before making a commitment, especially at the current prices. With the asking price of a recent Catalina 30/32/34 almost a the same price as a new one, it seems logical to go with the newer sailboat assuming the new models have more refinements and features. Regards
I agree. We looked at a island Packet 32 which is a very stout sailboat and definitely more akin to our current Cape Dory 25. The price at 150k+ is just too much for our sailing range. If we were serious offshore sailers with the time for extended crusing, I would feel differently about the cost and would prefer a full keel. Because I don't have the time to fix or replace the gear on an older sailboat, We just want something new or newish to keep our bay day/weekend sailing outings troublefree and enjoyable. Now, with that said, I know that the Catalina's are not perfect sailboats (none really are), but I would like to understand the negatives as well as the positives before making a commitment, especially at the current prices. With the asking price of a recent Catalina 30/32/34 almost a the same price as a new one, it seems logical to go with the newer sailboat assuming the new models have more refinements and features. Regards
- Status
- Not open for further replies.