Design Flaws in early 1990 C-28s???

[Stuart Gordon]

I am looking at buying a 1990 C-28. This was the year the C-28 was introduced. I would like advice on what to look for in this age C-28. What improvements did Catalina maker over the years to improve the boat? (Prior to introducing the Mark 2) What defects should I look out for? How did the disign and engineering of the boat progress through 1993? Should I be concerned about buying a 1990 model or should I pay the extra price and buy a later model? Any help or advice on this matter would be appreciated

 

[Richard]

Early Catalina 28

The major design problems with the early 28's was in the mast config.There was a problem in the swep back spreader & two of the three shrouds were on the cabin roof. Catalina did a retro fix and replaced the mast and changed the shrouds leaving one on the cabin roof and two on the deck. The next year all were on the deck. I had the retrofit done but thanks to Frank Butler he did my retrofit all on the deck.I've sailed over 8000 miles from Kentucky to Bahammas and never had a problem. Good strong boat.

 

[Mike Elmore]

no problems here either

Stuart,I've had 1990 C28 Hull #7 for 2 seasons now. I still have 2 non-used chainplates on the cabintop, but I just use them for hanging things down below and as spare halyard attachments. According to Catalina, my mast was replaced by Catalina sometime after production when the dismastings were taking place. I have a upper topsides hull repair that's slightly noticable when I'm waxing and have my eyes up next to it that makes me believe she may have been one of the early dismastings.Anyway...the mast Catalina fitted her with is a single spreader rig with the uppers and all 4 lowers to the inboard side of the deck. It is also fitted with the halyard exit slot reinforcing plates at the halyard exits which are about 4-5' off the deck. This is a factory recommended strengthening upgrade that you should check for. A picture of the upgrade is at the C28 web site.All in all I have had absolutely no trouble with the rig. I was hit by a large gust (highest number I saw on the meter was 35 cause I left the helm to lower the sail) last summer that was strong enough to shred my dock neighbors main. My plastic track slides sheared off leaving the main flogging, but the sail and rig held up perfectly. $4.50 to replace the slides was the only damage.That's higher than the wind that many of the dismastings occurred in, so I'm convinced that Catalina addressed the problem correctly.Catalina said the first 12 hulls had mast replacements from the factory. If you don't see the reinforcement slot upgrade on an early boat, call Catalina and ask about that hull and what was done with the rig, but if it's done I think the boats are great!Mike ElmoreWindward HullC28 - Hull #7

 

[John Cairns]

Design flaws?

I wouldn't call them design flaws, unless you're referring to the rig problems on the early boats. The newer boats do, however, seem to have better ventilation(2 additional opening hatches in the cabin top) and they've also eliminated the wood topsides and replaced it with more durable materials. Mind you, I'm referring to the mk 2 version. Other than that, I love my C-28, and the early boats can generally be had very inexpensively, compared to the cost of a new or late model boat. Which leaves you more $$ for upgrades.