You all seem like very honest, intelligent people on this board. I am thinking (very seriously) about trading up from my current Catalina 25 swing keel to a Mark II Cat 30. I really have done an exhaustive search, found allot of, what appear to be, nice, sound boats. Am I making a mistake? Any advice you can give me about owning a post-1987 30 would be greatly appreciated. Do I go Tall rig, do I go wing keel, or fin?? Lots of questions. Thanks, Christian Sava
- Status
Bigger is better
Christian, I've owned 21, 22, 27, 32, and 35 foot boats. I kept moving up because of the type of sailing I wanted to do. The Chesapeake Bay is about 190 miles long (some say 200). The more I learned, the more time I wanted to spend on my boat and the further I wanted to travel. I am now retired and have a Catalina 320. With size comes safty and comfort. At the moment, I have no wish to do open ocean sailing, if that changes I'd have to get a better boat. I've had two winged keels, two fin and one swing. I like the wing for now, its great here in the bay. Best of luck to you on your hunt -- its fun looking. Paul
Christian, I've owned 21, 22, 27, 32, and 35 foot boats. I kept moving up because of the type of sailing I wanted to do. The Chesapeake Bay is about 190 miles long (some say 200). The more I learned, the more time I wanted to spend on my boat and the further I wanted to travel. I am now retired and have a Catalina 320. With size comes safty and comfort. At the moment, I have no wish to do open ocean sailing, if that changes I'd have to get a better boat. I've had two winged keels, two fin and one swing. I like the wing for now, its great here in the bay. Best of luck to you on your hunt -- its fun looking. Paul
Moving up
Hi Christian - I'm with Paul; it IS fun looking! It's hard to know if you are making a mistake, but some would say anyone who buys a sailboat is making a mistake! My point is that buying a sailboat isn't a rational decision - if you feel the urge and do your homework, you'll be happy. How can that be a mistake? You'll need to assess how you want to use the bigger boat - i.e. will you be single handing as much, need deeper water (you'll want a fin keel unless your preferred cruising grounds limit you with a deeper draft considerably), will you be planning extended trips aboard, etc. It's nicer to have a newer boat, but you don't necessarily need a brand new boat. A larger boat will certainly afford more luxury, but at a considerably higher cost (the ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and moorage need to be considered). I've had much smaller and much larger boats than what I currently have, but I can tell you that 5 feet of boat length makes a HUGE difference! That being said, I say choose wisely and go for it! Have fun, Trevor
Hi Christian - I'm with Paul; it IS fun looking! It's hard to know if you are making a mistake, but some would say anyone who buys a sailboat is making a mistake! My point is that buying a sailboat isn't a rational decision - if you feel the urge and do your homework, you'll be happy. How can that be a mistake? You'll need to assess how you want to use the bigger boat - i.e. will you be single handing as much, need deeper water (you'll want a fin keel unless your preferred cruising grounds limit you with a deeper draft considerably), will you be planning extended trips aboard, etc. It's nicer to have a newer boat, but you don't necessarily need a brand new boat. A larger boat will certainly afford more luxury, but at a considerably higher cost (the ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and moorage need to be considered). I've had much smaller and much larger boats than what I currently have, but I can tell you that 5 feet of boat length makes a HUGE difference! That being said, I say choose wisely and go for it! Have fun, Trevor
Answering some of your questions...
Christian, Good questions...it can be overwhelming. The advice from others is right on. To specifically answer some of your questions: Buy a wing keel if you plan to sail in shallow waters otherwise get a fin keel. Buy a tall rig if you experience light winds in your area during the months you plan on sailing. I have a C-30 & I love it. I've been aboard C-25's and, as far as comfort goes, you'll find that C-30 is a major step up. As far as risk goes, it's all relative. Here are my suggestions: 1. Like other's have said, do your homework. Figure out what rig & keel you're best suited for. 2. Look at a LOT of boats so you fully understand what's out there & what they cost. 3. Be realistic about the work that needs to be done. The 30' boat is 20% longer than what you currently have. That's 20% more to paint, clean, haul, etc. Sails will be much more expensive for the 30 than the 25. Do an estimate of what it will cost & double it for budgeting purposes. If it's outside of what you want to spend, then find another boat. 4. Don't get emotional about any particular boat. There are a TON of C-30's out there. If a particular boat you like is too expensive or if the deal falls through, don't worry. There's another one around the corner. 5. Once you find a good boat, hire a good surveyor who has no connection with the broker, the seller or the yard that the boat is stored, docked or moored. Any one of those parties may have a vested interest in getting the boat sold. It's money well spent. 6. Check the archives here & on the web. There's a lot of information out there. Starboard chain plates, mast compression post repairs, keel bolts, 11hp diesels, Atomic 4's, running rigging upgrades, etc., have all been covered extensively. There's a lot of good useful information there & it will help you know what to look for. I check yachtworld.com all the time for C-30's just to look at the pictures & see what upgrades others have done. It's fun, convenient & free. I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any more questions. Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Christian, Good questions...it can be overwhelming. The advice from others is right on. To specifically answer some of your questions: Buy a wing keel if you plan to sail in shallow waters otherwise get a fin keel. Buy a tall rig if you experience light winds in your area during the months you plan on sailing. I have a C-30 & I love it. I've been aboard C-25's and, as far as comfort goes, you'll find that C-30 is a major step up. As far as risk goes, it's all relative. Here are my suggestions: 1. Like other's have said, do your homework. Figure out what rig & keel you're best suited for. 2. Look at a LOT of boats so you fully understand what's out there & what they cost. 3. Be realistic about the work that needs to be done. The 30' boat is 20% longer than what you currently have. That's 20% more to paint, clean, haul, etc. Sails will be much more expensive for the 30 than the 25. Do an estimate of what it will cost & double it for budgeting purposes. If it's outside of what you want to spend, then find another boat. 4. Don't get emotional about any particular boat. There are a TON of C-30's out there. If a particular boat you like is too expensive or if the deal falls through, don't worry. There's another one around the corner. 5. Once you find a good boat, hire a good surveyor who has no connection with the broker, the seller or the yard that the boat is stored, docked or moored. Any one of those parties may have a vested interest in getting the boat sold. It's money well spent. 6. Check the archives here & on the web. There's a lot of information out there. Starboard chain plates, mast compression post repairs, keel bolts, 11hp diesels, Atomic 4's, running rigging upgrades, etc., have all been covered extensively. There's a lot of good useful information there & it will help you know what to look for. I check yachtworld.com all the time for C-30's just to look at the pictures & see what upgrades others have done. It's fun, convenient & free. I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any more questions. Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Great boat
We have a 1988 Catalina 30 MKII and love it. We wanted the MKII plan w/ its opening ports, self-tailing winches, t-shaped cockpit, wheel steering and 23 HP Universal M25-XP engine. It's a fantastic boat and lots of fun to sail. Find one in good condition and you won't be sorry. We got the technical bulletin (called the Tech-Talk Manual) from the Catalina 30 owners association before buying ours so we would know what to look for. It's a collection of technical hints/concerns gleaned from many years of Catalina 30 ownership ... Highly recommended. You can find it at www.catalina30.com or go direct via the link below this. We're in the forum's owners directory if you have other questions. Regards, Gary Kunkel
We have a 1988 Catalina 30 MKII and love it. We wanted the MKII plan w/ its opening ports, self-tailing winches, t-shaped cockpit, wheel steering and 23 HP Universal M25-XP engine. It's a fantastic boat and lots of fun to sail. Find one in good condition and you won't be sorry. We got the technical bulletin (called the Tech-Talk Manual) from the Catalina 30 owners association before buying ours so we would know what to look for. It's a collection of technical hints/concerns gleaned from many years of Catalina 30 ownership ... Highly recommended. You can find it at www.catalina30.com or go direct via the link below this. We're in the forum's owners directory if you have other questions. Regards, Gary Kunkel
all good advice
we moved up from a C25 to a C30 last year. our's too is an 1988, tall rig, wing keel, w/bowsprit. our C25 was a fin keel so with the wing I picked up 2 inches. we sail the shallow skinny waters of the Florida Panhandle so the wing was a must have for us and havnt found any difference other than a little lost in pointing. looking at the SailBoatTrader the other day I found 11 for sale in Florida, mostly in Miami, St Pete/Tampa, and the Keys. happy hunting and as the others said, look a for a good one, they are out there!
we moved up from a C25 to a C30 last year. our's too is an 1988, tall rig, wing keel, w/bowsprit. our C25 was a fin keel so with the wing I picked up 2 inches. we sail the shallow skinny waters of the Florida Panhandle so the wing was a must have for us and havnt found any difference other than a little lost in pointing. looking at the SailBoatTrader the other day I found 11 for sale in Florida, mostly in Miami, St Pete/Tampa, and the Keys. happy hunting and as the others said, look a for a good one, they are out there!
Moving Up
Christian, Moving up to a C30 is a good move, so long as it fits your budget. As it has been pointed out earlier, everything is more expensive on a larger boat. We purchased and '84 C30 TRBS (tall rig, bow sprit) and it is fantastic to sail. Sure, there's plenty of maintenance every month, but sailing makes up for it. Check out the attached photo for the kind of fun you can have sailing a C30. The picture was taken by Rick Hildahl from his C30 'Attitude Adjustment'. We were sailing near Anacapa Island, which is part of the Channel Islands National Park in southern California. Good luck on your search, Jack
Christian, Moving up to a C30 is a good move, so long as it fits your budget. As it has been pointed out earlier, everything is more expensive on a larger boat. We purchased and '84 C30 TRBS (tall rig, bow sprit) and it is fantastic to sail. Sure, there's plenty of maintenance every month, but sailing makes up for it. Check out the attached photo for the kind of fun you can have sailing a C30. The picture was taken by Rick Hildahl from his C30 'Attitude Adjustment'. We were sailing near Anacapa Island, which is part of the Channel Islands National Park in southern California. Good luck on your search, Jack
Moving Up
Christian, Moving up to a C30 is a good move, so long as it fits your budget. As it has been pointed out earlier, everything is more expensive on a larger boat. We purchased and '84 C30 TRBS (tall rig, bow sprit) and it is fantastic to sail. Sure, there's plenty of maintenance every month, but sailing makes up for it. Check out the attached photo for the kind of fun you can have sailing a C30. The picture was taken by Rick Hildahl from his C30 'Attitude Adjustment'. We were sailing near Anacapa Island, which is part of the Channel Islands National Park in southern California. Good luck on your search, Jack
Christian, Moving up to a C30 is a good move, so long as it fits your budget. As it has been pointed out earlier, everything is more expensive on a larger boat. We purchased and '84 C30 TRBS (tall rig, bow sprit) and it is fantastic to sail. Sure, there's plenty of maintenance every month, but sailing makes up for it. Check out the attached photo for the kind of fun you can have sailing a C30. The picture was taken by Rick Hildahl from his C30 'Attitude Adjustment'. We were sailing near Anacapa Island, which is part of the Channel Islands National Park in southern California. Good luck on your search, Jack
C30TR is agreat boat
One thing Ive learned in the short time Ive been sailing my C30 is when you pick a boat try to buy one that has every thing you want in it becouse there are alot of boat to choose from and to add even small things to the boat cost thousands of dollers you are better off geting aboat that has been up graded rather then a striped boat at agood price. when Iwas shoping around, a 1980s C30 was about 25ooo ,and a1990 was about 35000 mine is a1988 wing TR I payed 30000 with shiping from long Iland to lake george and There was tons of stuff added to my boat aouto pilot, gps ,3ancors chain and rode ancor roller new fuller 600 amp gell battreys 155amp alt 1000 watt inverter charger dodger frig radio cd changer and tons more and it was all put in by a yard and looks like it.What I think im getting at is you should by the newest best boat with the mostgear that you need. for your type of sailing That you can aford becouse for you to add things later your self it allways costs twice as much money and takes four times the time you think it will. and Im a real fixit kind of guy and love a challinging boat project.most boat projects get started with a Idea in the summer and take all winter and part of the spring to finish.Happy hunting John Olson
One thing Ive learned in the short time Ive been sailing my C30 is when you pick a boat try to buy one that has every thing you want in it becouse there are alot of boat to choose from and to add even small things to the boat cost thousands of dollers you are better off geting aboat that has been up graded rather then a striped boat at agood price. when Iwas shoping around, a 1980s C30 was about 25ooo ,and a1990 was about 35000 mine is a1988 wing TR I payed 30000 with shiping from long Iland to lake george and There was tons of stuff added to my boat aouto pilot, gps ,3ancors chain and rode ancor roller new fuller 600 amp gell battreys 155amp alt 1000 watt inverter charger dodger frig radio cd changer and tons more and it was all put in by a yard and looks like it.What I think im getting at is you should by the newest best boat with the mostgear that you need. for your type of sailing That you can aford becouse for you to add things later your self it allways costs twice as much money and takes four times the time you think it will. and Im a real fixit kind of guy and love a challinging boat project.most boat projects get started with a Idea in the summer and take all winter and part of the spring to finish.Happy hunting John Olson
one last word
one of my favorite "options" on the C30 is the bowsprit. not only in my opinion gives the boat a more classic look, it really helps with the anchor handling alot. if you plan to anchor out very much you may want to give it some consideration.
one of my favorite "options" on the C30 is the bowsprit. not only in my opinion gives the boat a more classic look, it really helps with the anchor handling alot. if you plan to anchor out very much you may want to give it some consideration.
Moving Up
Sorry about the photo link that didn't show up on my last post. Here's the C30 TRBS in action! -Jack
Sorry about the photo link that didn't show up on my last post. Here's the C30 TRBS in action! -Jack
Moving Up..............
I too started out with a C25 fin, looking to move up. Wanted a mid '90s C30. When I saw the prices, and for those prices I could not even stand up straight, I decided to keep looking. Found, surveyed and bought a 1997 C320. What a great boat, has everything I want! Check Here: www.sailnet.com/boatsearch www.yachtworld.com www.catalinaowners.com www.boatus.com www.ablboats.com
I too started out with a C25 fin, looking to move up. Wanted a mid '90s C30. When I saw the prices, and for those prices I could not even stand up straight, I decided to keep looking. Found, surveyed and bought a 1997 C320. What a great boat, has everything I want! Check Here: www.sailnet.com/boatsearch www.yachtworld.com www.catalinaowners.com www.boatus.com www.ablboats.com
25' to 34'
I had a 25' Catalina for 7 years. Got tired of "camping" on it. The 30' just didn't seem enough of a difference, (although it is), and ended up with a Catalina 34'. It's been great. It's like moving up from a tent to a 2 bd. condo. With the extra room and exquipment come a lot more maintenance. At times I miss the feel sailing the 25' with the tiller but get much more use on the 34' as the additional stability is quite noticable. Good luck in choosing.
I had a 25' Catalina for 7 years. Got tired of "camping" on it. The 30' just didn't seem enough of a difference, (although it is), and ended up with a Catalina 34'. It's been great. It's like moving up from a tent to a 2 bd. condo. With the extra room and exquipment come a lot more maintenance. At times I miss the feel sailing the 25' with the tiller but get much more use on the 34' as the additional stability is quite noticable. Good luck in choosing.
From a 25 to a 30
Christian; We went from an 1986 C25 that we sailed for 7 years to a 1993 C36. I would go for it. You will love the "bigness" of it, and soon it will feel normal. FYI, the C30 tall rig has a bow sprit. Sometimes Catalina makes the boom longer (C36), or the 'J' longer (C27, and C30), or the 'I' longer (C25) when they add 2 feet to the mast to create the "Tall Rig". So if a C30 has a factory bow sprit, it is a tall rig.
Christian; We went from an 1986 C25 that we sailed for 7 years to a 1993 C36. I would go for it. You will love the "bigness" of it, and soon it will feel normal. FYI, the C30 tall rig has a bow sprit. Sometimes Catalina makes the boom longer (C36), or the 'J' longer (C27, and C30), or the 'I' longer (C25) when they add 2 feet to the mast to create the "Tall Rig". So if a C30 has a factory bow sprit, it is a tall rig.
- Status