I am thinking of trading in my catalina 30mkIII for Beneteau 323 and would like to hear about oner's satisafaction or lack of
experience with 323
- Thread starter jeffdol
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a few thoughts...
...just traded in my B 281 for a B 343...i looked hard at the B 323 but decided it was a bit tender and underpowered...but very good looking...good luck with your decision.
...just traded in my B 281 for a B 343...i looked hard at the B 323 but decided it was a bit tender and underpowered...but very good looking...good luck with your decision.
Beneteau 323
I have been very pleased with my 2004 B323. The large cockpit has been great for those family sails. The layout below is comfortable and my wife loves the large head area. Compared with my prior experience of a 25 footer, this boat is very steady and easily handled with the roller furling mainsail. I replaced the 2 blade standard prop with a 3 blade maxprop and have increased speed both under sail and power. Docking is now a breeze too. I recommend this boat highly.
I have been very pleased with my 2004 B323. The large cockpit has been great for those family sails. The layout below is comfortable and my wife loves the large head area. Compared with my prior experience of a 25 footer, this boat is very steady and easily handled with the roller furling mainsail. I replaced the 2 blade standard prop with a 3 blade maxprop and have increased speed both under sail and power. Docking is now a breeze too. I recommend this boat highly.
Experience with 2004 323
Great boat I previously have owned a Catalina 27, Hunter 26.5 and Capri 25. Everything works great and the more I sailed and lived on the boat the more I appreciated it. It is light for it's size and the performance is great. Your Catalina is also a great boat that I have sailed before. I found the Beneteau to be more responsive and in general easier to sail. Highly recommended. I sail on an inland lake so can't say what it is like in a storm in blue water.
Great boat I previously have owned a Catalina 27, Hunter 26.5 and Capri 25. Everything works great and the more I sailed and lived on the boat the more I appreciated it. It is light for it's size and the performance is great. Your Catalina is also a great boat that I have sailed before. I found the Beneteau to be more responsive and in general easier to sail. Highly recommended. I sail on an inland lake so can't say what it is like in a storm in blue water.
B323 Experience
I have sailed by 2004 B323 for one season, and am quite pleased with its overall quality and performance. Perhaps my biggest "dislike" is the fact that the shrouds come all they way out to the toerail, and the spreaders stick out a long way, jib tracks are too short and too far inboard to use with a large genoa, resulting in use of snatch blocks on the toerail and inability to close haul the large jib. I too, am going to change from the standard 2 blade prop. We have a starboard seawall mooring, and the prop walk combined with lack of reverse "bite" can make for some interesting entertainment for anyone watching our mooring process. Overall, the quality of the boat is great, we have experienced no rig problems (we have standard rig, not in-mast furling), and have experienced no mechanical issues. The boat is currently indoors for the winter, and we have already had a half foot of snow here.
I have sailed by 2004 B323 for one season, and am quite pleased with its overall quality and performance. Perhaps my biggest "dislike" is the fact that the shrouds come all they way out to the toerail, and the spreaders stick out a long way, jib tracks are too short and too far inboard to use with a large genoa, resulting in use of snatch blocks on the toerail and inability to close haul the large jib. I too, am going to change from the standard 2 blade prop. We have a starboard seawall mooring, and the prop walk combined with lack of reverse "bite" can make for some interesting entertainment for anyone watching our mooring process. Overall, the quality of the boat is great, we have experienced no rig problems (we have standard rig, not in-mast furling), and have experienced no mechanical issues. The boat is currently indoors for the winter, and we have already had a half foot of snow here.
oh, how you liking the 343?
I'm still waiting for mine, it's on a ferry somewhere between Europe and Asia. Love to know how you're liking it, anything worth noting and knowing ... the excitement is building.
I'm still waiting for mine, it's on a ferry somewhere between Europe and Asia. Love to know how you're liking it, anything worth noting and knowing ... the excitement is building.
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