Hello Again!! What a great forum! Can you Cat 30 owners tell me how the early 80's vintage boats sail? I am trading from an Ericson 27 which is a fairly fast boat. The Cat has a wider beam and is much more comfort friendly looking for the family. I am looking to do some cruising to Baja, Catalina, and the Channel Islands offshore of S. Cal. Have any of you experience with this type of cruising? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
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Rick
Catalina 30
We have a 1982 Cat 30. In theory, it's a 6 knot boat and pretty much lives up to that in flat water. We originally bought ours for the room and affordability. It turned out to sail much better than I expected it to. In putting a boat per dollar ratio, I don't think anything can touch these. We'll be moving up soon, but there are things I'll miss about that boat. ( No payments comes to mind first)
We have a 1982 Cat 30. In theory, it's a 6 knot boat and pretty much lives up to that in flat water. We originally bought ours for the room and affordability. It turned out to sail much better than I expected it to. In putting a boat per dollar ratio, I don't think anything can touch these. We'll be moving up soon, but there are things I'll miss about that boat. ( No payments comes to mind first)
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Ron
Luv it! Luv it! Luv it!
If you want to get more "bang" for your buck, you can't beat a Catalina 30. I have an '83 SR. In light winds I would like the tall rig and have a few more square feet up. With a 150 genoa and full main you can have hull speed in 15 knots of wind. Due to the beam you can't point as high as some others. But tell them to come below and enjoy the room of a bigger boat. Put a reef in early, she sails better on her feet. You will notice weather helm if you have too much sail up in a blow. I've sailed in many 30+ knts. She can handle it well. Get a dodger to keep the ride drier. It is a great coastal cruiser. Our family has sailed along the southern california coast and islands. You will "fall in love" with your Cat 30. Our boat has the 5411 diesel engine. There is a lot of sailors that say it is not enough engine for the boat. Remember it is an auxilary! If you plan to motor much you will want a bigger engine. The only time I have had problems is when heading into a steep sea with the wind forward. But if there is wind "you should be sailing!". Otherwise it will push the boat at 5 knts easily. The only complaint I have is "I wish I could have afforded a Cat 30 sooner!".
If you want to get more "bang" for your buck, you can't beat a Catalina 30. I have an '83 SR. In light winds I would like the tall rig and have a few more square feet up. With a 150 genoa and full main you can have hull speed in 15 knots of wind. Due to the beam you can't point as high as some others. But tell them to come below and enjoy the room of a bigger boat. Put a reef in early, she sails better on her feet. You will notice weather helm if you have too much sail up in a blow. I've sailed in many 30+ knts. She can handle it well. Get a dodger to keep the ride drier. It is a great coastal cruiser. Our family has sailed along the southern california coast and islands. You will "fall in love" with your Cat 30. Our boat has the 5411 diesel engine. There is a lot of sailors that say it is not enough engine for the boat. Remember it is an auxilary! If you plan to motor much you will want a bigger engine. The only time I have had problems is when heading into a steep sea with the wind forward. But if there is wind "you should be sailing!". Otherwise it will push the boat at 5 knts easily. The only complaint I have is "I wish I could have afforded a Cat 30 sooner!".
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Reef early & often
C30s are a little tender so if the wind starts to pick up, you have to reef much sooner than other boats. This will stabilize the boat & give a much more comfortable ride. If the wind is really piping when you start out, tuck in that reef before you get started. It's much easier to shake a reef out in light air than to add one in heavy air! Have fun!! LaDonna
C30s are a little tender so if the wind starts to pick up, you have to reef much sooner than other boats. This will stabilize the boat & give a much more comfortable ride. If the wind is really piping when you start out, tuck in that reef before you get started. It's much easier to shake a reef out in light air than to add one in heavy air! Have fun!! LaDonna
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Dave
I like a Cat 30 in Heavy Winds
I have an 83 TRBS and I like the wqay she sails in heavy winds. I've sailed her many times in Gale Warning conditions. Yes you need to reef, but not that early. I like the rush of sailing near the edge, where the helm becomes heavy and she tries to round up. Just make sure you've got plenty of room around you incase she does because if she does round up, there's little you can do other than go along for the ride or spill the wind out the sails by letting them out. I feel confident that the Cat 30 (even with the tall rig and bow sprit) can handel some pretty high winds. Just keep her out of storm strengh winds...
I have an 83 TRBS and I like the wqay she sails in heavy winds. I've sailed her many times in Gale Warning conditions. Yes you need to reef, but not that early. I like the rush of sailing near the edge, where the helm becomes heavy and she tries to round up. Just make sure you've got plenty of room around you incase she does because if she does round up, there's little you can do other than go along for the ride or spill the wind out the sails by letting them out. I feel confident that the Cat 30 (even with the tall rig and bow sprit) can handel some pretty high winds. Just keep her out of storm strengh winds...
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Willy
Cruising the Channel Islands
I traded up from an O'Day 27 to my C30 TRBS. The O'Day is quite similar to the Ericson 27. I was always pleased with the ability of the O'Day to keep up and even pass boats of similar size and even larger! A good friend now owns my old 27 and we sail together frequently. The C30 is faster, but not by a lot. Much of it depends on how the boats are sailed/trimmed. I think you will find the C30 a great boat for cruising the Channel Islands. I made the trip to Santa Cruz Island from Morro Bay (around Conception) 3 times in my O'Day and 3 times in my C30 (last summer I single handed all the way to Catalina Is. for a 3 week trip). The difference? Would you rather drive cross country in a '65 VW Microbus or a 30' Winnibago? If you prefer the VW, keep the Ericson.
I traded up from an O'Day 27 to my C30 TRBS. The O'Day is quite similar to the Ericson 27. I was always pleased with the ability of the O'Day to keep up and even pass boats of similar size and even larger! A good friend now owns my old 27 and we sail together frequently. The C30 is faster, but not by a lot. Much of it depends on how the boats are sailed/trimmed. I think you will find the C30 a great boat for cruising the Channel Islands. I made the trip to Santa Cruz Island from Morro Bay (around Conception) 3 times in my O'Day and 3 times in my C30 (last summer I single handed all the way to Catalina Is. for a 3 week trip). The difference? Would you rather drive cross country in a '65 VW Microbus or a 30' Winnibago? If you prefer the VW, keep the Ericson.
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Willy
Cruising the Channel Islands
I traded up from an O'Day 27 to my C30 TRBS. The O'Day is quite similar to the Ericson 27. I was always pleased with the ability of the O'Day to keep up and even pass boats of similar size and even larger! A good friend now owns my old 27 and we sail together frequently. The C30 is faster, but not by a lot. Much of it depends on how the boats are sailed/trimmed. I think you will find the C30 a great boat for cruising the Channel Islands. I made the trip to Santa Cruz Island from Morro Bay (around Conception) 3 times in my O'Day and 3 times in my C30 (last summer I single handed all the way to Catalina Is. for a 3 week trip). The difference? Would you rather drive cross country in a '65 VW Microbus or a 30' Winnibago? If you prefer the VW, keep the Ericson.
I traded up from an O'Day 27 to my C30 TRBS. The O'Day is quite similar to the Ericson 27. I was always pleased with the ability of the O'Day to keep up and even pass boats of similar size and even larger! A good friend now owns my old 27 and we sail together frequently. The C30 is faster, but not by a lot. Much of it depends on how the boats are sailed/trimmed. I think you will find the C30 a great boat for cruising the Channel Islands. I made the trip to Santa Cruz Island from Morro Bay (around Conception) 3 times in my O'Day and 3 times in my C30 (last summer I single handed all the way to Catalina Is. for a 3 week trip). The difference? Would you rather drive cross country in a '65 VW Microbus or a 30' Winnibago? If you prefer the VW, keep the Ericson.
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Willy
To Rick of San Francisco
Rick, I have a friend looking to buy a C30, let me know if yours is up for sale and the particulars. E me @: c30rascal@yahoo.com
Rick, I have a friend looking to buy a C30, let me know if yours is up for sale and the particulars. E me @: c30rascal@yahoo.com
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Willy
To Rick of San Francisco
Rick, I have a friend looking to buy a C30, let me know if yours is up for sale and the particulars. E me @: c30rascal@yahoo.com
Rick, I have a friend looking to buy a C30, let me know if yours is up for sale and the particulars. E me @: c30rascal@yahoo.com
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