Oriental, NC. My wife and I have narrowed our search for a new sailboat down to a Catalina 38 or a Hunter 38. We have three small children and have outgrown our 1978 Tartan 30. Elizabeth and I are looking for a sailboat to spend more time on with the kids, expand our cruising range and have all the modern conveniences offered by both boat builders. I?ve been in boating for the past 30 years and I?ll be the first to admit that there was a time when I?d never have considered owning either one of these boats. I?ve heard all the salesperson hype on both boats and would like to hear what you, as an owner has to say. At this point we are both leaning towards the Hunter. I?ve been very impressed with the quality down below, (better wood work and detail then a 2000 Tartan 36 we?ve been on) and I?m hoping that this quality construction is the same throughout the entire boat. We don?t get a great reaction from people on the docks when we tell them we?re looking at a Hunter. We?ve heard lots of bad stories about the older Hunters not sailing or aging well. What?s your opinion? Thanks, Rick and Elizabeth Pawelka
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Bill
Archives
Why not check the archives, There have been several such questions over the last two years with many responses. No suprise, those that own Cats like them and those that own Hunters like them. Those that have owned both likes them both for the most part. I would say the final response is that which ever you feel most comfortable with is the way to go. Both manufactuers seem to have like issues with quality control with minor pproblems, but provide good bang for the buck for a seaworthy comfortable boat. Hunter does get slammed for its more adventurous looks and technology but I haven't heard of any rigs falling apaart and I'm sure they would not still be producing them if there was a problem. Older Hunters and Catalinas have hada problems but hasn't your Tartan? 20 year old boats get tired no matter what the brand. Maintenance is the key. Good luck in your search.
Why not check the archives, There have been several such questions over the last two years with many responses. No suprise, those that own Cats like them and those that own Hunters like them. Those that have owned both likes them both for the most part. I would say the final response is that which ever you feel most comfortable with is the way to go. Both manufactuers seem to have like issues with quality control with minor pproblems, but provide good bang for the buck for a seaworthy comfortable boat. Hunter does get slammed for its more adventurous looks and technology but I haven't heard of any rigs falling apaart and I'm sure they would not still be producing them if there was a problem. Older Hunters and Catalinas have hada problems but hasn't your Tartan? 20 year old boats get tired no matter what the brand. Maintenance is the key. Good luck in your search.
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Andy Howard
We're in a simular situation, two small children, so I'll try to give you my thoughts. Lori and I bought a 17 year old Hunter 34 last year that was well maintained and cared for. As far as quality and sailing ability, we can't be happier. While "Neverland" suffers the the minor aches and pains of any older boat, she is sound structurally and should give us many years of use. I've heard or at least read some of the negative feedback on Hunters, mostly from other internet BB's, and it seems to come mostly from people wanting to express an opinion right or wrong. I think most people will agree that Hunter tends to be more innovative than other builders and sometimes new ideas don't always work and they are rarely greeted with enthusiasm by the general public. While I wouldn't attempt to cross oceans, our old hunter is holding up quite nicely for NC's rivers, sounds and coastline. Hope to see you out there soon, just raft on up, let the kids go swimming and we'll fix a drink and watch them play.
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Jim Beacham
In the same boat
When we decided to sell our Beneteau 32 and move up in length, we looked at Beneteau, Catalina, Hunter, and Tartan. My wife and I made 2 separate list of "must have", "will have", and "wouldn't it be nice to have" features and requirements. As you can imagine, they were very different. We then combined the list and went shopping. Being in Oriental myself, you know the cast of characters I dealt with and all have excellent reputations and were easy to work with. We chose the Hunter 380 because it met the majority of our needs in the "must have" and "will have" category. My first monohull was a Hunter 25.5 and have owned a Catalina 30 and a Beneteau 32s5. It is hard to compare the quality of each boat due to the time period in which each was manufactured. THe Catalina was better than the Hunter and the Beneteau was better than the Catalina and the 380 is better than the Beneteau. Let me know if you would like to go out one day and i will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of our research. Good luck on your evaluation. I think both boats are excellent value propositions for the type of coastal sailing on the southeast coast.
When we decided to sell our Beneteau 32 and move up in length, we looked at Beneteau, Catalina, Hunter, and Tartan. My wife and I made 2 separate list of "must have", "will have", and "wouldn't it be nice to have" features and requirements. As you can imagine, they were very different. We then combined the list and went shopping. Being in Oriental myself, you know the cast of characters I dealt with and all have excellent reputations and were easy to work with. We chose the Hunter 380 because it met the majority of our needs in the "must have" and "will have" category. My first monohull was a Hunter 25.5 and have owned a Catalina 30 and a Beneteau 32s5. It is hard to compare the quality of each boat due to the time period in which each was manufactured. THe Catalina was better than the Hunter and the Beneteau was better than the Catalina and the 380 is better than the Beneteau. Let me know if you would like to go out one day and i will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of our research. Good luck on your evaluation. I think both boats are excellent value propositions for the type of coastal sailing on the southeast coast.
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Les Blackwell
My H380 is the best for me.
I'm not sure I can add anything to the Catalina vs. the Hunter thread, as I like them both as builders. However, I can add to the H380 knowledge as I have one. This is the best boat I've ever had for me. Design is outstanding, i.e., anything I need to get at for maintenance is available, good storage, easy to handle, well designed for humans (and cats). Great cockpit and stern. Most of the problems I've had are solvable, i.e., New kitchen faucet, a battery system that I changed to my specs, and a refrigeration system that I improved. I have the fiberglass arch which I think is the best--I wanted the stainless arch but now am more delighted with the fiberglass one. I also have the furling main which is perfect for me--never had a problem yet with it and it is very easy to sail this boat. I have single handed the boat in a recent weekend trip and enjoyed myself very much. If you want to know more about the boat, you may e-mail me at leslieblackwell@home.com . I think it is one of the best designed, engineered and built boats of this era. In fact, I'm more than a little ticked that Sail and Cruising World have ignored it in their reviews. I wish you well on your choice. I hope you enjoy your new boat, whatever it turns out to be, as much as I have mine.
I'm not sure I can add anything to the Catalina vs. the Hunter thread, as I like them both as builders. However, I can add to the H380 knowledge as I have one. This is the best boat I've ever had for me. Design is outstanding, i.e., anything I need to get at for maintenance is available, good storage, easy to handle, well designed for humans (and cats). Great cockpit and stern. Most of the problems I've had are solvable, i.e., New kitchen faucet, a battery system that I changed to my specs, and a refrigeration system that I improved. I have the fiberglass arch which I think is the best--I wanted the stainless arch but now am more delighted with the fiberglass one. I also have the furling main which is perfect for me--never had a problem yet with it and it is very easy to sail this boat. I have single handed the boat in a recent weekend trip and enjoyed myself very much. If you want to know more about the boat, you may e-mail me at leslieblackwell@home.com . I think it is one of the best designed, engineered and built boats of this era. In fact, I'm more than a little ticked that Sail and Cruising World have ignored it in their reviews. I wish you well on your choice. I hope you enjoy your new boat, whatever it turns out to be, as much as I have mine.
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Tim McCarty
I've sailed on both and...
I tend to lean toward the Hunter (being a Hunter owner myself), BUT, the Catalina is certainly an excellent boat for the money. I will say that you can get some awfully strong responses from Hunter owners vs. Catalina owners, and, I ask, why the rivalry? With either choice, you get a whole lot of boat for the money. Sorry, I guess I'm not much help.
I tend to lean toward the Hunter (being a Hunter owner myself), BUT, the Catalina is certainly an excellent boat for the money. I will say that you can get some awfully strong responses from Hunter owners vs. Catalina owners, and, I ask, why the rivalry? With either choice, you get a whole lot of boat for the money. Sorry, I guess I'm not much help.
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Ray Chapman
Have owned both
I owned a 1990 Catalina 30 and now own a 1997 Hunter 310, both had/have their faults. We changed to the Hunter because it offered some inovations that the Catalina did not have, mainly a swim platform. We like the arch because it gets the traveler out of the way and we have a convient place to mount things like the GPS and Radar Detector. I would say that service with Hunter is better than Catalina. If I have a question, I just E-Mail Hunter and have an answer in a short time. They are also good on warrenty repairs. With Catalina, I had to call the owner to get any warrenty work done. I don't know about their E-Mail help, since I have not used it. I would suggest that you go to the Hunter plant in Florida and get a tour. I did and was impressed with how they put them together. Good luck. Ray
I owned a 1990 Catalina 30 and now own a 1997 Hunter 310, both had/have their faults. We changed to the Hunter because it offered some inovations that the Catalina did not have, mainly a swim platform. We like the arch because it gets the traveler out of the way and we have a convient place to mount things like the GPS and Radar Detector. I would say that service with Hunter is better than Catalina. If I have a question, I just E-Mail Hunter and have an answer in a short time. They are also good on warrenty repairs. With Catalina, I had to call the owner to get any warrenty work done. I don't know about their E-Mail help, since I have not used it. I would suggest that you go to the Hunter plant in Florida and get a tour. I did and was impressed with how they put them together. Good luck. Ray
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Tim Schaaf
An oldie but goodie
I have owned a Hunter for almost twenty years, skippered Catalinas, and worked for a sailing school/charter outfit run by a Beneteau dealer. As everybody has said, all are good bangs for the buck, each has its pluses and minuses. Choose the one that has what you want. And my old Hunter? She is a 1980 Hunter 33, somewhat modified, somewhat beefed up. I have lived aboard her for almost sixteen years. We have sailed all over California, (including six years challenging the elements in SF Bay) and through much of the West Coast of Mexico. She has done very well offshore, mostly single-handed. Although she has demanded extensive cash and attention on occasion (what boat hasn't?) I have been happy with her, and delighted with Hunter help.We will head for the South Pacific within two years. Don't be surprised if we make it right the way around! She is an oldie but goodie.....don't be shy to own one.And, I would imagine the current Hunters are even better designed and engineered.
I have owned a Hunter for almost twenty years, skippered Catalinas, and worked for a sailing school/charter outfit run by a Beneteau dealer. As everybody has said, all are good bangs for the buck, each has its pluses and minuses. Choose the one that has what you want. And my old Hunter? She is a 1980 Hunter 33, somewhat modified, somewhat beefed up. I have lived aboard her for almost sixteen years. We have sailed all over California, (including six years challenging the elements in SF Bay) and through much of the West Coast of Mexico. She has done very well offshore, mostly single-handed. Although she has demanded extensive cash and attention on occasion (what boat hasn't?) I have been happy with her, and delighted with Hunter help.We will head for the South Pacific within two years. Don't be surprised if we make it right the way around! She is an oldie but goodie.....don't be shy to own one.And, I would imagine the current Hunters are even better designed and engineered.
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Al Sandrik
Currently own an '89 28' Hunter but...
have been shopping around looking at the newer 29-32 foot boats (Hunters and Catalina's and Benateau's). Some of the things we've found and don't like about the newer Hunters are the B n R rig and the shrouds on the 290 make it impossible for a big guy like me to make it forward easily. They cross and there's not a lot of room there. The ports on the newer Hunters open out onto the deck, ankle knockers at best and a constant replacement/leak item in the future at worst. I also am still concerned about the B n R riggs ability to downwind. The bilge on the Benateau's and the Catalina 32 where both too shallow for my tastes and the interior teak of the Benateau's too dark for my girlfriend. Overall we found the Catalina 31 to be the best of the lot so far. Nice boat for a cruising couple with a spacious V bunk (we never use the "main cabin" for anything but storage) and all of the things I'm looking for in the boat/rigging. Not sure if we'll get one this year or wait till next year (as we get married in November and need to work on the kid thing), but it looks like we're leaning toward the Catalina 31. To each their own, I guess. By the way my Hunter's been great, I'm just not sure I want a new one.
have been shopping around looking at the newer 29-32 foot boats (Hunters and Catalina's and Benateau's). Some of the things we've found and don't like about the newer Hunters are the B n R rig and the shrouds on the 290 make it impossible for a big guy like me to make it forward easily. They cross and there's not a lot of room there. The ports on the newer Hunters open out onto the deck, ankle knockers at best and a constant replacement/leak item in the future at worst. I also am still concerned about the B n R riggs ability to downwind. The bilge on the Benateau's and the Catalina 32 where both too shallow for my tastes and the interior teak of the Benateau's too dark for my girlfriend. Overall we found the Catalina 31 to be the best of the lot so far. Nice boat for a cruising couple with a spacious V bunk (we never use the "main cabin" for anything but storage) and all of the things I'm looking for in the boat/rigging. Not sure if we'll get one this year or wait till next year (as we get married in November and need to work on the kid thing), but it looks like we're leaning toward the Catalina 31. To each their own, I guess. By the way my Hunter's been great, I'm just not sure I want a new one.
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