We want to buy our 2nd. boat. We had a Catalina 27 and now want to upgrade to a 30ft boat with walkthrough transom. In order to keep the cost down we are also looking at used boats. Any comments on what to look for and watch out for? We are trying to compare Hunter and Catalina 30. Appreciate any comments and suggestions. Thanks Wolf
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If you're gonna move, then
Wolf: If you are gonna move up, I'd suggest that you move up to at least a 33 or 35. These boats tend to be easier to sail than your 27 because of rigging and the setup on these new boats. I would have purchased a H'34 instead of my 31' if I could have made the same deal when I bought mine. We went from a H'25 to the H'31 and it was the best thing that I ever did (don't tell my wife what I just said).
Wolf: If you are gonna move up, I'd suggest that you move up to at least a 33 or 35. These boats tend to be easier to sail than your 27 because of rigging and the setup on these new boats. I would have purchased a H'34 instead of my 31' if I could have made the same deal when I bought mine. We went from a H'25 to the H'31 and it was the best thing that I ever did (don't tell my wife what I just said).
Hunter vs. Catalina
Can you afford a Catalina 34? A boat much more worth looking at (in my personal opinion, of course...) as opposed to the Catalina 30.
Can you afford a Catalina 34? A boat much more worth looking at (in my personal opinion, of course...) as opposed to the Catalina 30.
To win buy H340
But if you want to beat the Catalina 320 or 34s, but the Hunter 340 and have a field day. Even popped a C & C 40 last year. Course it was my wind (light) and I had a maxim prop, but all that is hard to tell when one is watching from the shore. Ego trip - will last me several years <grin>
But if you want to beat the Catalina 320 or 34s, but the Hunter 340 and have a field day. Even popped a C & C 40 last year. Course it was my wind (light) and I had a maxim prop, but all that is hard to tell when one is watching from the shore. Ego trip - will last me several years <grin>
I went from 27' Catalina to Hunter 34
I sailed a Catalina 27 for many years and loved her. However, I moved up to a 1986 Hunter 34 and love this boat as well. I sail on the Chesapeake Bay and have found the H34 a great boat for the price. The interior is outstanding with the exception of the aft bunk.
I sailed a Catalina 27 for many years and loved her. However, I moved up to a 1986 Hunter 34 and love this boat as well. I sail on the Chesapeake Bay and have found the H34 a great boat for the price. The interior is outstanding with the exception of the aft bunk.
A buddy of mine...
...went from a Catalina 27 to a Catalina 30 in the hope that his wife would be more inclined to join him out on the water. She wasn't. He wishes he'd held on to the 27, which as you know is a remarkable boat......... As regards the Hunter/Catalina mix, both are production boats of similar quality, ford/chevy-wise. Catalina tends to stick more with tried and true design, while Hunter tends toward innovation. Both companies have made some huge design mistakes in the past, but by and large have managed to build some very servicable yachts. Some catalinas are better than others, and some hunters are better than others. As far as the used-boat market is concerned, you will be better off researching a specific model than the overall make.
...went from a Catalina 27 to a Catalina 30 in the hope that his wife would be more inclined to join him out on the water. She wasn't. He wishes he'd held on to the 27, which as you know is a remarkable boat......... As regards the Hunter/Catalina mix, both are production boats of similar quality, ford/chevy-wise. Catalina tends to stick more with tried and true design, while Hunter tends toward innovation. Both companies have made some huge design mistakes in the past, but by and large have managed to build some very servicable yachts. Some catalinas are better than others, and some hunters are better than others. As far as the used-boat market is concerned, you will be better off researching a specific model than the overall make.
i moved from catalina to hunter
i went from a cat 27, which i loved, to a 1985 h31....i had always planned on moving up to a cat 30, but when i compared it to the h31, i found that the h31 pointed better and was faster....the only regret i ever had was that i didn't buy a h31....i remedied that by buying a 40.5 2 yrs ago....altho i'm a hunter convert, you certainly won't go wrong with a cat 30 or a 34....i have a friend with a cat 34, which i think is one of catalina's finest designs...like another poster said, it is more a personal choice of "classic" vs "innovative" design...good luck to you
i went from a cat 27, which i loved, to a 1985 h31....i had always planned on moving up to a cat 30, but when i compared it to the h31, i found that the h31 pointed better and was faster....the only regret i ever had was that i didn't buy a h31....i remedied that by buying a 40.5 2 yrs ago....altho i'm a hunter convert, you certainly won't go wrong with a cat 30 or a 34....i have a friend with a cat 34, which i think is one of catalina's finest designs...like another poster said, it is more a personal choice of "classic" vs "innovative" design...good luck to you
I've had both
and they are both good boats for the money. The previous posters are correct in that it is a personal prefrence. Which one do I like the best? Then buy it! Mark Johnson
and they are both good boats for the money. The previous posters are correct in that it is a personal prefrence. Which one do I like the best? Then buy it! Mark Johnson
Cat 34
I find the Catalina 34 to be a winning mid-market design in that size range. The H34s are also handsome boats, and apparently fast. I have been told there is need to reef earlier in a blow in the H34, however. To my eye, at least, the Catalina design is classic, the interior has a more "open" feel to it, and there is no contest between the aft "stateroom" berth layout between the two, the Cat 34's being far more appealing to me.
I find the Catalina 34 to be a winning mid-market design in that size range. The H34s are also handsome boats, and apparently fast. I have been told there is need to reef earlier in a blow in the H34, however. To my eye, at least, the Catalina design is classic, the interior has a more "open" feel to it, and there is no contest between the aft "stateroom" berth layout between the two, the Cat 34's being far more appealing to me.
remember the limitations of your catalina27
Your 27 catalina, unlike the hunter 27, had many short comings, no opening ports, a companionway too long too wide, no bridgedeck, a companionway slider even wider than the wide companionway, nasrrow side decks, cluttered with in the middle chainplates, stansions also limiting acessability to go foward, no anchor well, a cockpit you can throw a party in, high freeboard, inboard engine acessability, that would make houdini curse,though in the 30 footer, it's under the L shaped settee, now tell me do you really want to buy a bigger catalina 27, check out the 80 to 83 Hunter 30's or 33's, all those things you put up with, before, You don't have to, and let me know what you think, and hey do You really need to walk through your stern ????
Your 27 catalina, unlike the hunter 27, had many short comings, no opening ports, a companionway too long too wide, no bridgedeck, a companionway slider even wider than the wide companionway, nasrrow side decks, cluttered with in the middle chainplates, stansions also limiting acessability to go foward, no anchor well, a cockpit you can throw a party in, high freeboard, inboard engine acessability, that would make houdini curse,though in the 30 footer, it's under the L shaped settee, now tell me do you really want to buy a bigger catalina 27, check out the 80 to 83 Hunter 30's or 33's, all those things you put up with, before, You don't have to, and let me know what you think, and hey do You really need to walk through your stern ????
Why not ask the Cat owners?
Why not ask the owners of the Catalina the same question? Paste the link below to your web brouser and ask them. http://www.c-2.com/forums/menu.tpl?fno=22 I am on my second Hunter. I went from a 1980 H27 to a new 1999 H310. I went to the Strickly Sail boat show in Chicago and shop at "all" of the boats in my price range. Hunter surpast all others "by far!!!" The new Cat 310 is $15k more than the H310-320 and you get a lot less boat with the Catalina!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey, H310 btw/ I like being able to walk through my transom!
Why not ask the owners of the Catalina the same question? Paste the link below to your web brouser and ask them. http://www.c-2.com/forums/menu.tpl?fno=22 I am on my second Hunter. I went from a 1980 H27 to a new 1999 H310. I went to the Strickly Sail boat show in Chicago and shop at "all" of the boats in my price range. Hunter surpast all others "by far!!!" The new Cat 310 is $15k more than the H310-320 and you get a lot less boat with the Catalina!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey, H310 btw/ I like being able to walk through my transom!
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