Looking at Catalinas

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 10, 2012

Why look at only one boat brand? Not to disparage Catalina but the specifications you mentioned are met or exceeded by all the competitive brands. More importantly, in a used boat purchase, it's more about the care and maintenance the boat has enjoyed in it's life than the name plate on it's side.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Jul 10, 2012

My wife and I had many of those same items on our wish list. We ended up with the C310. We love it.

To us, nothing beats the walk around queen for births until u get to the 38' boats. Also, the cockpit is great. Very easy to reach winches and lines for sailing and comfortable for 6 under sail. We have had 12 sitting in the cockpit at the dock. 8 out sailing once but everyone on the boat was an experienced sailor. Typically it is just my wife, dog and I.

For sailing performance, under 8 kts she really doesn't move. 10-15 kts is her sweat spot and 7 kts of speed is pretty easy with a clean bottom. We have had her is some decent weather with no real concerns. Most recently we were in Vineyard Sound with 8-12 foot waves (some of them breakers) and 25-30 kts of wind. She handled it great with deep reefed sails. Even when we had to turn and have them as following seas. We still averaged 4.5 vmg with those conditions.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions on the C310.

Clark · Jul 11, 2012

Which Hunters don't have lead keels?

jrowan · Jul 11, 2012

Take your time & look at as many boats as you can. When you settle on a model, look at as many years and varieties as u can find (ie: tall rig, bow sprit, etc.). The thrill of the hunt is one of the best parts. Consider chartering a boat, especially in Md. check out Annapolis & Baltimore. There are a ton of boats 4 sale. Never pay the asking price, and buy as much boat as U can afford & comfortably sail. U usually don't regret a bigger boat, but I have surely regretted boats that wound up being too small. But remember it's not just being able to afford buying her, its keepin her that's the real expense. Slips over 30 feet get pricey. If sailing in the Cheaspaeake I would look for a shoal draft keel. A wing design is a good compromise. My deeper draft 5.3 restricts anchorages, etc. Good luck & post the winner.

Stu Jackson · Jul 11, 2012

Catalina over the years has made a number of different boats, by that I mean not only the size, but the type. Usually those ending in a 0 are much larger and sometimes wider, and they were designed for a different demographic, like, for instance, tall people. Other earlier models, like the C30, C34 & C36 were more "traditional" in lines and lower coach-roofs. Our C34 and I'm sure the C36 are great in light air. Also check the rigging. Some are single some are double spreaders.

Most all Catalinas have active associations and great websites to avoid reinventing the wheel and to ask questions to knowledgeable skippers.

Happy hunting.

shipwreck66 · Jul 13, 2012

For comfort the 310 is great with the full size walkaround bed, but, the cockpit seems a little cramped. The C34 is fantastic, great handling, but hard to find. Good luck.

SceptreSailor · Jul 14, 2012

I love my 310. I am on the lower Chesapeake and have no problems with my 6'3" draft. The 310 feels like a bigger boat but can easily be single handed and we love the interior.

Skipper Ken

dswanson13476 · Jul 16, 2012

We have a 2007 C320 MK II that we purchased in California and sailed in San Diego for 3 years and how sail her on the Puget Sound Great boat for ocean and Sound sailing. Queen berth aft, huge cockpit, sails like a dream. Can't go wrong with a Catalina. I have owned a Hunter 30 for about 8 years, the Catalina seems better built with a lead keel instead of iron, better fittings, heavier and more solid through the waves. can't go wrong with a Catalina. Research them through the strong whets associations and have a very thorough survey performed.

jrowan · Jul 16, 2012

A 6 ft 3" draft keel on the Chesapeake seems pretty deep for our thin water around these parts. If I had to do it again I would look for a shoal draft wing keel. What you loose a lil in performance in, you gain in piece of mind not running aground as easily. I have looked aboard the newer Hunters, and models over 30 feet are very spacious and really pretty luxurious insid the cabin. Many also have the seperate shower stall as well. They may not be built to sail around Cape Horn, but then again Catalinas are mostly not built to blue water type durability standards either. I agree that I do not like steel keels. But Catalinas sure have their maintenacne problems at the keel attachments, ie: the smile & rotted mast steps, etc., so we're not so great in that dept. I would but another Catalina, but if the deal was right on a newer, quality built competitors boat.....

Joe Diver · Jul 16, 2012

While I do in general tend to be brand loyal, (I'm an Apple fanboi, love my Jeeps, only motorcycle is a Harley) when it comes to my sailboat I'm not. Not even close.

My Catalina 25 met all my needs as a first sailboat. Over the last year of sailing, and over the next couple....I'm learning much. What I really want. What I really need. What I can live without. What I can and cannot fix. What is a serious flaw.....what is an "eh, so what". I'm making a list.

When I start looking for my next boat.....it will be the one that most closely matches my list....I'm not looking at brands, age, price (within budget of course)....just the list....and of course, I have to be attracted to it as well....

THAT is how I will buy my next boat......It would have been impossible to do this with my first boat, as I just didn't know, couldn't know, these things.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 16, 2012

swampcreek said:
Thanks for all the info, while other brands aren't out of the question, the lead keel pulls the Catalinas ahead for us. I do love the thrill of hunt!

All contemporary Hunters have lead keels. Sounds like this is one of those rumors that create incorrect perceptions. There may have been Hunters of the past that are exceptions but virtually all Beneteaus of a certain recent era had iron keels and many Catalinas had wood past supports in the (wet) bilge so generalities about quality are a dangerous thing.

When buying a used boat, far more important than the name on the side is the quality of it's maintenance history.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Jul 19, 2012

The 310 has a rounded cockpit, it easily will fit 8 people, 10 with two in the perch seats. I would not sail that way but you become the hangout boat on the dock or in raft ups. The jib sheet wenches are reachable from behind the helm.

The 320 has a T shaped cockpit, bench in the back and one on each side but not connected. Probably better for sailing with a crew but seems a little more cramped. The jib sheets are not reachable from behind the helm.

Defiantly get on both. We immediately felt the 310 was better for us and only looked at the one 320.

By the way, Catalina stopped the wooden keel stubs in 1985. Any ones built since 1986 have all glass keel stubs. No more Catalina smile. Well, except the one you get from sailing them

CCHer · Jul 19, 2012

Swamp, I will be selling my 310 soon, moving to a 355. She's been a great boat for us for the past few years but like you looking for a bit more room for long term cruising. She's very well equipped (including radar) and mainatained. If after looking at different models and you like the 310 let me know.

Big Windy · Jul 19, 2012

A C320 with a wing keel would be perfect on the Chesapeake. I sent you a PM.