Well, I'm still looking for that allusive Catalina 30 Mark II. I think I have narrowed my search for one with a Tall rig, bow sprit, and wing keel, however. Getting closer anyways. Most of my sailing will be here in New England and throughout the coast of Maine. Anyone with experience with said boat want to shed any light? Good, bad, or indifferent all are welcomed. Thanks in advance, Christian Sava p.s., it is fun looking!
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Gerry
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Christian, My wife and I had an '84 C-30. I'd be happy to discuss it with you. E-mail me at GMJMarine@comcast.net if you'd like to talk. Good luck with your search. I agree, it is fun looking. Gerry
Christian, My wife and I had an '84 C-30. I'd be happy to discuss it with you. E-mail me at GMJMarine@comcast.net if you'd like to talk. Good luck with your search. I agree, it is fun looking. Gerry
Wing keel
I have a C30 MkIII with a wing keel. I got a wing keel because in the north Gulf waters it can get very shallow. I do know the fin keel will point better. I've been to Maine a few times (not in my boat) and I assumed you had good deep waters. I would get a fin keel if not for the water depths of my area. Don't get me wrong, I love my boat. Good luck. Dan
I have a C30 MkIII with a wing keel. I got a wing keel because in the north Gulf waters it can get very shallow. I do know the fin keel will point better. I've been to Maine a few times (not in my boat) and I assumed you had good deep waters. I would get a fin keel if not for the water depths of my area. Don't get me wrong, I love my boat. Good luck. Dan
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Bob
Searched Long and Hard Too!
I share your experience because we found many boats on the Georgia and Florida coasts that we viewed before finding one on Lake Lanier, GA. The search was exciting. Ours is the 1988 Cat 30 with wing keel. If you plan on venturing south one day, you will be glad if you slected the wing keel so keep that in mind. The Carolina's, Georgia and Florida all have areas that require attention to ICW navigation to avoid shoaling passes and shifting inlets. No telling what this hurricane season has done to Florida as so many ICW areas are probably messed up. If on the other hand you decide that New England is where you will sail forever, I believe the deeper keel may be more attractive for offshore conditions. Either way, best of luck in your searches. Bob
I share your experience because we found many boats on the Georgia and Florida coasts that we viewed before finding one on Lake Lanier, GA. The search was exciting. Ours is the 1988 Cat 30 with wing keel. If you plan on venturing south one day, you will be glad if you slected the wing keel so keep that in mind. The Carolina's, Georgia and Florida all have areas that require attention to ICW navigation to avoid shoaling passes and shifting inlets. No telling what this hurricane season has done to Florida as so many ICW areas are probably messed up. If on the other hand you decide that New England is where you will sail forever, I believe the deeper keel may be more attractive for offshore conditions. Either way, best of luck in your searches. Bob
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Joe
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A couple of helpful hints on your search. You may already know that the Mk II version of the C-30 started in 1987. Boats earlier than this vintage are the Mk I and have a few less desirable items. In particular, the rig chain plates aren't near as robust, there were more window leaking problems and I believe the engines were a bit underpowered. So, I'd look at the 1987 and newer boats. As far as a tall rig, it depends on your area. The boat is fairly tender, so when the wind pipes up it can be overpowered rather quickly. I have an '87 standard rig and I reef regularly if the wind gets to 20-25 knots and I'm beating into it. The Catalina 30 is not the greatest pointing boat, even with a fin keel (which I have). I wouldn't want it to point less unless my cruising grounds were regularly shallow. Hope this helps. They are great boats for the money. I've had mine about 6 years now and we really enjoy it. Good luck in your search!
A couple of helpful hints on your search. You may already know that the Mk II version of the C-30 started in 1987. Boats earlier than this vintage are the Mk I and have a few less desirable items. In particular, the rig chain plates aren't near as robust, there were more window leaking problems and I believe the engines were a bit underpowered. So, I'd look at the 1987 and newer boats. As far as a tall rig, it depends on your area. The boat is fairly tender, so when the wind pipes up it can be overpowered rather quickly. I have an '87 standard rig and I reef regularly if the wind gets to 20-25 knots and I'm beating into it. The Catalina 30 is not the greatest pointing boat, even with a fin keel (which I have). I wouldn't want it to point less unless my cruising grounds were regularly shallow. Hope this helps. They are great boats for the money. I've had mine about 6 years now and we really enjoy it. Good luck in your search!
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Eric
I like my 83 trbs
My '83 trbs has the M25 engine. I don't feel that it is underpowered and am pretty sure it has the same HP as the M25xp. I have the fin keel. I've raced against other boats with wing keel and I definitely can point better. In fact, I think the C30 points as well as any cruising boat out there. I think the older boats have one big advantage. My boat has a rounded floor near the corners. I understand that the newer C30 has a totally flat floor. They accomplished this by raising the floor level thereby cutting down on headroom. I have tall friends who crew for me and I've am amazed that someone 6'2" can walk around the cabin and not hit their head!
My '83 trbs has the M25 engine. I don't feel that it is underpowered and am pretty sure it has the same HP as the M25xp. I have the fin keel. I've raced against other boats with wing keel and I definitely can point better. In fact, I think the C30 points as well as any cruising boat out there. I think the older boats have one big advantage. My boat has a rounded floor near the corners. I understand that the newer C30 has a totally flat floor. They accomplished this by raising the floor level thereby cutting down on headroom. I have tall friends who crew for me and I've am amazed that someone 6'2" can walk around the cabin and not hit their head!
Finding a C30 TRBS
The info about Mark I C30's being under powered is not entirely accurate. True enough, the early C30 diesels(5411) were terribly under powered at 11hp for a 10.2k pound boat, but Catalina upgraded the engines to the 21 hp Universal M-25 in 1983 which is quite sufficient. I found an '84 C30 TRBS after a good bit of searching. It's a great all around boat. It's a good bit faster than the C30 standard rig. As far as being over powered when the wind pipes up, route your reef lines back to the cockpit and make it easy on yourself to reef at a moments notice. My main sail has two deep reefs for pretty much any wind conditions I encounter and my 135% genoa is easily rolled back to 90-100% if needed. What I've found is that if you're performance minded(but not a racer) the best upgrades you can make to a C30 TRBS are: a clean bottom and folding prop(Flex-O-Folds are nice), a 135% genoa in good condition, and a fully battoned main in good condition. You can't believe what a difference there is between fully battoned and partially battoned main sails. Well worth the money. -Jack
The info about Mark I C30's being under powered is not entirely accurate. True enough, the early C30 diesels(5411) were terribly under powered at 11hp for a 10.2k pound boat, but Catalina upgraded the engines to the 21 hp Universal M-25 in 1983 which is quite sufficient. I found an '84 C30 TRBS after a good bit of searching. It's a great all around boat. It's a good bit faster than the C30 standard rig. As far as being over powered when the wind pipes up, route your reef lines back to the cockpit and make it easy on yourself to reef at a moments notice. My main sail has two deep reefs for pretty much any wind conditions I encounter and my 135% genoa is easily rolled back to 90-100% if needed. What I've found is that if you're performance minded(but not a racer) the best upgrades you can make to a C30 TRBS are: a clean bottom and folding prop(Flex-O-Folds are nice), a 135% genoa in good condition, and a fully battoned main in good condition. You can't believe what a difference there is between fully battoned and partially battoned main sails. Well worth the money. -Jack
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