I currently have a 22' sailboat with an outboard. Id like to move up to a 28-30'Catalina. My wife prefers maybe a 25' so we can still have an outboard. What are the pros+cons to an inboard motor? Is the cost of maintenance much more? Do companies offer dockside service when there's a problem or do I need to tow it to a marina that specializes in inboards?
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go for it
Dave: Did just that last year sold my Hunter 22 and went with the Catalina 30. What a great move, the wife and two kids (8 & 11yoa) love the C-30. The inboard is great. Dont notice an odor and the maintainence I have been able to do myself so far. I've Winterized, commissioned and a few trouble shoots and I'm not mechanically inclined. There are a few companies around that do dockside. I have found the folks on this sitre an the C-30 site to be of great help and help you through any problems. grab abook and try it out. Ron Chels-A-Bella 1984 C-30 3532
Dave: Did just that last year sold my Hunter 22 and went with the Catalina 30. What a great move, the wife and two kids (8 & 11yoa) love the C-30. The inboard is great. Dont notice an odor and the maintainence I have been able to do myself so far. I've Winterized, commissioned and a few trouble shoots and I'm not mechanically inclined. There are a few companies around that do dockside. I have found the folks on this sitre an the C-30 site to be of great help and help you through any problems. grab abook and try it out. Ron Chels-A-Bella 1984 C-30 3532
I prefer inboard
Several years ago I moved up from a 17 foot sailboat (outboard powered) to a Catalina 27 with a diesel inboard. When making the move, I was ready for a "big boat" feel, with a wheel and inboard engine. The diesel inboard (Universal M-18, 14hp) is powerful (for a C27), reliable, fuel efficent (.25 to .5 gph, depending on cruise rpm), and a pleasure in a heavy sea. Inboard engines have their shaft and prop mounted low; they stay in the water in rough seas. Outboards are mounted on the transom, and even a long shaft model is prone to being lifted out of the water in heavy seas. I daysail in the ocean, and my home inlet tends to be rough. These reasons alone were enough for me to prefer the inboard. The super fuel economy and reliability of the diesel are big bonuses. I've been able to perform all routine maintenance on my diesel (filters, fluids, belts, water pump impellers, etc). For a typical year (50 hours of usage) I can maintain the engine very nicely myself for less than $100 in parts and supplies. For unusual or emergency service, you can find a marina or service facility who will send someone to your location. Randy
Several years ago I moved up from a 17 foot sailboat (outboard powered) to a Catalina 27 with a diesel inboard. When making the move, I was ready for a "big boat" feel, with a wheel and inboard engine. The diesel inboard (Universal M-18, 14hp) is powerful (for a C27), reliable, fuel efficent (.25 to .5 gph, depending on cruise rpm), and a pleasure in a heavy sea. Inboard engines have their shaft and prop mounted low; they stay in the water in rough seas. Outboards are mounted on the transom, and even a long shaft model is prone to being lifted out of the water in heavy seas. I daysail in the ocean, and my home inlet tends to be rough. These reasons alone were enough for me to prefer the inboard. The super fuel economy and reliability of the diesel are big bonuses. I've been able to perform all routine maintenance on my diesel (filters, fluids, belts, water pump impellers, etc). For a typical year (50 hours of usage) I can maintain the engine very nicely myself for less than $100 in parts and supplies. For unusual or emergency service, you can find a marina or service facility who will send someone to your location. Randy
OK here's a vote for the OB
I sail a Catalina 27 with a 15hp OB in the lazarette which is open thru the transom, as from the factory. The 15 gives me about 5.7 knots at 3/4 throttle (hull speed is 6.2). It has electric start and remote controls allowing you to adjust throttle/shift from the cockpit. It gives me a lot of the advantages of an IB, while none of the complications. It's quiet, as the OB is under the lazarette hatch, much quieter than a diesel Cat 30 where the motor is in the cabin. While I do most of the service myself, it takes about 1/2 hour to disconnect the remote cables and pull it out to take to the shop. The OB tilts up out of the water, so I don't have the drag or corrosion issues. I've used this setup for about 26 years and get about 10 years of very reliable use out of a motor before it starts being cranky and I replace it. I can buy a brand new one for about $2K. (The only problem with "buying a new one" is that it has to be a 2-stroke to fit in the well without surgery to the lazarette.) The OB is a long shaft, and since it's in the lazarette and not on a bracket, the prop NEVER comes out of the water when running, even is very choppy seas. The lazarette has room for 2 Tempo 7.5 gal tanks, giving me about 14-18 hours motoring depending on the speed. I used to have a 9.9 which was great as well but didn't push the boat as well thru choppy water and headwinds, but was easier on gas. And if I'm away from home and for some reason the 15hp won't run (it happened once), the 6hp dinghy OB that I have mounted on a bracket on the stern rail will push the boat at about 4.5-5 knots, runs on the same fuel and uses the same fuel line connectors. The electric start OB has an alternator that puts out about 5 amps. enough to run the running lights and instruments and put some juicce back into the battery. And even thought it's electric start, I can pull start it if the battery craps out. I sail in the California Delta (fresh water), SF Bay and the NorCal coast, from Monterey (90 miles south of San Francisco) to Bodega Bay (50 miles north).
I sail a Catalina 27 with a 15hp OB in the lazarette which is open thru the transom, as from the factory. The 15 gives me about 5.7 knots at 3/4 throttle (hull speed is 6.2). It has electric start and remote controls allowing you to adjust throttle/shift from the cockpit. It gives me a lot of the advantages of an IB, while none of the complications. It's quiet, as the OB is under the lazarette hatch, much quieter than a diesel Cat 30 where the motor is in the cabin. While I do most of the service myself, it takes about 1/2 hour to disconnect the remote cables and pull it out to take to the shop. The OB tilts up out of the water, so I don't have the drag or corrosion issues. I've used this setup for about 26 years and get about 10 years of very reliable use out of a motor before it starts being cranky and I replace it. I can buy a brand new one for about $2K. (The only problem with "buying a new one" is that it has to be a 2-stroke to fit in the well without surgery to the lazarette.) The OB is a long shaft, and since it's in the lazarette and not on a bracket, the prop NEVER comes out of the water when running, even is very choppy seas. The lazarette has room for 2 Tempo 7.5 gal tanks, giving me about 14-18 hours motoring depending on the speed. I used to have a 9.9 which was great as well but didn't push the boat as well thru choppy water and headwinds, but was easier on gas. And if I'm away from home and for some reason the 15hp won't run (it happened once), the 6hp dinghy OB that I have mounted on a bracket on the stern rail will push the boat at about 4.5-5 knots, runs on the same fuel and uses the same fuel line connectors. The electric start OB has an alternator that puts out about 5 amps. enough to run the running lights and instruments and put some juicce back into the battery. And even thought it's electric start, I can pull start it if the battery craps out. I sail in the California Delta (fresh water), SF Bay and the NorCal coast, from Monterey (90 miles south of San Francisco) to Bodega Bay (50 miles north).
learning curve
Major difference I found was the number of systems that you are dealing with from engine, head, electrical, water(hot & cold). Drop me an email and maybe we can arrange a sail. I'm in Apponaug harbor Greenwich Bay redasilva15@yahoo.com
Major difference I found was the number of systems that you are dealing with from engine, head, electrical, water(hot & cold). Drop me an email and maybe we can arrange a sail. I'm in Apponaug harbor Greenwich Bay redasilva15@yahoo.com
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