Purchasing a 310

[gpd955]

Hello everyone. I am a former Catalina 30 owner (HN 1588) and am planning to purchase 1 of 2 310's that I have been looking at. I am wondering if anyone can give me some tips on things to look closely at (problem leaky areas, things that break easily, etc.) or good points about the boat that I should consider as I decide which one to make an offer on. Both boats are 2000's.

I plan on making a decision this week and would like to make a serious, educated and reasonable offer.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jack Manning

 

[Irish Ayes]

Jack,
We are very happy with our 2006 310. It sails great, and a perfect boat for a cruising couple or daysailors like ourselves. Lots of cockpit room (like all Catalinas) where you will be spending 90%+ of your time. We receive lots of compliments from fellow sailors and powerboaters as well. It sails as well as it looks.
Kevin

 

[paulj]

gpd955

Look at 310 Catalina that has the most options you want to have on the boat.
Then see...... does every thing work.

Use a boat surveyor and ask what he is going to look at and you give him a list of what you are concerned about to check.


paulj :troll:

 

[valcour]

Some things I recall when I was looking: Some of the earlier models had a design where the chainplate trim cover plates (on deck) could not be removed. Check for water stains on the wood bulkheads. The design of chainplate covers was upgraded in '03. Some of the lower fixed hull windows may show evidence of leaks as well. Check the cutlass bearing - mine was shot when I bought the boat with only 43 engine hours, but that may have been a commissioning error. I was warned to check the goosneck at the mast/boom for looseness but never found any boats that had that problem. There are issues with engine vibration with the m-25 xpb at low RPMs, so check all your hoses for chafe. Also check the prop shaft strut bolts for evidence of weepage. You may also want to consider the type of shaft log (dripless vs. packing) between the two and compare equipment/upgrades the previous owners have installed.

None of these issues is hard to overcome, and I think you will love the boat but may find it does not perform as well as your 30 if the 310s have wing keels (my old 27 could sail circles around my 310 with the wing, but it has all the cruising comforts and is set up for a couple instead of packing in the berths) .

Dave on Valcour #218

 

[Witzend]

Three things that will cost you if they are a problem.
1) strut alignment - make sure that when the shaft is in the center of the thru-hull that the spacing between the shaft and cutlass bearing's outer shell is equal all the way around. Mine was way off had to drill it out and epoxy a new bearing in.
2) damper plate - If you are hearing a clanking noise when engine is at low RPM and not under load, this needs to be investigated, and that is not an easy task. To change the damper you have to basically pull the engine. If clanking stay away!!!
3) Grab the rudder and wiggle it to see if there is any play in the bearing.

 

[gpd955]

gpd955

Look at 310 Catalina that has the most options you want to have on the boat.
Then see...... does every thing work.

Use a boat surveyor and ask what he is going to look at and you give him a list of what you are concerned about to check.


paulj :troll:

The two that I am looking at have everything I want. I tried everything I could and all was working. Everything else will be checked during sea trial and survey. The only thing missing is in-mast furling but that wasn't a dealbreaker! At least I will be able to sail a little closer without it!

 

[gpd955]

Jack,
We are very happy with our 2006 310. It sails great, and a perfect boat for a cruising couple or daysailors like ourselves. Lots of cockpit room (like all Catalinas) where you will be spending 90%+ of your time. We receive lots of compliments from fellow sailors and powerboaters as well. It sails as well as it looks.
Kevin

I loved my 30 and the 310 fits us perfectly...especially since it's 20+ years newer, I won't have to spend as much time working on it as I did the 30 and the ones I'm looking at have everything I want!

 

[gpd955]

There are issues with engine vibration with the m-25 xpb at low RPMs, so check all your hoses for chafe.

I noticed that when I ran both engines. They seem like they don't like anything below 800. One of them has original hoses and they all look good though. I will definitely look out for the other items too. I can manage most of them but I was near suicidal trying to change the cutless bearing on my 30! Even with the fancy tool that someone on the CO site lent me! I think I will let a professional do that if the need be!

 

[gpd955]

Three things that will cost you if they are a problem.

2) damper plate - If you are hearing a clanking noise when engine is at low RPM and not under load, this needs to be investigated, and that is not an easy task. To change the damper you have to basically pull the engine. If clanking stay away!!!

Both engines were nice and quiet but I will definitely double check that before any decision. That would not be a good thing!

 

[gpd955]

Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully I will have one of them in a few weeks! In the meantime, happy sailing!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Engines

If you get an M25 series Universal engine, we can be of great help for you. I've earlier posted on this 'site (look for earlier threads, I'll find the link for you later and post it here, too) that our C34 website has a tremendous amount of information on that engine. See:http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diesel_Engine

I found it. Reply #10, here: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=111843

I strongly urge you to read all of the posts on this C310 Forum, they have an incredible amount of information, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. There was an earlier thread on C30 to C310, too. Just go to the bottom of this page and click to see the older threads. It's called Display Options.

Enjoy.