Screwy Designs: What were those guys thinking?

[quadrille38]

I'm not sure you can make such a blanket statement about Catalina sailboats. None of the Catalinas I have been on had inaccessible stanchion bases. I have seen many smaller boats that have NO stanchions....especially racing rigged sport boats.
I have never been on a C28, though.

Owned a C34 and access was awful. Friend had a C 30 and there was a least one that was completely inaccessible.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Owned a C34 and access was awful.

I wouldn't say it's awful, I'd say it is difficult without the right tools. I've4 redone many of mine, and all it takes is a socket extender and a Universal joint. Given where they are located, I've seen a LOT worse.

 

[Joe]

A good owner's association or manufacturer's discussion group will have information regarding their boat's design and workmanship issues. They will also list known corrections and fixes for them... When I acquired my 77 C27 in 1999, Catalina customer service sent me a packet which included such a list. It was also available on the owner's site. Many of the flaws and problems I wouldn't have known about with this package. Fortunately, one of the previous owner's of my boat padi attention and made most of the recommended upgrades and retrofits. Lucky me.

There is no perfect boat. Rather than whine and complain about some design flaw in your boat, which is a waste of time, why not discuss adaptations, retrofits, or fixes you may have discovered. In many cases, the factory is already aware of the issue and has made changes and maybe even created retrofit solution.

 

[Jim 5757]

Morgans are generally thought as a well-built boat but they too have their odd engineering stuff. Stantions are through bolted + easily accessed from below but inner liner is 3/4" below the deck and nothing in between. Liner is only about 1/8" thick.