Well, the boat is on the hard for the winter, wrestling the winter cover on it was easier than I feared it would be. I’ve got a couple more projects I’d like to get to before it gets too cold, but basically (here in Michigan) the season is over.
After almost 30 years of sailing on boats from 11’ to 18’, in some ways this has been my rookie season. There have been a lot of “firsts,” and a big learning curve. I just wanted to thank all of the people that have answered my many, many questions. Not that I think I’m done asking, but I wanted to acknowledge the help I’ve received.
Some observations:
Under sail, the Catalina 320 handles remarkably like my Capri 18. Probably shouldn’t surprise me, same Genoa to main ratio, same keel, the shroud angle pretty similar. One difference is that at 11,000 lbs, she doesn’t seem to care where I sit.
Under power it feels very different, and I can’t quite explain why. It’s quieter in the cockpit, but there is definitely a smell below. It’s harder to hold your course under power than it is under sail. With the tiller and the outboard, the Capri was really easy - it just went where I pointed it. Big boat under power likes to wander.
Lots of things - like docking, raising the main, and carrying the sails in the bag, are just harder with size (and I haven’t bought bottom paint yet!). An 18’ boat slides into the smallest slip in the marina like a toddler putting on daddy’s shoes. Slipping an 11’9” beam in a 12‘ well is terrifying. I was glad there was no wind that day.
Ultimately, for me, the test for whether this was a good thing to do is, “do I miss the boat when I’m not on it?” And yeah, I do. A lot. I’m looking forward to another couple days of projects in November, and I’m really looking forward to launch in May.
My wife is already talking about a Traverse Bay cruise next year (we have sailed traverse bay many times and love it). I told her that’s a 400 nm round trip just to get us TO the bay, she didn’t seem deterred, “same distance as our delivery cruise this year!”
My winter goal is to take an online marine diesel maintenance course, then the ideal follow up would be a hands on Westerbeke 30B course. I doubt that I could fine one that specific, but I think my local community college offers something.
Anyway, thanks again for all the help on this forum. If your sailing season continues, I wish you fair winds. If you are stocking up firewood and hunkering down for the next few months, I wish you stew, mulled cider, warm blankets, and a great season next year.
John
After almost 30 years of sailing on boats from 11’ to 18’, in some ways this has been my rookie season. There have been a lot of “firsts,” and a big learning curve. I just wanted to thank all of the people that have answered my many, many questions. Not that I think I’m done asking, but I wanted to acknowledge the help I’ve received.
Some observations:
Under sail, the Catalina 320 handles remarkably like my Capri 18. Probably shouldn’t surprise me, same Genoa to main ratio, same keel, the shroud angle pretty similar. One difference is that at 11,000 lbs, she doesn’t seem to care where I sit.
Under power it feels very different, and I can’t quite explain why. It’s quieter in the cockpit, but there is definitely a smell below. It’s harder to hold your course under power than it is under sail. With the tiller and the outboard, the Capri was really easy - it just went where I pointed it. Big boat under power likes to wander.
Lots of things - like docking, raising the main, and carrying the sails in the bag, are just harder with size (and I haven’t bought bottom paint yet!). An 18’ boat slides into the smallest slip in the marina like a toddler putting on daddy’s shoes. Slipping an 11’9” beam in a 12‘ well is terrifying. I was glad there was no wind that day.
Ultimately, for me, the test for whether this was a good thing to do is, “do I miss the boat when I’m not on it?” And yeah, I do. A lot. I’m looking forward to another couple days of projects in November, and I’m really looking forward to launch in May.
My wife is already talking about a Traverse Bay cruise next year (we have sailed traverse bay many times and love it). I told her that’s a 400 nm round trip just to get us TO the bay, she didn’t seem deterred, “same distance as our delivery cruise this year!”
My winter goal is to take an online marine diesel maintenance course, then the ideal follow up would be a hands on Westerbeke 30B course. I doubt that I could fine one that specific, but I think my local community college offers something.
Anyway, thanks again for all the help on this forum. If your sailing season continues, I wish you fair winds. If you are stocking up firewood and hunkering down for the next few months, I wish you stew, mulled cider, warm blankets, and a great season next year.
John
