WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM CATALINA 36MKII OWNERS ON HOW THE BOAT HANDLES ON OFFSHORE PASSAGES AND COASTAL CRUISING AND THE COMFORT BELOW DECK AND IT'S PERFORMANCE ON ANY KIND OF WEATHER. WE ARE SERIOUSLY THINKING TO PURCHASE THIS BOAT...GIVE US A REASON NOT TO. THANKYOU FOR YOUR INFO. ERNIE
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Rick
Comfortable Cruising
Hi Ernie: Mark II or not the Catalina 36 is a fine and comfortable boat for cruising at a modest price. I bought our 36 for several reasons: The largest boat that I felt at the time could be easily single-handed if required, the reputation of Catalina boats for handling ease, the appointments and finish and comfort factor, the reasonable cost compared to all 36' class boats, and the availability of a shoal draft model. If faced with the decision again, I would buy again. We have spent many enjoyable and comfortable hours aboard, both sailing offshore and inshore and overnite. We have added a genset also and researched the space availability prior to purchase. This has added greatly to the comfort. Hope this helps your decision. The only reason not to buy is the lousy stock market. Happy Sailing. Rick S/V Illusion Catalina 36 no. 770
Hi Ernie: Mark II or not the Catalina 36 is a fine and comfortable boat for cruising at a modest price. I bought our 36 for several reasons: The largest boat that I felt at the time could be easily single-handed if required, the reputation of Catalina boats for handling ease, the appointments and finish and comfort factor, the reasonable cost compared to all 36' class boats, and the availability of a shoal draft model. If faced with the decision again, I would buy again. We have spent many enjoyable and comfortable hours aboard, both sailing offshore and inshore and overnite. We have added a genset also and researched the space availability prior to purchase. This has added greatly to the comfort. Hope this helps your decision. The only reason not to buy is the lousy stock market. Happy Sailing. Rick S/V Illusion Catalina 36 no. 770
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Rick
More Reasons
Hi Ernie: Check out www.catalina36.org for more reasons. At the bottom of the page are more favorite articles on the boat. Best Sailing Rick S/V Illusion
Hi Ernie: Check out www.catalina36.org for more reasons. At the bottom of the page are more favorite articles on the boat. Best Sailing Rick S/V Illusion
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Tom
Cat 36 MKII --- Very Sweet Boat !
I have a '99 CAt 36MKII and it is really a great boat ! As for Sailing I only have had 2 seasons so far but I have had a few "heavy weather" days and she handled great (even a little better than I expected). I was running from Watch Hill RI to Newport RI for The Catalina rendezvous in 8-10 foot seas with a steady 25-30 knot winds (with gusts much higher). I was going a constant 7 knots (with knotmeter saying I maxed at 8.3knts !) I might also add that I did this singled handed. She really doesn't heel too much either which also keeps the sailing more comfortable. She really is set up very well to single-hand. And I don't think you will find a better Salon area on a boat this size anywhere (I was just at the Norwalk CT Boat show) Livable space is just awesome especially with the game table on the starboard side. Some boats might have a little higher rear berth, But hell, if you make the boat 6 feet high off the waterline (aka Hunters) then you will get more room in the aft berth. But at what cost? --- Windage and poor sailing characteristics! The Cat 36 MKII in my opinion is a very pretty boat, sleek lines and not really "trendy" looking but still classic and attractive....Why do you think they've already made over 2100 of these boats so far and the demand is still high? Because it really is a great boat. This design (hull, deck, interior, sailing) really hit the sweet spot, everything works so well together, if they changed the hull design just a bit or the deck, etc, then they would have thrown off the whole boat. All the hardware on the boat is solid and beefy gear mostly made by Garhauer, Shaefer, amd Lewmar. There are other very nice boats on the market. The Hunters are not *bad*, but I believe they sacrifice sailing characteristics for so called "curb appeal" features to naive buyers (e.g. motorboaters looking to buy a sailboat). But I will give them credit for trying to integrate some new and innovative features into their boats....the only problem you might be stuck with some on your boat that are "duds". The Beneteau are really starting to drop their price's and make a decent boat, but I think they are starting to be a little like Hunter...they are starting to get cheap on some things that are important (like Beneteau 35.5 like the Hunter 36 only have a measly 27HP engine where as the Cat 36 has a 35HP engine---It does make a difference). Plus the hardware on the Beneteau's are a little wimpy (their way to save money) I thought the roller furler they had on was very undersized. But I will give it to Beneteau as far as cabinetry
I have a '99 CAt 36MKII and it is really a great boat ! As for Sailing I only have had 2 seasons so far but I have had a few "heavy weather" days and she handled great (even a little better than I expected). I was running from Watch Hill RI to Newport RI for The Catalina rendezvous in 8-10 foot seas with a steady 25-30 knot winds (with gusts much higher). I was going a constant 7 knots (with knotmeter saying I maxed at 8.3knts !) I might also add that I did this singled handed. She really doesn't heel too much either which also keeps the sailing more comfortable. She really is set up very well to single-hand. And I don't think you will find a better Salon area on a boat this size anywhere (I was just at the Norwalk CT Boat show) Livable space is just awesome especially with the game table on the starboard side. Some boats might have a little higher rear berth, But hell, if you make the boat 6 feet high off the waterline (aka Hunters) then you will get more room in the aft berth. But at what cost? --- Windage and poor sailing characteristics! The Cat 36 MKII in my opinion is a very pretty boat, sleek lines and not really "trendy" looking but still classic and attractive....Why do you think they've already made over 2100 of these boats so far and the demand is still high? Because it really is a great boat. This design (hull, deck, interior, sailing) really hit the sweet spot, everything works so well together, if they changed the hull design just a bit or the deck, etc, then they would have thrown off the whole boat. All the hardware on the boat is solid and beefy gear mostly made by Garhauer, Shaefer, amd Lewmar. There are other very nice boats on the market. The Hunters are not *bad*, but I believe they sacrifice sailing characteristics for so called "curb appeal" features to naive buyers (e.g. motorboaters looking to buy a sailboat). But I will give them credit for trying to integrate some new and innovative features into their boats....the only problem you might be stuck with some on your boat that are "duds". The Beneteau are really starting to drop their price's and make a decent boat, but I think they are starting to be a little like Hunter...they are starting to get cheap on some things that are important (like Beneteau 35.5 like the Hunter 36 only have a measly 27HP engine where as the Cat 36 has a 35HP engine---It does make a difference). Plus the hardware on the Beneteau's are a little wimpy (their way to save money) I thought the roller furler they had on was very undersized. But I will give it to Beneteau as far as cabinetry
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Jim
My only C36 complaint
My only complaint about my brand new C36 is that my wife and I find the cockpit too wide for a couple to sail safely in the typically windy conditions of San Francisco Bay. Movement about the cockpit while tacking or heeled presents a hazard in our opinion. Of course because we're in our early fifties we feel this way. Twenty years ago I'm sure we would have felt differently. There is no perfect boat, but we're pleased so far with our choice. We could have purchased a 38 but felt the 36 was prettier and enough boat for two. I'm convinced we made the right choice, overall.
My only complaint about my brand new C36 is that my wife and I find the cockpit too wide for a couple to sail safely in the typically windy conditions of San Francisco Bay. Movement about the cockpit while tacking or heeled presents a hazard in our opinion. Of course because we're in our early fifties we feel this way. Twenty years ago I'm sure we would have felt differently. There is no perfect boat, but we're pleased so far with our choice. We could have purchased a 38 but felt the 36 was prettier and enough boat for two. I'm convinced we made the right choice, overall.
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Gary Jensen
Had a 36
I moved up to a 380 in 2000 from a 36. If you are going cruising, definitely would look at the 380. If you intend to sail locally, then go with the 36. They are (BOTH) great boats!!!!!
I moved up to a 380 in 2000 from a 36. If you are going cruising, definitely would look at the 380. If you intend to sail locally, then go with the 36. They are (BOTH) great boats!!!!!
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Tom
Jim from San Francisco
If you want a foot hold to keep you in place with heeling (which I really think doesn't heel much at all). Then you can add on the table center console that they put on the bigger Catalina's now (380, etc). It will fit and your dealer could put it on....I kind of like the roomy cockpit....maybe extended offshore I would consider it as an option..
If you want a foot hold to keep you in place with heeling (which I really think doesn't heel much at all). Then you can add on the table center console that they put on the bigger Catalina's now (380, etc). It will fit and your dealer could put it on....I kind of like the roomy cockpit....maybe extended offshore I would consider it as an option..
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