Hello all. I'm new to this so I hope I post this in the correct forum. I want to purchase a Catalina 310 or 320. I live in Saint Louis and sail on Carlyle Lake. I am looking for a fin keel, a 2000 year build or younger. Not looking for a project boat. Clean survey and ready to sail. I am retired now and ready to get back on the water. Any advise much appreciated. I fine the internet searches on various sites unsatisfactory because most of the listings are very old and the good boats are long gone. Regards, JR
Want to purchase
- Thread starter Jerry21707
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Jerry, as a former sailor on lake shelbyville ill i am wondering why you would want a fin keel sailing on that little inland lake. I would think you should look for a wing keel. I have a c34 wing keel and it is very solid, stands upright in a blow and i cannot feel any loss in pointing over fin keel boats. When i sailed Shelbyville i had a 25 footer, centerboard and often bumped bottom. Also if you plan later to move and take your boat with you a smaller draft will increase your choices. I now am in SW florida on the gulf. By far most sailors here sail shallow draft boats. Just my 2cents. Terry
Terry, You are so correct. I meant to say wing keel shoal draft. There is a real nice boat up in Wisconsin but it is a fin and it won't work at Carlyle lake or the marina for that matter. Thanks for the correction.
I bought a winged keel 320 in 2004. Chose it because I could stand up in the cabin...couldn't quite do that in the 310...and the 310 had just come out and was way more expensive. Don't worry about the age of the boat. They are fine if a bit older and hold their value. Get a good surveyor. Hated to do it, but sold mine in Dec 2012. D/W got on a motor home kick and we were gone in the summer.