I am looking to buy a used 3-4 years old, 32-to34 foot sailboat for san francisco bay sailing and maybe to montery. Hunter, Catalina, benneteau are the models I am thinking of (they are in my price range although I would love an island packet, ericson, etc.but they are too expensive and definitely do not want an older boat.) I have looked at all of them and of course get conflicting messages from the brokers. Any suggestions to which boat is the safest for san francisco bay and out the golden gate to as far as Monterey. Thanks for your responses. Jim Turner
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320 owner offering some opinions
I'm an SF bay sailer and recently went through some of the decisions your looking at. In our family, it came down to the 320 vs a hunter of about the same size. We chose catalina for better cockpit comfort, better sailhandling set up, and better rating e.g., cat a vs B or offshore for catalina vs coastal for hunter. Didn't really look at beneteau, believed most of them had iron keels, much preferred lead. I'd suggest you can't go wrong with a 320 or a 34 mk II. Good luck.0
I'm an SF bay sailer and recently went through some of the decisions your looking at. In our family, it came down to the 320 vs a hunter of about the same size. We chose catalina for better cockpit comfort, better sailhandling set up, and better rating e.g., cat a vs B or offshore for catalina vs coastal for hunter. Didn't really look at beneteau, believed most of them had iron keels, much preferred lead. I'd suggest you can't go wrong with a 320 or a 34 mk II. Good luck.0
SF Bay Boats
Jim Given your choices, you can't go wrong. We took our 1981 Catalina 25 to Half Moon bay and to Monterey (that was an overnight trip on the ocean there, and back). We sailed our C22 and C25 on the Bay for years. If you look around, you'll see all sorts of boats of all sizes on the Bay in all sorts of weather, especially in the summer when the wind is up. It's not so much the boats, but the sailors, I think. Take good care of whatever boat you have, learn to sail it well, and it almost doesn't matter where you are (Cape Horn excepted!) All the models you mentioned would be fine, although we Catalina owners, as you can well understand, sure like our brands. Our 1986 C34 has been out in the ocean, and we're looking forward to more trips. She's great in the Bay, with a single reef in the main, and either the 100 or 95 jib. Happy hunting, and good luck. Stu
Jim Given your choices, you can't go wrong. We took our 1981 Catalina 25 to Half Moon bay and to Monterey (that was an overnight trip on the ocean there, and back). We sailed our C22 and C25 on the Bay for years. If you look around, you'll see all sorts of boats of all sizes on the Bay in all sorts of weather, especially in the summer when the wind is up. It's not so much the boats, but the sailors, I think. Take good care of whatever boat you have, learn to sail it well, and it almost doesn't matter where you are (Cape Horn excepted!) All the models you mentioned would be fine, although we Catalina owners, as you can well understand, sure like our brands. Our 1986 C34 has been out in the ocean, and we're looking forward to more trips. She's great in the Bay, with a single reef in the main, and either the 100 or 95 jib. Happy hunting, and good luck. Stu
A vote for a 310 Cat
Recently chartered a 310 Catalina in Tampa Bay. Absolutely loved it. It's on my "to buy" list for next year. Could be single-handed or with one crew of limited knowledge. Easy-stable boat, order the wing-keel version.
Recently chartered a 310 Catalina in Tampa Bay. Absolutely loved it. It's on my "to buy" list for next year. Could be single-handed or with one crew of limited knowledge. Easy-stable boat, order the wing-keel version.
Go Biggest You Can Afford
I would recommend the biggest boat you can afford. If you can afford a 34, go 34. You will eventually want the space and room. If you can affort 36.. go 36.. Don't get worried about size, except for budget. Bigger is better.
I would recommend the biggest boat you can afford. If you can afford a 34, go 34. You will eventually want the space and room. If you can affort 36.. go 36.. Don't get worried about size, except for budget. Bigger is better.
H320 All the way!
I agree that you should buy the biggest boat you can afford but after having owned a Cat 32' and an H320 (present) there is no doubt in my mind that I would buy the H320 again if I had to do it all over. The H320 has more cockpit room that the Cat even though the Cat has a bit more (slight) cabin. No camparison in the handling...Hunter all the way between the two.
I agree that you should buy the biggest boat you can afford but after having owned a Cat 32' and an H320 (present) there is no doubt in my mind that I would buy the H320 again if I had to do it all over. The H320 has more cockpit room that the Cat even though the Cat has a bit more (slight) cabin. No camparison in the handling...Hunter all the way between the two.
A vote against biggest.
I've been there... bigger and smaller...and do not agree with the over-simplified "buy the biggest you can afford". You need to critically and honestly self-analyze how you will most likely be sailing for the next ten years. In our case, we realized most of our sailing would be twosome day trips, weekends and a couple of one-week vacations each year and occasionaly a pile-in of friends. The Admiral doesn't care for the helm when it is breezy and the condition of her back discourages her from 'pulling strings'. We are in our fifties, so ease of maintenance and sailing were high priorities. For us the Cat 320 was the hands-down choice. Roomy, wonderful accomodations for two couples, sumptious galley (we like to eat well)and best of all, fast yet easy to single-hand. Don't buy the boat you will want 'someday'. There arre plenty of those sitting unused at the dock because they don't meet their owner's needs. Buy what fits your needs today and get out there and sail. You can always get a 'good deal' on a sailboat. As for brokers, ignore any that do not ask perceptive questions concerning your ability, experience, lifestyle, health and inclinations. Without this background, their recommendations pertain more to their commission than your needs.
I've been there... bigger and smaller...and do not agree with the over-simplified "buy the biggest you can afford". You need to critically and honestly self-analyze how you will most likely be sailing for the next ten years. In our case, we realized most of our sailing would be twosome day trips, weekends and a couple of one-week vacations each year and occasionaly a pile-in of friends. The Admiral doesn't care for the helm when it is breezy and the condition of her back discourages her from 'pulling strings'. We are in our fifties, so ease of maintenance and sailing were high priorities. For us the Cat 320 was the hands-down choice. Roomy, wonderful accomodations for two couples, sumptious galley (we like to eat well)and best of all, fast yet easy to single-hand. Don't buy the boat you will want 'someday'. There arre plenty of those sitting unused at the dock because they don't meet their owner's needs. Buy what fits your needs today and get out there and sail. You can always get a 'good deal' on a sailboat. As for brokers, ignore any that do not ask perceptive questions concerning your ability, experience, lifestyle, health and inclinations. Without this background, their recommendations pertain more to their commission than your needs.
I Don't Sail SF Bay But ...
my wife and I are very happy with our C-320 in Long Island Sound and nearby Block Island and Newport, RI. We had a similar decision 4 years ago and decided on the C-320. I won't knock any boat but when we went about simulating tasks / activities, like sleeping, we found the C-320 best for us. This has been a windy summer in Ct and the C-320 was fine. A bit too much weather helm with everything up at 25 kts but once we reefed everything flattened out and was comfortable. I think I've read here that SF sailors of the C-320 opt for a deeper 2nd reef point. It all comes down to personal preferances, so good luck with whatever you decide on. Bill
my wife and I are very happy with our C-320 in Long Island Sound and nearby Block Island and Newport, RI. We had a similar decision 4 years ago and decided on the C-320. I won't knock any boat but when we went about simulating tasks / activities, like sleeping, we found the C-320 best for us. This has been a windy summer in Ct and the C-320 was fine. A bit too much weather helm with everything up at 25 kts but once we reefed everything flattened out and was comfortable. I think I've read here that SF sailors of the C-320 opt for a deeper 2nd reef point. It all comes down to personal preferances, so good luck with whatever you decide on. Bill
SF bay sailing.
As an SF bay sailor and 320 owner, I can offer some information on 320's in the bay. I originally planned on adding a second reef, but have slowed down on that. I've started going thru a different sequence of steps to depower the rig and cut weather helm. 1. Induce mainsail twist by easing the mainsheet. 2. Adjust main angle of attack by lowering the traveler. 3. Induce twist in the head sail by pulling fairleads back. 4. First reef point. Using this approach, I've not really needed the second reef yet, and I spend a good bit of time in 20+ winds. Hope this helps.
As an SF bay sailor and 320 owner, I can offer some information on 320's in the bay. I originally planned on adding a second reef, but have slowed down on that. I've started going thru a different sequence of steps to depower the rig and cut weather helm. 1. Induce mainsail twist by easing the mainsheet. 2. Adjust main angle of attack by lowering the traveler. 3. Induce twist in the head sail by pulling fairleads back. 4. First reef point. Using this approach, I've not really needed the second reef yet, and I spend a good bit of time in 20+ winds. Hope this helps.
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