Why Catalina?

shipwreck66 · Aug 25, 2011

Well built, lots and lots of after market parts, as well as older boats from which to scavange from time to time. They sail great, comfortable inside and out, and are easy to work on. Designs are fairly simple and straightforeward. I would buy a mid 80s to early 90's. Price range from $15000 to 45,000, big price difference from a 1984 to a Mark II model with relatively little change in layout. I would buy another one definitely and this is my second.

Lew Love · Aug 26, 2011

Why Catalina? Catalina stands behind their products. They remain in business today have consistantly win National Sailboat of the Year... this year the 355!. This forum has an-on line store dedicated to Catalina 22... CatalinaDirect.com has on-line stores for each Catalina model. When it comes to parts and consultative services via this site, no boat I am aware of has all of these third party services. I use my 30 as a second home: big screen TV and surround sound, wine cellar, etc... Some sailors are very successful racing theirs. I bought mine as a "project boat" and replaced every wire, every light, every panel cockpit and electrical, added HVAC, refrigerator, etc. I have about $40,000 in mine and plan to add a fair amount of electronics over the winter. I sail six days a month somewhere on our lake and i use this as learning experiences for moving to the coast a few years from now. Would I sale my 30, maybe; and I did, I'd immediately purchase another one! How is that for a testimonial!

Stu Jackson · Aug 26, 2011

In addition, each of the boats has a wonderfully supporting International Association, with websites that do daily Q&As, as well as archive material so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Many of the systems on boat-to-boat are similar, if not identical. For example, if you can't find an answer about any question ever asked about an M25 engine between the C30, C34 and C36 Association websites, ya ain't lookin' hard enough.

jimmcgee · Aug 30, 2011

Max,
A couple of things come to mind. Some have already been mentioned.

- The boats are very popular, with active online owners groups. That's a built in level of technical support enjoyed by few other brands.

- Parts availability. This can be an issue with brands that have closed down, and in some cases with existing brands. Catalina uses parts from quality vendors and they are often able to provide custom parts and manuals for older boats. The previous owner of our boat had cracked the lid on the fridge. Catalina was able to provide a new lid for under $100. This is a color matched custom fiberglass part and our boat is a 1995! They stand behind their boats.

- Great bang for the buck. Catalina designs tend to sail well, don't have bad habits, are livable designs and are easy to work on (at least by boat standards). That doesn't mean they don't have faults. Think of Catalina as the Honda of the boat world. Just don't expect to use them like a Ferrari or a Hummer.

- They hold up well. When we were out looking at boats we visited a large dealer that had a number of boats between 30 and 40 feet, all around the same age as our boat. The other production boats were all showing far more wear than the Catalinas (similar age/hours).

- Resale value. Catalina designs tend to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. I've seen some critics fault Catalina for being too traditional, but I tend to like the look and I think a lot of other people do as well. Their models have long production runs. This all adds up to good resale value, and the ability to find a buyer more easily than if you owned a boat with a more radical design and more narrow appeal.

- We're on our second Catalina. It's not unusual to meet people who are on their fourth. I think that also tells you something.

With all that said, boats are a very personal thing. If the look of a Beneteau or the interior space of a Hunter make you fall in love then go for it. It's all about finding the boat that's right for you.

Jim
95 C30
Island Time
Barnegat Bay

Stu Jackson · Aug 30, 2011

shipwreck66 said:
...are easy to work on.

+1 There's NOTHING I can't get to on our C34. Same for our C22 and C25 earlier boats. We bareboated a B35. I had to remove most of the aft cabin to even get to the dipstick to check the oil!!!

I can trace wiring, replace hoses, check my stuffing box, all without being a contortionist.

That's real VALUE.

joetekno · Aug 30, 2011

One thing I've found about my 1977 Catalina 30 Hull 662 is that I have access to everything. I can access my batteries, engine, fuel tank, water tank, waist tank, etc. Other boats in the marina have had to have their engine removed to replace a leaking fuel tank. Yet others never check their battery fluid level because "it's a pain".

My old boat is new again! I've replaced EVERYTHING except the mast, hull and engine. This winter I will be replacing the keel stub, my last "have to do" job on my 30+ year old boat.

Because of the after market parts, my boat no longer looks like a MKI, I have done the traveler upgrade, I've upgraded my windows with Cruising Concepts Black Acrylic window replacement, I've upgraded my forward port, again with a Cruising Concepts Acrylic port. My father (the engineer) made me a double anchor roller plate that fits under the forward pulpit and cleats. It has all the room I need and is easy to single hand - something I love to do.

When I started looking for a new boat, I decided I'd rather upgrade the boat I own - after all I know all about it and have TONS of resources to go to if/when there are problems.

Bob S · Aug 31, 2011

Never owned a boat before this one. Never thought I would but my wife convinced me to sell the Miata and camper. Now we camp on the water:dance:.

We live close to Cape Cod and frequent places like Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. I was always dreaming out loud how I wish I had a boat. My dad put the bug in me in the early 80's. He had a Gulfstar as a live aboard. In 1985 I went to the boat show in Boston and fell in love with the Catalina 30. Had the brochure in my top draw for years. I finally bought ours in 07. I absolutely love our boat and the whole experience of ownership. The support here and at the IC30 has been outstanding.

This year my wife fell in love with the new C355. Maybe in 10 years we can upgrade but to be honest, it will be very difficult to part with my C30. The more I work on her the more she becomes part of me.

With all that said, boats are a very personal thing. If the look of a Beneteau or the interior space of a Hunter make you fall in love then go for it. It's all about finding the boat that's right for you.

Jim said it best, go and look at everything in your price range and make your decision. Pardon the pun but "whatever floats your boat"

Bad Obsession · Sep 1, 2011

The Catalina 30 is an amazing boat. Mine survived 40 knot sustained winds and 8 foot seas at the mouth of the Potomac River (Smith Point). That was due to poor planning and a weather surprise when I was transporting my boat home after I bought her. I beat into the weather running the engine for 5 hours until I got into port.

They are tough. They aren't blue water boats but they are very capable coastal cruisers. They are comfortable. The Catalina 30 is the biggest 30 boat you can find.

Check out the owner reviews. You will see how owners like their boats.

When you break it all down, don't buy the boat for resale value. Don't buy the boat because of other people's opinions. Buy the boat for what you like in it. Buy the boat for what you intend to use it for and refit it to fit your sailing style!

GreenLight · Sep 1, 2011

We bought our 30 tall rig wing keel because of its shallow draft and because of the interior headroom. I'm 6'3".
We are so glad we did. It's a very comfortable boat with plenty of cockpit room and great room below. As others have said it's also an easy boat to work on and it's a simple boat to maintain.
To say nothing of the fact that it's just a great looking boat, especially the bowsprit model and a fun boat to sail.

LuzSD · Sep 1, 2011

So many of my own reasons already written here. I agree with BO, buy the boat that you fall in love with as soon as you board.... it really does happen. Our boat is so easy and so true, lots of times I take my hand off the wheel and she just sails on.... so did our 27...... much like a horse on his way back to the stable!! I love our 88's interior.....lots of warm wood, so when I have the oil lamp lite, it just glows. She is wide, almost as wide as our friend's 37 and 39 footers. Parts are easy to find and there are so many Cat owners that would like nothing more than talk about the and share upgrades or repairs with you.

BTW, I must ask one of you who mentions easy access......how can we access the hose that runs from bottom of ice box and goes to sink..... I want to either put a one way valve in there or cap it off....... I can see it at the foot pump and I can see it where it connects under sink but how to get to it right at the bottom of the ice box and over........ remove panels? (so sorry, is this considered hijacking?? ) ...So I am proving the point, there is tons of help here for everything from sailing your catalina to what you eat, drink and listen to one her.

Go get one!!

Bad Obsession · Sep 1, 2011

Take drawers out that are beside the icebox. You can access the hose there. It will run there to the foot pump.

LuzSD · Sep 1, 2011

Bad Obsession said:
Take drawers out that are beside the icebox. You can access the hose there. It will run there to the foot pump.

bottom drawer gets me access to the very bottom, at the footpump, but top two drawers are solid wood on the port side ..... do I have to remove all of that? My hand does not fit trying to reach up from the pump to the bottom of the box...... dang!

Bad Obsession · Sep 1, 2011

You can remove all of the drawers. It gets you to the bottom of the icebox. I have accessed this area before.

Why do you want to cap this off or put a one-way valve in?

You could always put a rubber stopper at the drain in the icebox to keep water in the cooler. I had some foot pump issues last year and I unplugged the icebox and let it drain into the bilge. I have now replaced the footpump to keep a dry bilge.

Stu Jackson · Sep 2, 2011

Patti, he's right. Disconnect the connection, cap the box, and be done with it. We had the same issue, and did just that.

LuzSD · Sep 2, 2011

Stu and BO, should I start a separate post? I think I have really hijacked this one...but want to continue asking about this?

Stu Jackson · Sep 2, 2011

LuzSD,

Your topic, your choice.

No reason not to continue here.

rbmcintire · Sep 2, 2011

I chose the Catalina 30 as my first keelboat for exactly the same reasons as stated. Great value and utility, within my price range, outstanding manufacturer support and UNRIVALED fellow owner support. However, if I had a few $$$Mill laying around I would maybe consider an Xp44...(blasphemy!)

gpd955 · Sep 2, 2011

rbmcintire said:
However, if I had a few $$$Mill laying around I would maybe consider an Xp44...(blasphemy!)

Not blasphemy if you keep your 30. With a few million, that wouldn't be a problem!