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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Still not looking for a boat....

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/15/2011 : 20:26:57

In my late winter surfing, I came across an ad for an Aloha 30 performance cruiser. Anyone familiar with these? They are a 1980's boat built in Ontario, PHRF is around 144 (Lake Ontario) and they look like a decent coastal cruiser with 6 berths, aft cabin, open Vee berth, hot/cold water, refridgeration, etc.

If I were looking at moving up, the design looks do-able for both beer-can races and family cruising (we are up to 3 kids now, so it going to start getting tight).

Here is the writeup, just wondering if anyone has seen one up close and personal... http://sailquest.com/market/models/aloha30.htm

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2011 : 21:18:53

Can't help, but it looks like a nice compromise between a moderately roomy cruising interior (sort of a scaled up C-250) and a bit of speed for a 30-footer. The fractional rig should be a plus going to weather--the raked transom is a minus (looks sporty, but only reduces cockpit space).

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 06:01:27

The Aloha 30 looks great! Doesn't hurt to dream. My brother had a [url="http://www.matildaowners.com/"]Mathilda 20[/url] that appears to have been made by the same parent company (Ouyang Boat Works, Whitby, ON) as the Aloha. Many years ago, he and his wife sailed their Mathilda from Brockville, ON to Whitehall, NY, ~600+ km (~324nm). It proved quite an adventure.

BTW ... rumor has it a Canadian Ice Breaker is heading through the locks on the St. Lawrence this week. Spring is in the air...

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 06:42:12

I don't have any experience with the Aloha, but have heard lots of good opinions about the Aloha line generally. The design certainly looks like a boat that would perform well. My only reservation is the 5'9" keel. I can think of 3 marinas on the Chesapeake Bay that you couldn't always get into with that draft, and it would be dicey in some places on the ICW. It depends on where you sail it.

There is an Aloha owner's association online, where you might be able to find some useful information. http://www.alohaowners.com/

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/16/2011 06:46:22

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:37:33

Yeah - the draft would be a problem on Lake Simcoe. We have a couple of Pearson Flyers in our marina that draw close to teh same, they sometimes have trouble getting into the other marinas on teh lake, and they only fit in certain slips in our marina.

The 30 was a bit of a departure from Aloha's line. We have an Aloha 28 in our club, and it is a good (but slow) boat. They had a reputation for building solid cruising boats, but weighing in at 6800 lbs, having a lowish PHRF, and a marked design departure from the reputation the brand was built on gives me reason to pause. From what I have found, only about 65 Aloha 30's were built, and they were meant to be a breakthrough into the racing fleets.

Unfortunate for Aloha, the design caled back to creature comforts a little more than the other race boats of similar design, adding to its weight, and taking the boat from racer to performance cruiser. The one I found has showers, hot/cold pressurized water, furling, bimini/dodger, etc. all teh cruising ammenities on a performance hull. Seems like a happy compromise to the raceboat vs. cruising boat. Only problem is it look like it might be a little tender.

It would be nice to get a first hand opinion from someone who has sailed one.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 09:45:35

The specs are very close to the Pearson Flyer, except for a little less beam (suggesting a little more tender, slightly faster to weather, slightly slower off the wind). Both are fractionals... PHRF is about equal. Definitely a sport boat compared to the C-30. BTW, the Flyer was a "departure" for Pearson, too.

Jim Baumgart has described his Flyer as a bit tender. But that just means he's had to learn its sweet-spots. If you want a monohull that's quick in light air, it's going to be relatively tender. "Everything's relative."

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 10:19:42

Yeah Dave, I've been comparing it side by side to the Pearson's mostly because the Pearson in our club is a thorn in my side.

Were I to get serious about this boat, I am sure I would have to:
Put it on a diet (lose the campercrap as our racers say)
Replace the furling with a 2-slot track.
Buy new sails
Check the running rigging for inefficiencies
etc.

Basically buy the boat for more than I could afford right now, then alter it. Remember, I'm not looking for another boat, and SWMBO doesn't support the one I already have...

The PHRF numbers are a little further apart than I'd like for Lake Ontario...

Brand Model Spin/JAM
CATALINA 25 OB 231/243
CATALINA 30 180/210
ALOHA 30 150/162
PEARSON 30 FLYER 126/147

So the pearson would owe me 24 seconds. The rating was recently adjusted on the Aloha giving it a 6 second boost from 144 to 150. Only 1 Aloha is in teh fleet, but there are 6 Flyers, so either the one boat was a dog or the skipper wasn't serious about winning.

Hmmmmmm. I need to win a lottery. (There is also a Farr 40 for sale in teh area - PHRF of 72 or something stupid like that.)

Edited by - Prospector on 03/16/2011 10:27:32

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 11:46:02

PHRF 72... You'll have to get trained on how to stop that thing!

Depending on the exact model, they rate as low as zip-zero-nada in The States.

I suspect the hotter the boat model, the more critical it is to keep new, expensive sails on her to be able to correct over slower boats with older and/or cheaper sails. The ratings are probably based on racing sails on racing boats, and cruising sails on cruising boats. (Obvious, but something to keep in mind when dreaming about sleds.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/16/2011 11:58:34

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 14:06:08

The farr looks like it was a one-off with some mods to teh keel. Even if I had budget for a toy that big (and it maintenance) I wouldn't want this one, too much race, and no comfort at all. its in Rochester.

Here is the listing: http://www.rcryachts.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=04782526X3K16K2011J11I55I48JAMQ3655R0&veh=1958309

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2011 : 18:49:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 ...too much race, and no comfort at all...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A Lotus is for racing--not shopping... A Farr is for racing--not cruising.

(...although he does have an air conditioner mounted in the companionway--I wonder if a Lotus has one of those.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/16/2011 19:24:05

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