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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Catalina 310 v 309 v 315

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/21/2012 : 15:40:18

Catalina has introduced a new 30ish footer that sure looks like a rebranded 309' which
Was essentially a rebranded 310. I know, the head moved between 310 and 309' but the basic boat is the same. Can anyone identify any real differences this time around?

The limited buzz I have heard is that the very recent new Catalina's do not sail as well as previous models primarily because they have been designed for light air and need to be reefed early and often. Hope Jerry Douglas is not losing the winning formula of the past . . .

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2012 : 18:01:31

Amenities are what sells boats these days, actually for a number of years, and if sailing performance has to take a hit, well that's what the masses want. Personally, I'd rather have a decent sailer than a decent interior.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2012 : 22:40:10

Interesting... The 309 and 315 are both shown as current models on their site. I can see only a few very subtle differences--possibly a little more beam at the transom of the 315, and different mainsails in the drawings, both apparently for in-mast furling--the 315 has vertical battens to support a roach, and the 309 has no roach. All major measures and ratios are virtually identical, and the interior layouts have only tiny differences.

So what gives?

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2012 : 18:50:55

Exactly

I personally prefer the 310 over the newer version, and the original 30 over them all -- it should be about sailing ability after all . . .

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2012 : 17:42:35

Different engines and drives.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137002

I moved up from c250 to c310......for head room.

paulj

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2012 : 19:20:00

So compared to the 309, apparently the 315 has a "front bumper", supposedly a lower cabin trunk, a new mast-step, and some small changes to the interior layout. While both are currently shown on their site, I presume the 309 will be taken out of the lineup.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2012 : 07:28:21

Here's a report from the Sailboat owners website describing some diffs

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?s=ad652e6c73648ecd402edfc2774b17b6&t=138234

Edited by - Voyager on 02/25/2012 07:33:58

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2012 : 10:32:03

Interesting to read the links -- Paul's from a Catalina forum shows a lot of unhappy campers about the new model and it's relative lack of differences over the past two models it replaces. Almost looks like Catalina is making change for change sake rather than improvement. Considering the significant cost difference new vs. used I think that Catalina should rethink new products or else they will be just increasing the demand for used models!

My suggestion (for the less than 2 cents it may be worth) is add a decent 28 footer and develop a really competitive 32-33 foot model . . .

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2012 : 10:46:23

My speculation is no better than yours, but here it is nonetheless.

Catalina is still consolidating production in Florida, a process that can take many years. Every manufacturing plant does things differently, and certain ways of constructing boats in California might be much less efficient at a different location. So these model changes which have little difference to the customer could be incorporating different production methods (and standardization of parts) "under the hood" that are not immediately apparent to the consumer, but could make the difference between a fair profit and an unacceptable loss on each boat.

I haven't compared the price differences, so I will not speak to any price increases that might contradict my hypothesis.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2012 : 12:59:17

Very good point

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.