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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

The Dark side. Pearson fever

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pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/24/2005 : 10:03:32

Even Practical sailor likes these boats.

Me Too.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=quick& boat_id=1189614& units=Feet& currency=USD& access=Public& listing_id=11424& url=

Any opinions would be appreciated.

PW

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 12:03:22

IMHO
The rudders are a very bad design that they never cured. Note in the picture that it is "flipped" around. It can happen with a lot of force while manuvering in reverse and can hurt the person on the tiller. Notice the Atomic four, that means gas instead of deisel, most people avoid them when they can. Early Catalina 30s take a big hit because of them. They are well built old designs with minimal interior space compared to a Catalina 30. I am sure that it sails very well and that is the biggie, go for it if you like the sea trials.

Edited by - on

takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 15:10:50

Pearson 30's are great boats! They sail wonderfully in most conditions. We race one weekly in our C25 and are considering buying one, too. The "reversing" rudder does happen, but in spite of knowing at least 8 P30 owners, I've never heard of injury. The Atomic 4 takes some attention but its hardly a bomb. At $10k this is a much prettier, much better built, and much nicer sailing boat than a C30. I wish I could afford to buy one today!

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 16:54:37

good one Frank
I picked up on the Atomic 4 too. I wouldn't want one. Gas motors in the bottom of the boat scare me. Outboards are Ok.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 19:21:40

I've heard from some pretty knowledgeable people that the Atomic 4s are simple, durable and reliable motors, especially lake boats, where the motors tend to not accumulate alot of hours. The same people also say they have a good safety history as well. I don't have any personal experience with Atomic 4s, but someone has operated that boat safely for 30 years. Like the others, I would prefer a diesel, but, if it's otherwise a good boat at a good price, I wouldn't turn it down just because of the gas engine.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 20:56:49

just try motoring around on a C30 with a 1 cylinder, 12 HP Yanmar diesel and the Atomic 4 is going to start to sound very good.

Diesel:

Vibration
Noise
Smoke
Expensive

Atomic 4
smooth
quiet
clean
simple and cheap to maintain
cheaper to buy a boat with the atomic 4 in the first place

We all have gas on our boats now. No big difference. Gas is safe if you take care of your fuel system, run the blowers.

For day sailing and coastal cruising, I'll take the Atomic 4.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 00:51:02

Jim you left out the smell. I don't know why but it seems every diesel boat I have ever been on (not a lot I admit) has a smell of diesel in the interior. Maybe someone spill some in the bilge and never got it clean again. They just all seem to smell inside.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 08:41:41

What about parts, repairs? The company that originally manufactured the Atomic 4 went out of business back in the 80's sometime. I've heard that the A-4 has one serious "achilles heel": the exhaust manifold and anti-syphon valve. I read somewhere that these parts were made of regular carbon steel (or maybe cast iron?), not stainless, and when they inevitably rust out, you can't run the engine. Since the company is no longer in existance, how would you get a replacement, other than maybe cannibalizing one off of another engine that has been pulled from a boat and is being parted out?
Unfortunately, I have to agree with Todd Hanson's post about the smell (stink) of diesel fuel. Every diesel powered boat I've ever been in that's more than 5 or 6 years old has that diesel tang down in the cabin. Once the fuel line hoses get permeated, and the o-ring seals on the fuel injection system start to weep, that smell will become a permanent feature of the boat

Edited by - on

takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 09:32:57

Actually - every Atomic 4 part is available new from some kook in Canada making parts. You can even buy new, zero hour engines!

Edited by - on

cat30
1st Mate

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73 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 10:33:01

Moyer marine on the east coast www.moyermarine.com can get just about any part you need for the a4- plus repairs and rebuilds, plus more information then you'll ever need about taking care of an a4. pearson makes a nice solid boat too.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 11:16:56

parts, long blocks, upgrades, complete rebuilds of Atomic 4s are all readily available. The weak spot is the water pump. I have a magazine article giving lots of information on the motor, how to upgrade the pump, and how to convert the motor to freshwater cooling with a heat exchanger.

Check out

http://www.boatus.com/goodoldboat/atomic4.htm

for parts

http://www.moyermarine.com/

From theAlberg 30 site

http://www.alberg30.org/maintenance/MechanicalPropulsion/Atomic4/

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 11:28:41

We had a Catalina 30 with an Atomic 4 catch on fire at the docks last summer. The gasoline did not catch on fire. It did however scare the board so bad that for the first time in 40 years we had to provide proof of liability insurance with our dues check this year. Back to the point of the post; as I said I am sure the boat is well built and sails well. Pearsons are great boats. It is just nice to address the issues up front rather than...

Holy Crap! I swore I would never... but I just did!

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 11:46:53

I wonder what kind of headroom it has.
The freeboard doesn't look as tall as a C25.
10k doesn't sound like a bad price.

Edited by - on

Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 12:51:40

We chartered a Pearson 33 in the San Juans in '99, what a sweet sailing boat!! It did have a diesel though. If the 30 sails anything like the 33 you will love it.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 14:28:26

http://www.chipboat.com/darkharbor15.html
This is the boat I would get if I could afford it.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 19:57:41

There's only 1 thing you need to remember about gasoline in a closed hull.
1/2 cup vaporized gasoline = 3 sticks dynamite. (or some such ratio...)

Everything will be just fine until something goes wrong...
and then it can go very wrong, very quickly.
Gas lines, fittings, tanks, carburator etc must be maintained with religous fervor.

IMHO: light smell of diesel+cooking+fish+teak oil+sailors etc. = perfume.
It's the way a 'real' boat is supposed to smell.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 10:51:07

Matt,

If I could afford $60,000 for a day sailer, I could probably sink an additional $60,000 and get a J/100. But then, my goal is a Catalina 310 or 320.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 14:25:01

Paul
I lived just a hop from the RI production facility so I am bias to Pearsons (and for that matter any of the fantastic boats built in that area). That being said I have known a lot of people who have owned that model and loved it. I have heard a lot of good and some bad about the Atomic. Many older boats used this engine. Bill Shaw IMHO stands tall with the great designers, his designs are enduring and if you look at his designs many Catalinas bear similarities. Here are a coulpe of links to check out. http://www.geocities.com/sailapearson/#IND%2030 http://pearsoninfo.net/index.cfm I like the Pearson 30 but there are other newer models out there that can be found in that price range. I wold never class Pearson on the dark side. If the P-270 or 28 had walk out transoms I would be a Pearson owner. I came close to talking the Commander into a 1991 31' with a walk out transom last year.

Edited by - Ray Seitz on 02/26/2005 14:28:50

pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2005 : 09:56:07

Hi Ray,

I too like Pearsons. There are quite a few of them on Lake Lanier.

I had a spade rudder on my C-27 and agree, that sucker (tiller) could nock your &&%^*&*&%*% off in reverse. I learned to never let go of the tiller and reverse very slowly. A P-30 with a wheel might have better rudder control.

The reference "Dark Side" is not meant in a bad way.

In the past whenever a C-25er expressed interest in another boat we would, jokingly, call it "going to the dark side" as in Star Wars. It's all in good fun.

Anyway, a P-30 just came on the market on Lake Lanier for an asking price of $6,500.00. I'll be looking at her next week.

I may stick to a C-25. I like the trailerability and have always enjoyed, and learned a lot, on this great forum.

Thanks for all the great comments.

PW

Edited by - pwhallon on 02/27/2005 10:12:07

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