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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Catalina 30

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FrankV
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2002 : 17:34:46

We have had our 25 for a few years, we've done some work to it and I thought we were happy. Suddenly, an ad in our local paper shows a 1984 Cat 30 "in good condition" for $25,000.

Wow, I can afford a 30 foot sailboat!

Calm down, moderation, I say, I have been with this boat for several years, had lots of good times on it, no serious problems, I know what she likes, but this temptress is trying to lure me.

The admiral knows nothing of my temptation to jump ship, but once she sees the interior, she will succumb.

I think boats in marriages are like any relationship triad, with shifting allegiances and desires. I am sorely tempted!

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

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USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2002 : 18:23:24

Frank: For $25K, she should be in VERY good condition! Check the brokerage sites to see how she fits into the general profile. She may be unique in your local area, but you needn't let the owner know that you have to buy locally. The price should be in line regionally.

The C-30 is a fine boat--generally underrated because of its design that favors cruising. We've enjoyed sailing on one--even as the second couple on an overnight "cruise"--something we'd not likely do on our 25. All the good support for the 25 is there, and then some.

Imagine walking around (not just standing up) in your cabin!

Now, you just have to think about having an inboard--is it an Atomic gasoline engine? Most of that vintage are. Some have been repowered to small Yanmars and such.

Keep us posted!

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Edited by - on

John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2002 : 18:33:42

Frank – I have always felt the C30 is the next step for me unless I win lotto then I will buy a Pacific SeaCraft. My experience with the C25 has sold me on Catalina quality HOWEVER… I would go to the [url="http://www.catalina30.com/"] Catalina Association site[/url] and read about the various models and their weaknesses. The tall rigs have a bowsprit that has a wire that fails some have gas engines. 25k is a middle of the road price for a C30 so make sure with a survey it is a clean boat. There is allot more maintenance and work each year and 30’ means all parts, sails and repairs are geometrically more expensive. On the positive side, yes the interior is larger as is the waterline thus your cruising area expands greatly. A week in a C25 vrs. the C30 is substantially different.
Underlined words are a HOTlink


[url="http://www.peregrinefund.org/"]<img src="http://www.peregrinefund.org/images/intro_mid_image.GIF" border=0>[/url]
 John G- "PEREGRINE" C25-#4762 FK

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2002 : 19:26:07

Frank,

I know the temptation of which you speak. Last fall before I bought a Catalina 25, I had my eyes on both a 27 and a 30. I was looking at the larger boats, because at the time, I owned a Venture 25 and was looking to move up, but after careful consideration I bought a 25. Before opting for the 25, I talked to a lot of people,(primarily 25, 27, and 30 owners) to get their opinions on the subject and what I learned was that the easier the boat is to sail and maintain, the more that boat is sailed and maintained. I generally sail about 3 to 4 days a week during our short Great Lakes season and about half of that time, singlehanded. A lot of the 25's and 27's in my marina also do a considerable amount of singlehanded sailing. Now the 30 and up boats in the marina, generally sail with more than one crew and go out less often. Additionally, the people with the larger boats seem to entertain a lot more dockside whereas the smaller boats take their guests to the open water. Also, and I'm not sure why, but the larger the boat the more dirt it attracts. I say this because some of the owners of these larger boats spend more time cleaning and polishing than they do sailing(As Confucious once said, "It is better to have a dirty boat on open water, than a spotless one at the dock")! Some of the largest boats in the marina never leave the dock(as we used to say in the Navy, "welded to the pier"). Those are primarily used as floating cottages right in the marina.

So after careful consideration of what my sailing needs were and how I was going to use the boat, the 25 seemed to fit the best. Now, this may change over time, but for now this boat is a perfect match for what I do.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

(A quick check at Yachtworld pulled up this 30 at Clear Lake Shores, Texas for $16,900.00)http://www.yachtworld.com/listing/yw_listing_detail.jsp?checked_boats=931711& currency=USD& units=Feet

Edited by - dlucier on 04/06/2002 22:29:37

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2002 : 23:30:03

This is the featured article on Sailnet today, that coincidently has relevance to this topic. The article is, "Size Matters" by Don Casey

"SailNet's leading philosopher explains how smaller is often better when it comes to actually using the boat you own."

http://www.sailnet.com/collections/buyingaboat/index.cfm?articleid=caseyd0035& tfr=fp

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Ken Cave
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 01:21:58

The Catalina 30 has been the best selling boat that Frank Butler designed, and has the room inside to make you feel nice and cosy-however-do they sail??!!??

I "babysitted" a couple to Desolation Sound (BC,Canada) last summer, and found that his beauty could not hold a candle to a Cape Dory 28.

When we were sailing in 20 knot winds, he had to reef his main! When we got into snot, he took a beating that you would not believe!

At the end of the trip, he sold his boat.

They really have a lot of nice features, but, Frank Butler cut a lot of corners making the Catalina 30, just as he has had in all his models to keep the price down.

As an example, the salt water filter for the engine got clogged up three times during the trip. The third time, it started leaking, as it would not screw onto the thu-hull properly!!

Yup, you get what you pay for!!

Ken Cave

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FrankV
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 12:39:45

Don and Ken,
Thanks for your replies.

There are several boats 30' and bigger at my marina, and I have observed that the bigger the boat, the less it sails.

I am sticking with the 25 for now, I was just suprised in my reaction to the possibility of owing a 30.

I agree with Jon, my next boat is going to be a Pacific Secraft!

I was very suprised at the affordability of a 30'.

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

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USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 22:16:13

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
...my next boat is going to be a Pacific Secraft!

I was very suprised at the affordability of a 30'.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Not if it's a Pacific Seacraft! If I win the lottery, I'm getting an Alerion 28. There's one at the yard where Passage is now, and oooohhh..... <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> The head rigger there says it is the best sailing vessel he's ever been on.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

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acierno
1st Mate

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USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2002 : 22:33:56

yup, that alerion 28 is georgeous. not an overnight comfort cruiser, for sure, but man it looks like it would move. they have a pretty good website too.

ron

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2002 : 00:31:22

We have an Alerion Express 28 on Canyon Lake (the one with the self-tacking jib)and it's even dry-sailed. He won every race in the Cruiser fleet - but when he raced Non-Spin he was usually DFL. He has a rating of 154 and mine is 225 (but I usually didn't need much of the difference to correct out over him).
But it sure has beautiful lines...looks like it's going 6 knots just sitting on the hoist!
Derek

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Dennis Pierce
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 04/18/2002 : 08:05:48

Having owned a pair of Cat 30's, a Cat 27 and now have a Cat 25 sitting in the slip, I feel qualified to comment. First off, for SoCal and Baja crusing, the Atomic Four gas engine is fine. If you can't take a few safety precautions like running the bilge blower, get a stinky Yanmar that will vibrate for 12 hours on the return trip from Avalon to San Diego. (The rule is that the wind is always on the nose for a Catalina Crusise!) I moved up from a WWP-15 to a Cat 25 this spring so that I could take my fat dog and other guests. The Cat 30 is not that difficult to single hand. I replaced the running and standing rigging on a Cat 25 so that it is easy to single hand and I can take guests out without asking them to "pull that string". Both my Cat 30's have been sailed in some real bad weather with no problems. Shortening sail shows that descretion is the better part of valor. I'd rather take a reef that run up on one.

As to the comment in one post "that you get what you pay for", I would point out that buyers of big buck boats have problems too. With a Catalina, at least you can discuss your problems with the builder. Try that with some of the other manufactures!

Dennis Pierce
Gypsy Witch #1719

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