Catalina 42 Blue Water ?????

[jbthehut]

Looking at a Catalina 42 1991, How are the Catalina's for water sailing">blue water sailing, they seem to be a bit light, but seem well built, I would appriciate any opinions.

[Pblais]

These boats are designed for coastal cruising. Most people that own them do just that. What type of use did you have in mind?

The term "Blue Water Boat" gets thrown around a lot and what you might want to do may not be a problem. Much of the equipment is not geared for the higher working loads for heavy weather ocean passages. That is about the only clear definition that covers the bulk of the issues. With a coastal boat you wouldn't do a one day trip in foul severe weather if you didn't have to. Once you get beyond a few days the predictability of weather become less accurate and the things you wouldn't have chosen become what you get.

In that sense the ability to sail the boat is not limited just the safe working loads and extra gear required for safe passage. The Pacific has been crossed in a boat 9 feet long but it's not as if the passenger was comfortable. On any given lucky day any boat can sail in blue water. Only the sailor knows where the boat is.

[sailorboy1]

One of the better answers to the "blue" question. It comes down to the setup overall of the boat, not the model/make of the boat really.

[Spammy]

I own hull #42, a Catalina 42 Mark I. I happened to be in Los Angeles, and dropped by the company's headquarters. I met Jerry Douglas, the designer of the boats. He said, "You can take that boat anywhere you want to go...". I have read a lot of posts on internet forums about "Blue Water Boats". Catalinas are often the subject of some derision. Some of the attitudes border on snobbery. I think my boat is solidly built and well set-up. It is not, however, set up as a pure "passagemaker". They tend to be narrower in beam, have smaller cockpits (not sugar scoops), and have more system redundancy as well as sturdier standing rigging. Storage is more of a priority than number of berths. So, I think you could sail the boat as you wish, but your outfitting and rigging would be your responsibility before departing. A number of these boats have circumnavigated, and at least one had beefed-up rigging (Salacia).
Rocky

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Spammy,
Good answer. They can handle it if you outfit it correctly and can handle it.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Owe Hansson]

jbthehut,
I have no personal experience with this boat but I met this guy at a boatshow in OZ. You might find his blog of interest. Home Are the Sailors, Home From the Sea | Volaré - Pacific Odyssey
Regards
Owe

[ronniesimpson]

I know a guy who just sold his Catalina 42, and he sailed it to Hawaii, as well as back (from left coast). He was quite impressed with the boat's comfort and sea kindliness. He seemed to be very very confident in the boat after doing that trip, and if it wasn't for health problems and personal issues that forced the sale, he was planning on a So Pac cruise.

Hope that helps

[Pblais]

I chartered a 1981 Catalina 42 down in Mexico for some day sailing. It was Ok for that but not much else. Condition of the boat crosses all brand names and reputations.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Paul,
New Avatar? I had to use that word "avatar" in a sentence as I'd never heard it til I joined this forum.
Soooo, your opinion of Catalina 42s is ok for coastal cruising or charter but not bluewater? I think if I'd had the intestinal fortitude I would have taken my Catalina 22 across any of the Hawaiian channels. The fin keeler was built pretty tough.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Spammy]

Originally Posted by Pblais

I chartered a 1981 Catalina 42 down in Mexico for some day sailing....

Pblais,
You have me confused...Catalina 42 hull #1 was introduced in 1988, and I do not believe they went into production until 1989. Perhaps you werre thinking of another boat?

[Pblais]

I must have got the year wrong. The boat really was in poor shape. The condition of any boat can make it unsafe. I never meant to say it couldn't be done in a boat that was in good condition.

[Joli]

I think you can make any boat OK for blue water sailing if the weak points are beefed up. Will it still be going 10 years later is an unknown but with a jug of boat in a bottle lots of strength can be added.