Which Is the Best Boat Catalina Ever Made ?

[sigbear]

I have only chartered 2 Catalina sailboats (both 30' mid 1980's) for 1 week and enjoyed them both, I remember reading in crusing or sail magazine in a 1990's article that the 28' catalina was overbuilt and probably the best Catalina ever built,

What's your opinion?

Sigbear

[Jim D]

the 22'

[Randyonr3]

A few years ago, 1998, to be exact. bought a Catalina 22 MKll fixed fin.. bought it primarily for racing.. but its number was 15431...Thats a lot of 22s and that was over 10 years ago..
Over built, I would think the older 38 fat body.... to this day, its still a good looking boat

[gonesail]

i doubt catalina would overbuild a boat on purpose .. maybe by accident

[Bash]

the 27. 6,600 boats built over a 20-year production run. must be 20,000 people at this point who have learned how to sail on one.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by John Kretschmer in sail magazine

“... The Catalina 28 is a perfect example of why sailing should be more popular, there isn’t much not to like about this boat. It isn’t an offshore cruiser and it isn’t going to win races. It is, however, an affordable cruiser that’s easy to sail and comfortable on deck and below. The Catalina 28 should be high on your list if you’re looking for a used boat in the $30,000 to $40,000 range.”

More ➥ Sailing Magazine | Catalina 28

[denverd0n]

"Best" is a completely subjective term. The 28 is no doubt a wonderful boat for the money. If you are looking for a boat that a family of 6 can comfortably live aboard and cruise around the world on, though, it wouldn't even be on the list of those to consider, let alone qualifying as "best."

Personally, I very much like the Catalina 34 and would be happy to own one. It would suit the kind of sailing that I do (and want to do) extremely well. I might well consider it the "best" boat for my needs. Others, obviously, would feel very differently.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Personally, I very much like the Catalina 34 and would be happy to own one. It would suit the kind of sailing that I do (and want to do) extremely well.

...spoken like a man who has never attempted to make love in the aft cabin of a Catalina 34 mkII.

Friends of mine who own such a boat have taken to calling their aft accommodations "The Chastity Cabin."

I'll leave it to your imagination why.

[Bash]

...the boat rafted to port in my avatar is a Catalina 34. The boat to starboard is a Catalina 42.

[Pblais]

Catalina might define best as "most sold". Perspective afford differences of opinions. Most people don't cruise and mostly day sail. They often throw in occasional over nights, and some club racing in various degrees. Most people that don't cruiise don't feel it is because the boat is not up to the task.

These boats do all that on a budget and can do more than most will attempt. We did most of our learning on a Catalina 22 and a J22 and had a blast. It is about having fun. You can get there a lot of ways.

[Curmudgeon]

Well, if the beetle defines Volkswagon, then the 27 defines Catalina.

[speedoo]

Originally Posted by GordMay

More ➥ Sailing Magazine | Catalina 28

It's too bad they put a wheel on the Catalina 28. Totally unnecessary, unless you want to appeal to the owner's vanity, IMO. Unnecessary added cost, complication and the T-shaped cockpit made necessary to accommodate the wheel which in turn allows for less space for cockpit lockers. Plus, it costs more to add an autopilot.

IMO no boat under 35' really needs a wheel, and there are plenty of boats longer than 35' that don't need one, either.

So, if value is important, I'd go with either a 27 or a 30, both of which can be found for a fraction of the cost of a 28. If I want a cruiser, it's the 30. If I want a day sailor/weekend cruiser, it's the 27. And I'll bank the money saved vs. the 28 to use for several years of boat maintenance.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Bash

...spoken like a man who has never attempted to make love in the aft cabin of a Catalina 34 mkII.

That's why you leave the aft cabin to guests. The forward cabin is amply roomy, so long as you limit yourself to only one partner at a time and eschew anything excessively acrobatic.

[DewTheDewDude]

Anyone know how the 1980 Catalina 30 fairs in it's hull thickness?

I've read that the oil crisis affected the sailboat industry in 81 and 82. That's when they started down making them due to increase resin prices.

Anyone know if the 80 30 has a thicker hull then others?

Thanks

[belizesailor]

The term "best" is only really slight meaningful if you define intended use or other metrics first. So, what are yours?