The Catalina 30 was designed to take the family to a weekend of gunkhole cruising. draft 5' 3". To get good performance in light air, the boat will either have to be ordered with the taller rig, or very large headsails must be carried. The boat is conventionally modern in appearance. Generally a little more attention to bottom detailing on the Catalina 30 should get youa little more speed. Except for sound insulation, these drawbacks can be overcome with careful maintenance. Better late than On the other hand, Catalina founder and president Frank Butler has been quoted as saying that the company goal is to provide its customer with "as much boat for the money as we can." The hull-to-deck joint is simple. Related Sailboats: CATALINA 30. Not many do. As a rule, most Catalina 30s from all years suffer from inadequate division of storage spaces. The engine of the Catalina 30, upgraded from 11 hp to 23 hp, is located midship beneath the dinette seat. This may be fine for reaching, but it leaves too wide a sheeting angle for going upwind, according to owners. Jack Hornor is an Annapolis-based marine surveyor and naval architect. Beef-up kits for lower shrouds are available from the builder at nominal cost, and most older boats have had this modification If you have an older boat and don't know, compare your boat to a recent model nearby or take a picture and send it to the builder. Selection is plentiful, and prices range from the mid-teens to the mid-seventies. I quickly found more than 75 for sale and was again reminded of the remarkable popularity of this cruiser/racer. This is felt most acutely in the cabin, because of the midships location of the engine. Copyright © 2020 Yachting. boasts this is the most popular 30' boat worldwide, a claim that would be hard

If you bought your Catalina 30 used, and find the helm excessively heavy when powering, contact Catalina for information on the new rudder.

Notes (1986-1991) Among changes were 'T' cockpit, slightly different deck and liner, and different Engine options. Catalina 30 doesn't have any particularly disturbing characteristics under sail. The ladder, instead of hanging vertically, folded out at a comfortable angle in a way that seemed-at least in the photo-pretty practical for routine boarding. for sale and was again reminded of the remarkable popularity of this Boxes, Dry Bags, and Tips for a Drier Life, In Search of the Perfect Portable Boarding Ladder. of the most popular 30' model sailboats built in the US over the last 25 years Since 1974, the principal dimensions have remained the same at LOA 29’11", beam 10’10", displacement of 10,200 lbs. There are tradeoffs to be made when one purchases a cheaper boat. Interior finish is of average stock boat quality. The entire Catalina line is extremely popular with new boat dealers, who are required by Catalina to represent other lines as well. Mast and boom should be painted, both to reduce surface oxidation and improve appearance. Yachting may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

We know the boat well.

Several other galley improvements will pay dividends. Catalina 30... Used Boat Review By Jack Horner Several weeks ago I was preparing a survey of a Catalina 30 for a client and found myself looking for other Catalina 30s for sale to help me establish an approximate value. All rights reserved. The advantage of a boat in production for so long is a high degree of product refinement over the years. As on most boats, we suggest the installation of the largest self-tailing jibsheet winches that will fit atop the coamings. Wing keel: DRAFT: 1.17m/3.83'. At the outboard.

Deck construction includes either balsa wood or plywood sandwiched between fiberglass laminates. 2001 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Inductee. Watch the tip clearance carefully, as there isnt much room here. Except for sound The engine box has no soundproofing. I quickly found more than 75 One problem: the maker-the American Ladder Corp., based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., appears to be out of business. On the other hand, Catalina founder and president Frank Butler has been In areas with normally heavier conditions, such as San Francisco, the standard rig should yield good performance.

delamination and damage along the vulnerable deck to hull joint caused generally boat for the money as we can." The Chris-Craft Catalina 30 Pilothouse is for families as well as anglers. and still not approach the number of Catalina 30s built. There is no provision for ventilation below in rain or heavy weather. greater than the standard draft versions to compensate for the higher center of gravity of the ballast. Jack Hornor is an Annapolis-based marine surveyor and This must be sanded properly fair by the owner or commissioning yard before the boat is launched, or light air performance will suffer. aft in order to incorporate a transom boarding platform and ports were added to © Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Access to the hull-mounted running lights is via this well. We guarantee that the improved performance of the cook will make this a worthwhile change every time. This is slipped over the hull molding, and the joint filled with what appears to be fiberglass slurry. keel drawing 4' 4", which was replaced with a winged keel design drawing 3' 10" The rig is a simple masthead sloop, with a straight section aluminum spar, double lower shrouds, and, at least on older models, wooden spreaders. Introduced in 1974, as the big brother to and natural step-up from Catalina’s popular 27 footer, the original design remained nearly unchanged for 20 years.

Some dealers make a policy of offering the customer full trade-in value for a smaller Catalina traded up for a larger one within the first two years after purchase. ratio of .42, and relatively low sail area/displacement ratio of 15.1 makes the Since the prop installation is exposed, the boat could benefit from a folding or feathering prop. CATALINA 30 MKIII. The forward-sloping bulkhead between the cockpit and the main cabin makes it impossible to leave a hatch board out in rain or heavy weather. The main cabin is very noisy under power. Dont use Styrofoam -its less efficient -and don't glass over it, if you do. We suspect that more Catalina 30s have been built than any other boat of that size anywhere in the world. Opening cabintop ventilation hatches over the head and forward end of the main cabin, as found on new versions of the boat, can be easily installed on older boats. From 1977, shoal draft was offered as an option first with a fin keel drawing 4’4", which was replaced with a winged keel design drawing 3’10" in 1988. An aluminum rub rail and stainless steel self-tapping screws on about 3" centers secure the deck and hull together. If the batteries are in the original port side location, shift them to the starboard side, under the chart table. This will, of course, increase the boats rating under any racing rule. Long periods of powering would be uncomfortable for the people belowdecks. Catalina 30 a very stiff boat under sail. The boat should be sailed on her feet. with some subtle changes in styling to give the boat a more "Euro" look. Extraordinary Sailing Life. The changes suggested here are by no means all the modifications that owners have made.