Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 36 by GARY

Year built	1986
Location of boat	S F Bay, Ca.
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	23-30 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1994
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Absolutely!!!!!! Its been a great boat,there is a fleet 9 association that I belong to. We regularly sail together, BBQ,have newsletters,have tec notes and help each other when it comes to flying spinnakers,zinc changes,oil changes, types of manuevers(heave to). The boat is roomy and very accomadating. Its spacious and it is not slow. She points well and runs well also. She is not so big that I cant stop her at the dock and can amply fend her off. Any bigger would compromise those attributes.I have added some things that make her even more pleasurable---dodger, roller furling,inverter,battery,microwave,cockpit cushions,stern perch seats,mast steps,lazy jacks and hydralic back stay. We truly enjoy the 36......but.........I am moving UP
Gear that's been added	as pointed out above!
Structural or complex improvements	NO
The boat's best features	Size, sailing ability
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	mixing elbo failed after 13 years, but it has been replaced with stainless steel and should last indefinitely
Sailing characterisitcs	STRONG WINDS almost all the time in S F Bay and my boat is a tall rig (thats for light air) so I reef the main during the summer and unreef it in the fall so my sailing season is extended...
Motoring characterisitcs	When hull ias clean the speed is fine!
Liveability	excellent
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Dealings were ok...
Other comments	Popular model. Probably sixty or so in the Bay Area.They are pretty popular everywhere which makes networking great!!!!!

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