Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 36 by Arthur Provenz

Year built	1986
Location of boat	Huntington NY
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Multi-week coastal cruising
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1997
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes. the boat is beautifully appointed, both below and on deck. The boat is tight with respect to waterleaks, it came with cruising Spinnaker and sock, 155 Catalina and a 135 Hood genoa, as well as a catalina main and a new Hood full battened main (that I use) I'd like to add a 153 Mylar Genoa for racing. the boat is equiped with refrig. The boats points great about 35-40 deg.and foots well. Autohelm Wheel steering.Natural gas stove
Gear that's been added	Yes Added a Radar tower that has vhf antenna,Radar dome, cockpit light TV antenna and the radar receiver is mounted at the helm (a great spot very usefull. It's linked together with a helm mounted GPS that sends info to the Radar screem (see waypoints) as well as to my laptop computer at the navigation station that has a Fair Tides program showing boat position as well as all gps output. I've added 2 6V.batt.in series for house use 225AH. plus a starting battery, all are monitored by a link10 meter(a great thing tells you at a glance the condition of my main bank,and I toggle over to read the voltage of the 2nd bank. The Radio Shack Tv Antenna provides rotation and good tv reception.
Structural or complex improvements	The well (anchor locker was reinforced and added 80amp altinator.
The boat's best features	listed above a comfortable fast sailor 150 PHRF with 135 Genoa-good in high wind reef at 21k light helm almost neutral to the feel
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	everything works well for now. I may add spartite this spring in place of the wedges
Sailing characterisitcs	excellant on all points of sail Tall rig is a must along with a maxi prop3 blade fethering makes the boat move inlight air.
Motoring characterisitcs	25hp Universal is fine-still need to learn reverse it responds well though
Liveability	very comfortable as decribed above
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	No Bought through Coony's Marine-big Catalina dealer has good used and new boats
Other comments	buy one and you will stay with a catalina.

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