Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 30 by BILL WELLS

Year built	1978
Location of boat	POINT ROBERTS, WASH
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	10-15 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	1995
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes, It's a good sailer, lots of room for a 30ft. I've thought about a larger Catalina but really this one suits us fine.
Gear that's been added	I've added a Dodger and full cockpit cover which extends my sailing year to nearly the full 12 mos. I changed the tiller over to a wheel when I bought the boat which is great. This is my second new engine, a Westerbeck 20 hp, which works very well. I've just got a new Garmin 520s, which I'm happy with. New VHF which I installed in the cockpit where I can get at it in a herry and not have to leave the wheel. I put in a hot water tank which will heat up from the engine or shore power. I changed the two burn alcahol stove to a three burner propane with over. That works great. I put on an Autohelm 2000 that has never worked properly. I put on XM radio,which super.
Structural or complex improvements	I cut the bottom of the passage way steps at the bottom so that after the last step it goes streight down and I don't trip over it anymore. I put two plastic trailers on the foreword edge of the foreword hatch so that when I have open about 4 inches to let some air in, my Genoa sheets don't get caught in the hatch. I cut a 6 and 8 inch hole in the top of both my fuel tank and my water tank in order to clean both tanks with ease. I replace the water tank hole with PVC screw on cap and the fuel tank with a 10 inch Aluminum plate held with 10 screws and sealant. It works very well.
The boat's best features	The handling is very good, except while powering I have to tie a budgy cord to the wheel because it wants to walk the port hand side.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	I have alot of problems of lights, navigation etc. Right now I'll have to put a new seal in my rudder shaft cause when I power at 2900 rpm it will leak into the hull and I have to pump it out about every hour. I don't have an automatic bilge pump switch. I have to reseal the cabin window every year or they will start to leak.
Sailing characterisitcs	It sails very well.
Motoring characterisitcs	It motors very well with my Westerbeck 20 hp and my 3 blade prop 12" x 14" x 5"blade x 1" shaft.
Liveability	It's very comfortable. The salon port berth could be alittle longer cause I'm 6ft.tall.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	From a dealer in Vancouver. He was excellant. He found the boat in L.A. CALIF..
Other comments	I would like to replace my origanal port and starboard nav. lights but have not found any advertized by Catalina.

Contact
About
Terms of Use