Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 30 by Bill Wells

Year built	1978
Location of boat	Point Roberts, Washington, USA
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 I would . It's very roomy although I've got alot of electrical problems. I also have a diesel leak somewhere that I can find. Things that aren't working properly. Some of the house lites aren't working Both my bow lights My stern light My Autohelm 2000 never could get it calibrated Checked fittings but I'm still leaking diesel My Anchor light and one spreader lite not working. The wheel brake isn't holding properly I repowered the boat with a Westerbeck 20HP which I am very pleased.
Gear that's been added
Structural or complex improvements	Put shower in the heads and installed on board hot water that heats off the engine and shore power. I inverted the bottom of the passageway stairs so that I don't trip over it all the time. I installed a small folding table forward of the Port salon seat to mount the t.v.. I made a table in the cockpit thats mounted to the pedistial.
The boat's best features	It has good room in the salon but the Ice box is ackword to use. The two burner keresine stove I though out and replaced it with a three burner burner propain with an oven. Works great! The boat sails well even in rough water. I installed a complete Tent dodger canopy over the whole cock pit. This works great, and protects me from the elements. I got out 64days this year and 94 the previous year.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Listed above, but note alot of the things that don't work are also after market items,such as autohelm, Wheel brake, depth sounder.
Sailing characterisitcs	I think it sails well except when I've got too much sail up in a high wind or gust and I can barely hold it back into the wind.
Motoring characterisitcs	As I mentioned above I repowered and I'm now pleased with the Engine after the original installer did a real butcher job.
Liveability	Comfortable
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I did, and it was excellant.
Other comments	No, not at this time.

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