Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina Capri-14.2 by PAUL ZIEGLER

Year built	1987
Location of boat	BEVERLY NJ ON DELAWARE RIVER
The boat is sailed on	Rivers
How the boat is used	Day sailing
Normal wind strength	less than 10 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2002
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	I HAVE NO REGRETS ABOUT BUYING THIS BOAT. BEING MY FIRST SAILBOAT AND NEVER HAVING SAILED BEFORE I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO. BUT I LOVE THIS BOAT . ITS DEFINATELY THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT. I SAIL IT EVERY CHANCE I GET, CONDITIONS PERMITTING. I FINALLY SINGLED HANDED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SUMMER BUT IF ITS BLOWING HARD YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE TO KEEP HER DOWN.IVE CAPSIZED A FEW TIMES AND SHE TURTLED ONCE. THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE BECAUSE SHE WENT ALL THE WAY OVER AWFUL FAST. CAUGHT ALOT OF HELL TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE BOAT. MY ONLY ANSWER WAS TO GRAB THE STERN AND PUSH MYSELF UP AND THAN FALL IN THE BOAT HEAD FIRST. ITS A GOOD BOAT TO LEARN IN BUT YOU HAVE TO ONLY GO OUT ON CALM DAYS UNTIL YOU GET MORE CONFIDENT. I AM THE SECOND HAPPY OWNER. THE GUY WHO SOLD IT TO ME HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT LETTING HER GO.
Gear that's been added	MOUNTED MOTOR BRACKET AND PURCHASED USED 3.5 HP MOTOR THAT I RARELY PUT ON THE BOAT
Structural or complex improvements
The boat's best features
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	THE TILLER EXTENTION BROKE AND I REPLACED IT WITH A RONSTAN TILLER THE CUDDY HATCH IS WARPED AND TOUGH TO GET BACK ON WHEN I TAKE IT OFF THE BOAT TURTLES TOO EASY WHEN CAPSIZED THE BOAT WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAD A STAY BREAK ON THE PORT SIDE WHEN I WENT OUT ON AVERY WINDY DAY AT THE JERSEY SHORE. THE MAST FOOT BOLTS ALL SNAPED OFF THE DECK AS THEY WERE PROBABLY MEANT TO TO AVOID DAMAGING THE FIBERGLAS BOW. THE PROBLEM WAS THE PLASTIC COATED STAYS THE BOAT CAME WITH. SOME STRANDS WERE BROKEN AND RUSTED BUT YOU COULD NOT SEE IT WHERE THE STAY BROKE BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC COVERING.
Sailing characterisitcs	ITS MY FIRST BOAT BUT I THINK IT HANDLES VERY WELLIN ALL CONDITIONS. IVED SAILED IT BY MYSELF WITH JUST THE MAIN FOR THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OR IF IT WAS VERY WINDY AND MY CREW WAS NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING KNOCKED DOWN. I KNOW THE BOAT NOW AND WHAT IT CAN AND CANT HANDLE. IVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY NOT TO GO OUT IF THE WIND IS WHISTLING THROUGH THE STAYS.
Motoring characterisitcs
Liveability
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
Other comments	GREAT BOAT BUILT WELL AND EQUIPTED WELL

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