Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 400 by Marcus

Year built	2000
Location of boat	Texas
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
How the boat is used	Weekends and longer
Normal wind strength	16-22 knots
Average size of crew	2-4
Liveaboard?	No
Owner bought the boat in	2001
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Absolutely. However, I would probably buy the boat new instead of one year old and have things factory installed (air conditioning, generator).
Gear that's been added	Raymarine dual station radar/chartplottersInterphase scanning sonarDinghy davits/Zodiac high pressure floor dinghyPUR 80gpd watermakerForce 10 cockpit grill, second 10 lb LPG tankBatteries--changed/added to four 4D Concorde AGM (total of around 800ah)Panda 4000AGT 12volt generatorAdditional dedicated inverter for small A/C unitMarineAir Vector 16k BTU for v-berth & main cabinsMarineAir Vector 7k BTU for aft cabin (and for on generator at night)Winslow Extended Offshore liferaft w/ Pelican PacAerogen 6 wind generatorDVD/LCD TVGennaker, storm jibLifesling in canisterSea anchor (drogue)ICOM 802 SSB
Structural or complex improvements	Nothing structural. Fiberglassed a shelf for the larger A/C unit beneath the V-berth on the starboard side. Decided to go with 12-volt generator because more efficient with AGMs in my opinion. Also added several handholds at key locations for use in a seaway.
The boat's best features	Dual wheel setup is great, especially with complex docking (would be nice to have a throttle/shift control on the other side as well). Sails very well even in high wind (much stiffer than I expected) with our average afternoon winds in the 20-25 kt range; but also moves very well in low winds. A great family boat. Galley is arranged well. Cockpit empties very quickly through transom opening.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Have had the most difficulty with head odors--mostly the forward head. Have replaced all hosing with highest quality odor resistant hosing and am beginning to think the tank itself has a small leak that I can't find. I'm thinking about replacing the forward holding tank with a LectraSan and only use offshore. Only other real complaints are the backstays (have to straddle when sitting in the perches) and the steepness of the companionway--both my wife and I have slipped and fallen even while holding on properly and at dock. Also, not really enough handholds for a seaway--but easy to add.
Sailing characterisitcs	She sails better than I expected. In light winds and proper trim, I've reached 6.5 kts in only 12 kts of wind. In moderate air (15-20 kts) she points between 30 and 45 degrees which I'm really happy with since I have an in-mast furling main AND a wing keel. In heavy air of >25 kts she is quite stable and easy to balance (given that both sails are roller furling). I've not made a passage but in seas of 8 to 10 feet (Gulf of Mexico) and 20 kt winds she is really comfortable for a beamy "coastal cruiser".
Motoring characterisitcs	I agree that the 56hp Yanmar is a bit loud below but with a bit of 2 inch sound insulation that nose level dropped dramatically. In 2 feet of bay chop she reaches 8.5 kts at around 3500 rpm and does 6.5 kts at 2400 to 2500 rpm. Prop walk is present as expected but is useful because of her freeboard. The most remarkable motoring characteristic I've found is that I have learned to dock her single handed into a slip that is downwind and off the wind (the finger pier) in spite of her size.
Liveability	I had the fortunate experience of living aboard for 3 months and was perfectly comfortable (2 adults and a small child). The reefer works better with different shelving and a redo of its insulation but overall we were quite pleased. A bit more storage space would be nice but not absolutely necessary unless going on an extended cruise. The cockpit is roomy and we spent a lot of our evenings there after using the Force 10 cockpit grill. If I were to live aboard again I would consider a small ice maker for the obvious need.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	I installed the A/C units myself and the folks at the Florida plant were very helpful in getting my the right information and guidance as well as helping my engineer with the generator. Great company from my standpoint.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	Pleased with dealer until taking delivery and then had major problems. Still unresolved. No comment on name but not in Texas.
Other comments	We're very happy and only wish we had purchased her earlier.

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