Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 27 by Laurence Milton

Year built	1978
Location of boat	east coast, UK
The boat is sailed on	Bays, sounds, or protected salt water
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	1998
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	yes. I have lookeked at several alternatives over the years, but nothing has offered such a rounded package at the price
Gear that's been added	completely rewired, rerigged, new sails, new cushions, new instrumentation, batteries, etc
Structural or complex improvements	rewiring/new istruments was complex enough for me!
The boat's best features	sails well, very well. Makes to windward well. Easy to handle, practical layout at sea(dinette version) not so good in harbour... For a 27 footer, seems a capable, fairly quick, yet vice free yacht. Can't ask a lot more.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Lack of accessible stowage. Dinette version doesn't work so well in harbour. Getting access to inboard diesel engine require a lot of climbing about. Obviously built to a price
Sailing characterisitcs	A comfortable & very capable yacht. Better to windward than many contempories in the Uk at least. Mine is a twin keel variant, & sails surprisingly well. When balanced will sail herself to windward without a hand on the helm. Vice free, making her suitable for the novice, yet fast enough for those who wish to press on..Stiff.
Motoring characterisitcs	13 hp Volvo/saildrive. Getting a little old, but may just make 6 knots in flat water. 2 bladed fied prop. Slow to react, & "iffy" astern, especially with the twin keels.
Liveability	4 for a weekend is enough, & use a marina. Cockpit great, consider a cockpit tent. 2 for holidays, longer trips is fine. I holiday every year aboard for a week or twoShe is set up to be sailed by two.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any
Other comments	best value boat in class. Jack of all trades, & almost a master at a few. Known as Jaguars in the UKSee also www.jaguar-yachts.info

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