Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 320 by Patrick Scherer

Year built	2000
Location of boat	Port Richey, FL
The boat is sailed on	Open ocean
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	2007
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	Yes,
Gear that's been added	By the previous owner...thank you...in mast furling main, gps-chart plotter, autopilot,drippless packing, cruising spinnaker, 16K A/C, wind speed / direction, 150 jenny, dodger and bimini, dingy davits,
Structural or complex improvements	None necessary
The boat's best features	Fast in light air, roomy interior, very easy to single hand. Great feeling of security to not leave the cockpit to handle sails. The in mast furling main is great! I can make the sail just the right size for the wind and I'm not limited to two reef points.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	Unless you are racing there is no need for a 150 jenny, it overpowers the helm in anything but light air. In more than 12-15kts I have the jenny reefed to 100%-120% that can't be good for the sail. Auto pilot works well under power and with one sail out in light air, but as manuverable as this boat is, it can not keep up with both sails up. The a/p wonders till it can no longer keep it's heading, and who wants to listen the the sails luff. That 40" wheel is a pain in the ass to get around. Helm space is tight when behind the wheel. That folding wheel will be a nice addition, but it sure is expensive.
Sailing characterisitcs	In light air with the jennaker, I'm seeing speed of 6kts in 9-10 kts of wind on a beam reach. In 20kts with furled jib and main the boat is stable and fast with only 50% each sail I run steady at 6-7 kts not bad. My wife doesn't like to heel too much so a day with 5-12 kts wind with only the main up makes her happy. This boat is so responsive to the helm it can easily tack at such a slow speed.
Motoring characterisitcs	Motors well with the 27 yanmar, it runs steady at between 2000, and 2400 rpm. I back into my dock and this boat is so responsive in reverse! Autopilot is great under power.
Liveability	Its great for two people for an extended period, 3 people for a week or two, wouldn't want to spend more than a week or so on board with four, Catalina states it sleeps seven, too many for the boat for anything but a day sail, and I really dont see how the setee with the table down can comfortably sleet 2 unless they are very small.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)	No experience.
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	I dealt with Bill Wiard, at Massey Yacht Sales in St Petersburg, Fl. Very knowledgeable and helpful. He made the buying process very easy, Would recommend him to any one in the Tampa Bay area looking for a boat.
Other comments	This is a great boat for a week-end sailor, and a single hander, not having to leave the cockpit to handle sails gives a great feeling of security. I have had both fin keel and full keel boats. Every thing is a trade off. I love the stability of a full keel and the manuverability of a fin keel. Wish I could have both in one boat. Since I can't, and I'm getting too old to run forward to wrestle sails on a 38 foot cutter, I have accepted the fact that distance cruising is no longer an option. With that in mind...I'm very happy with this boat.

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