Catalina Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997

Review of the Catalina 400 by SAM SEVIER

Year built	1998
Location of boat	KENTUCKY LAKE, KY.
The boat is sailed on	Lakes
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	1998
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again?	YES
Gear that's been added	INSULATION AND SOUND PROOFING TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PRESSURE TANK FOR THE FRESH WATER SYSTEM.
Structural or complex improvements
The boat's best features	EASE OF HANDLING, WE HAVE THE INMAST FURLING SYSTEM. THE LARGE WINCHES,AND DUAL WHEELS,RIG DESIGN MAKE IT A JOY TO SAIL. GREAT COCKPIT, INTERIOR LAYOUT IS WONDERFUL. WIDE SIDE DECKS MAKE MOVEMENT ON DECK EASIER AND SAFER.
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc.	THE DUAL WHEELS DO SEEM TO BE A BIT STIFFER THAN A SINGLE WHEEL BOAT. THE AFT CLEATS LOCATION IN RELATION TO THE TOE RAIL CAN BE A CHAFE PROBLEM.
Sailing characterisitcs	WONDERFUL BALANCE, EASY TO TRIM, GOES EXTREMELY WELL IN LIGHT AIR FOR A BOAT THIS SIZE. I CAN SINGLE HAND IT WITH NO PROBLEM.
Motoring characterisitcs	PLEASANT, WITH THE SOUND PROOFING I ADDED IT IS VERY QUIET FOR 42 HP. SMOOTH, AT 2000RPM WILL D0 5.1KTS. SEEMS STIFFER AT HELM WHILE MOTORING THAN UNDER SAIL. BACKS WELL , JUST A LITTLE PROP WALK, HARDLY NOTICABLE, COMPARED TO OTHER BOATS I HAVE OWNED.
Liveability	WONDERFUL, STORAGE SPACE IS VERY NICE. LAYOUT IS GREAT. INTERIOR IS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. WE LIKE IT MORE EACH TIME WE USE IT. AFT STATEROOM IS GREAT. SEPARATE SHOWER STALL KEEPS THE MESS DOWN.
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any	VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH MY DEALER. fRANK BUTLER HAD TO INTERVENE TO FIX MY PROBLEMS. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS DEALER AGAIN.
Other comments	WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH OUR BOAT. WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT EACH TIME WE TAKE IT OUT AND ARE MORE PLEASED EACH TIME. IT IS A GREAT DESIGN AND BUILT WELL. IT IS AS CLOSE TO PERFECT AS WE COULD ASK FOR.

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