[dmaher]

I have to tell you a story about Frank Butler. When my wife and I where waiting for the delivery of our new 1999 C380, a newly designed, larger fuel tank was going to be installed, starting in the boats with hull numbers just after mine. You could replace the old tank, with a new one, for a price. I complained about the size and fact that I was not getting the new fuel tank on C380 message board (C380 sail.net) and to my dealer. A few weeks later, late at night (around 9:30 PM EST) my wife answered the phone, and said it was for me, some guy named Frank. I told her that I thought it was a solicitation call and I did not want to talk to him. She insisted that I take the call. It was Frank Butler, explaining to me that they where going to install the large tank in our new boat. I think this story speaks for it’s self.

I sold a Caliber 28 and bought a new 1990 C34. At the time, I had a new Caliber on order and after seeing and exploring the a new C34, I could not justify the price difference between the Caliber 33 and C34. I am glad I did because the resell value of C34 held better than the Caliber.

I had A/C installed on my boat and the installer, gave me the thru hull core. It was an inch thick solid core. Low tech but it works. I just had a hull reading done, and was told it was one of the driest in the yard.

I friend of mine, who owns a Beneteau, his fourth, kept his boat next to mine. After hanging around and helping me with boat projects, finally admitted, he was impressed with how my C380 was built. In fact, he always admired my larger blocks, winches and sail traveler, he started to replace his blocks with Garhauers like the ones on the C380.

I think these actions and actions of people buying 10,000s of Catalinas speak louder than the words on this board.