[JohnRPollard]

Mike,

Interesting questions. The first thing that occurred to me was that coming from a Catalina 36, you will have to be prepared for less internal volume -- even on the Crealock 37. If you are okay with that -- right down to the 31 -- then great.

I have been aboard all 3 of these models, but only have sailed the 31. So I can't offer you a comparison in sailing qualities. Of course, the 34 and 37 have more waterline.

We owned a Dana 24 before we bought our 31. I had always assumed our next boat would be the 34 -- had drooled over it for years. But when the time came to move up, I happened to take a closer look at the 31. It is often the unnoticed or forgotten little sister -- at least by me it was, anyway.

What I quickly realized was the 31 had the same features that we liked in the Dana -- particularly the open interior AND aft head. Plus a chart table and double quarter berth, features we wanted in our next boat. So if you like this unconventional layout/approach, the 31 is a nice example of how it can be done.

There are some other aspects to the design of the 31 that you may not have noticed yet. The 31 was the fourth in the Crealock series at PSC (after the 37, 34, and Dana 24) and had what I consider to be some evolutionary improvements. One feature that we really appreciate is the cockpit. It has a roomier feel and, with the large bridgedeck, seats a crowd fairly comfortably. And the T-shaped footwell (absent on the 34 and 37) is especially helpful for moving around the helm/cockpit. The placement of the traveller is to some extent a matter of personal preference, but I wouldn't want ours any other way.

Other features we like are the sprit/anchor platform, which gets the anchors off the foredeck (some of the later 34s and 37s had this feature too). And the proportionally taller bulwarks (especially at the foredeck).

I think the 31 would make a great single-handers/couple/young family boat. But if you expect regular visitors, especially the sort that expect more privacy, the 34 or 37 would certainly offer more accommodating interiors.