Catalina 36 Deep Draft in the Chesapeake ?

[SNagy]

We are considering a Catalina 36 for use in the Chesapeake, and would be keeping it in Rock Hall. The trouble is that it does not have the shallow draft wing keel option, but instead the fin keel with a draft of 5' 10" (per specs). Is this asking for trouble in the thin Chesapeake water? Does anyone have any experience with a C36 fin keel in the Chesapeake that could comment on how much would we be giving up?

Thanks.

-Steve

[DrB]

I don't have any direct experience with a Catalina 36 Deep Draft, but I have sailed on the Cheasapeake lots of times. A 5'10" draft is perfectly usable on the main bay and parts of the Eastern Bay, but to get into a lot of anchorages, you will need a lesser draft.

DrB

[drynoc]

My draft is 6'2", and it works fine. There will be some shallow spots you won't be able to get into, but for the most part, no problem. Also, the Chesapeake is mostly mud on the bottom, so if you guess wrong the damage will be minimal.

[PalmettoSailor]

It would be nerve wracking where I sail, but as others have said there are plenty of places to explore on the bay where that draft would not be a problem. In our case I like the shelter our marina offers, but the channel is shallow, narrow and subject to shoaling so its not difficult to find bottom even with a wing keel C36. It depends a good deal on where you keep your boat.

That said, from a resale perspective, the wing keel/tall rig combination is the most desireable for the Chesapeake.

Bill
s/v Palmetto Moon
1991 C36

[josrulz]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

That said, from a resale perspective, the wing keel/tall rig combination is the most desireable for the Chesapeake.

I agree, and not just about resale (though that is correct). I think if you're going to race a good bit, then perhaps the 5'10" draft is more ideal. Better for racing and you can still weekend a little without it being too limiting. But if you're mostly cruising on the Bay, I think you'll find the 5'10" draft limiting on where you can get into--both anchorages and even the occassional marina (when they're low on slips). Of course draft is relative to boat size, so I'm not saying that 5'10" would be too deep for a 48 footer, but for a 36 that has a shoal option, the less-deep version would be preferred for cruising on the Bay, IMHO. I will say many people have deeper draft boats on the Bay and love their boats. But I would not choose that option. Just my two cents of course.

[svStrive]

In the early eighties my father had a catalina 30 with a deep draft (5'6" IIRC) and I found that to be a pain. We were based out of St Michaels (Miles river, Eastern bay). Had to watch the tide to get in and out of the slip. There are a lot of gunk holes you'll have to be carefull in. Unless the boat is a really good deal I'd shy away from it. My current boat (Hunter 34) draws just over 4' and I have problems with that when there is a really low tide getting in/out of the marina where I keep it (Tilghman Island)

As to resale when I was looking for a boat two years ago I wouldn't even bother looking at deep draft versions.

If your'e looking for something to cruise I'd say keep looking. If your'e looking for something that you'll only be going out on for the day usually than maybe. Look at a chart of the bay and see where you can and can't go. Remeber a narrow channel means a lot of tacking or motoring.

The catalina 30 got sold after a couple of years because of the hassle of the deep draft.

[stroudw]

Steve,
You didn't say if you were going to keep your boat in Swan Creek or Rock Hall harbor. I have a Pearson 36 with a 4'8" draft and there have been times when I coouldn't get into my slip. The moorings closer to Gratitude Point would probably handle a 5'6" draft in most weather/tides.

[SVAuspicious]

5'10" is fine in Rock Hall. It would be rough in Haven Harbor.

I sail the Bay with 5'8" very happily, if occasionally by braille. In my experience the only real difference that draft makes is how close to shore you are when you run aground. I'd much rather run aground with a fin keel than with a wing.

I love gunkholing and often touch the bottom. In the two years I've had my current boat on the Bay I've been aground hard enough to require kedging off once and never needed help. In that time I've worked my way up many creeks on the Eastern Shore into quiet anchorages.

That said, I would definitely want to keep a boat in a place where you can get in and out at will. That won't be the case in The Haven with a draft deeper than 5'. I don't remember seeing anything shallower than 7' in Rock Hall proper when going around the outside. Cutting across the middle I think was shallower I think but you don't have to do that.

sail fast, dave

[sailordave]

Well, I hope you are real familar w/ Rock Hall. Don't dare stray out of the dredged channel!

With almost 6 foot under you there are places you will want to be very cautious but you can go MOST places. I used to drive an old Navy Academy Luders 44 yawl w/ 6' and a Hans Christian 43 ketch also at 6 foot all over the Annapolis area and surroundings.

While you'd be better off w/ something closer to 5' you can manage.

[JohnRPollard]

Steve,

There have been a few threads recently on this same subject (i.e., Chesapeake draft) that might be worth the trouble of reading:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/buying...s-mistake.html

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/chesap...el-ok-bay.html

If I were planning to cruise the boat beyond the Chesapeake, say north to Maine/Nova Scotia/etc, I'd probably prefer the deeper draft even if it meant some limitation/compromise in the Chesapeake. If you plan to use it exclusively on the Chesapeake, then it's a tougher call.