Option: Catalina 36 and 38

[Stede]

Ha! Ha! Ha!, Wheweee!! This debate on the Catalinas is getting hotter than a June bug on Georgia asphalt,as they like to say here in the South.At the risk of putting my nose in where it doesn''t belong,(I''m good at that!) I''ve got to throw in my 2 cents worth. I''ve never been on a Catalina boat, but there are a lot of them at the club I belong to. These people are more dedicated to their boats than the dead-headers were following the band during their hey-day. That tells me a lot.Someone would stand a better chance of getting away with stealing the spouse, kicking their dog,or spanking one of the kids of a Catalina owner, rather than say something bad about their boats. As far as the remarks I read about problems dealing with management at Catalina over warranty issues, it sounds like they are a minority rather than the majority,which also tells me a lot. I have two service businesses,and I can tell you that the success of resolving customer complaints is directly proportional to the willingness of the customer to be satisfied. After several attempts to resolve an issue with one customer,I asked her what would it take to satisfy her. She told me I was too stupid to satisfy her. I asked her what she meant by that....;^) I''m looking to upgrade to a bigger boat soon. From what I''ve seen and heard, I wouldn''t rule out a Catalina boat. Peace!

[RandolphCamp]

29 years on the water here ... 4 Catalinas (22, 27, 320 & 380 at present). Perfect? No. Value for the dollar? Absolutely.
I have been very pleased with a) dealer support ... 3 different dealers over 29 years, b) quality of boat and c)resale/trade value. I have seen a notable improvement over the years in construction quality and standard gear used on these boats. As with any production boat, the owner has his share of responsibility with many finishing touches, but these boats are solid.

[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.

[rogern]

No. Coming from you they are NOT facts, they are hearsay. If the alleged owner exists, bring him forward. He ought to be eager to tell his story. Otherwise, you are not only a liar; you are a poltroon, sir.

[ktmvgd]

I would like to commend Jeff H for his courage. I’d like to say that I must be an exception to the rule here. I am furious about the treatment I get from Catalina.

I have constant problems with my fuel system, consistent loss of fluid from the refrigeration system, and nagging problems with my steering.

I have pointed these problems out to Mr. Frank Butler and his staff but no one takes me seriously.

I have had to fill my fuel tank two times since I bought my boat last year, and no matter how much beer I buy the fridge always seems to be empty. The worst problem is my wife’s constant nagging about how I steer the boat. Maybe the third problem is somehow related to the second.

Anyway, I still think that Jeff has demonstrated steadfast courage in the face of such deafening customer loyalty. He should be admired for not fearing to look uninformed and narrow minded. Bravo Jeff. Stick to your guns. I’m sure that someone somewhere cares what you think.

[rogern]

I agree; it is courageous of him not to allow facts to interfere with his arguments. This overarching fact remains: Catalina has built, and continues to build, the most successful line of production sailboats the world has ever seen - by several orders of magnitude.

[pauln]

Was so impressed with the way that Frank Butler personally took care of the problems I had with my C25 that I bought a C28MKII. This winter I took delivery of my 3rd Catalina ..... a new 350. All this would have been impossible if Catalina''s resale value hadn''t been so strong. Based on my experience and enjoyment, the market''s support of Catalina is more than justified.

[Jeff_H]

Only one thing worse than a company that builds bad boats, is the kind of disingenuous behaivor that is taking place here. This is not the first time that this topic has come up. In past discussions there have been a predominance of new Catalina Owners that have come forth with problems. It really surprised me that this time there was a large bunch of Catalina Owners that had no problems but did have a very similar writing style. I have participated on this bulletin board for nearly five years now and when I see a name that I don''t recognize I often looke them up on the Member Directory to learn more about who they are.

Suddenly here in this one thread, there were a bunch of names that I did not recognize and when I went to look them up most of the names in this thread were not in the Members Directory. (Look them up for yourself. None of these names are listed in the directory: Barr, Tidetim, Rogern, KTMVGD, Mogul11,Delerious,GoNavy,PGW,CMHyland, Texasgal,Quida123,Randolf Camp, Dmaher.)

So I ask myself how is that all of the happy Catalina owners suddenly appear on this bulletin board at the same time and that none of them show up in the Member directory? All that I can figure is that in the absense of real happy Catalina owners that had someone decided to fabricate a bunch of fictitious personalities in order to somehow create the impression there are whole lot of happy Catalina owners out there.

NICE F*CKING TRY!

If the only way that you can win an arguement is by fabricating multiple blowhard personalities, you just have to wonder about the validity of the point. For the record, Ihave no idea why you think that Catalina is the most successful boatbuilder in the world. Hunter does more volume than Catalina and Beneteau Group dwarfs both companies combined. Beneteau has been in business nearly 80 years longer than Catalina.

So I repeat, over the past few years, I have spent a lot of time on Catalina, and Beneteau products and a bit less on Hunter products. Yesterday I asked a number of my surveyor friends about this question. I am really glad that *all* of you like your boats, but I still come up with the same answer, in the past 10 years Catalina has fallen behind the other two of the big three in build quality. You don''t have to believe me. Just go aboard a bunch of 10 year old Hunters, Catalinas, and Beneteau, or ask any experienced surveyor and then draw your own conclusion.

Jeff

[Delirious]

A poltroon? Why, them''s fightin'' words. A myopic dilettante perhaps, a web troll certainly, but a poltroon?

I imagine Denr is just cranky since AMF stopped responding to the issues he is having learning to sail his Sunfish.

Charlie P.

FYI Delirious is the name on the side of my Catalina 34. Doc # is 1099983, you can find me listed on the USGC registry. And as for being a fabricated personality - check the Catalina List or ask Sam Boyle. I''m an active, constructive regular (and a member of SailPerks). You stir up owners of the most popular boat manufacturer in the world and you''re surprised we come out of the woodwork? I''ve owned 11 sailboats in the past 22 years. One I built myself. Another a 1964 Thistle I restored to racing condition. What sailboat do you own, Jeff? Are you schitzophrenic as well as paranoid?

[GoNavy]

Jeff,
I check out the discussions to find a little useful information every few months and do not take the time to write or register. Bottom line is that I find you one of the more opinionated people on the site - and normally well informed. However, some of the distortions that you continue to vent regarding the Catalina line have finally forced me to respond. I do not know what you sail - nor do I really care. I am surprised at the amount of time you are able to spend on this site. Makes me wonder how much time you spend on the water...bottom line is that we are all sailors and we do a disservice to folks who are looking to join the sport by posting misinformed opinions. To say that my post was fabricated is paranoia. I''ll catch up with you after the summer sailing season. I suggest you get a life.

"GoNavy" C390 Ralph Martens