New Catalina 315

[BoxedUp]

Looks like an updated 309 to me...what do you think?

Yachts and boats for sale - Catalina Yachts

[DRFerron]

6'3" draft for the fin keel. Yowza. Ours is a fin at 5'3". I wonder why they added another foot?

[BoxedUp]

Maybe the deeper fin gives better upwind performance since they are touting it as a performance cruiser? I would think that those that get the fin keel usually sail in deep enough water so the extra foot should not be an issue. Those that sail in shallower waters would get the wing keel anyway.

[blt2ski]

As far as draft goes, one needs to know how deep of water one has. For me, a 32' boat should be closer to 7' of draft, 6'3" would be shoal draft, 5'3" useless! My Jeanneau on par size wise with a C28mkII has 5'7" of draft, I'd like a bit more frankly, along with a thinner profile front to rear keel!

With that in mind, I do believe the 315 s different and new vs a 309, which was a slightly redesigned 30......

Marty

[Siamese]

All sorts of conflicting information out there on the net. Even comparing the info on the Catalina site, the 315 overall length is slightly less than the 309, while they both have a hull length of 31 feet. And the beam on the 309 is 11'6" while the 315 is 11'7". Seriously?....another inch of beam...I wonder where that came from? Same engine in each.

Layout is darned similar. We've been happy with our 309's layout, but took out a door and non-structural wall at the aft cabin. I see the adequate hanging locker of the 309 has been replaced with what has to be an inadequate hanging locker next to a stack of drawers. Hey they're the guys that know how to build and sell sailboats, but I'd have stuck with the locker...that's just me.

Scuttlebutt on the web appears to be that they're consolidating their line. That certainly makes sense.

Nobody ever managed to explain to me why a boat with a 31 foot hull was called a 309. Yeah sure, I know it came from the 310, but 309?!?

[jameso]

I like it, there seems a change in the hull shape and as the stern is more squared off than the 309; I would wonder if the bow reflects added length? Also a port for the aft cabin, or it seems~~

p.s. seems the base price isn't too dear

http://sections.latitude38.com/news/...-debut-chicago

[JimMcGee]

This link details some of the technical improvements of the Catalina 5 series boats

BYM Product and Industry News

I'm curious to see this boat but it doesn't look like they're going to have one at the Atlantic City show.

Jim

[jameso]

Does Catalina offer a hull color other than white?

[blt2ski]

Originally Posted by jameso

Does Catalina offer a hull color other than white?

Not sure about the newest ones, but I see plenty of older ones in different colors. With that, if you custom order one, for a boat this size, I have seen prices in the +$5-10K range for a different color than white option.

Marty

[BryceGTX]

Hello Guys:
I have been meaning to comment on the new Catalina 315 since I saw it in Chicago. My recent trip to the Detroit Boat show reminded me. Too bad no sailboats at Detroit.

The 315 look pretty much like a completely new hull. It has the deck to hull joint with aluminum toe rail similar to the bigger Catalinas including the 355, 385 and 400. The aluminum toe rail is great for lashing things down. Many probably will find the hull-deck joint more pleasing to look at also as opposed to the hull-deck joint that appears down lower on the hull.

The standing rigging is like most bigger Catalinas seems extremely structural sound. I feel the 6 shrouds and their anchors are some of the best in the industry.

The two pearch seats in the stern are a favorite place for anyone to sit on our boat and no doubt will be popular on the 315. My wife was jealous of the cup holders on the stern rails.

I was very impressed by the 315 interior. Walking below, I was suprised how roomy the salon was. The U shaped seating seemed to provide a huge area for a number of people. My wife found the galley quite nice given the boat size.

It seems that the 315 like the 350, 375 and 385 seems to gain a big advantage in salon room by moving the head forward. This allows the salon area to be positioned more towards the most beamy part of the boat. It really shows in the 315. Some may argue against a forward head, but if you value salon space, the preferred head location is in the bow.

The fit and finish seems very good quality as with most bigger Catalinas. The interior materials and construction are classical Catalina. Anyone that likes the more traditional interior materials will be very comfortable with 315 interior.

For those of you looking for a 30 foot cruising boat, you will not be disapointed with this boat.
Bryce