I have been criticized for a lot of things in life but being "self-serving" isn''t one of them. I can''t see at all how my comments on the Catalina 250 serve me one little bit. I have nothing to gain or lose by providing as accurate an opinion as I can. In forming my opinion, I don''t have to design the boat or work for Catalina, I just have to read and listen to what Catalina wants to tell me about the boat.
The position that I presented came straight from the horse''s mouth, Catalina. If you go to the Catalina website and look at how they chose to describe the boat it is solely about accomodations and features:
http://www.catalinayachts.com/yachts.cfm?act=model&id=48
There is no mention anywhere in their description of the boat''s sailing ability or seaworthiness.
As to how I came to the price part, that is how Catalina sales folks were apparently instructed to describe the 350 at the last Annapolis Boat Show/ At the last Annapolis Boat Show I looked at the 350. There was a Salesman on the dock and I mentioned that Catalina appeared to be building three nearly identical sized boats (34 II, 350, 36 II) and then I asked him what was significant about the 350. He told me great price first and then about the sheer amount of room that was on the 350. I asked about the seakeeping of the boat, and was told to talk to the person who was down below since he was "involved" with 350''s and knew them well.
So I waited my turn and went below and asked the same question about what is significant about the 350 he started out by commenting on the 350''s great price and then explained that the 350 offers the best accomodations for the dollar. So I asked how does she sail. And he talked about how comfortable the cockpit was and the halyards lead back to the cockpit and price again. So I asked about the boat''s seakeeping ability, here he gave me an explaination of how all boats are a compromise but for the amount of room down below, the 350 sails pretty well. Both the salesmen and the Catalina literature talk in great detail about price and all kinds of other items(engine, type of
varnish, wood veneers being used, etc) but not a word about seaworthiness or sailing ability.
When I came off the boat, the first salesman asked how I liked the boat. We talked for a while. Then I commented to him that I thought that it was interesting that he said almost the same things that the salesman down below had said he explained that he was not familiar with the 350 before the show and so had been briefed to focus on the price and accommodations.
Now, I much admit that the part about being designed for marina hopping was my own conclusion. I drew this conclusion by layout down below which featured a lack footing , a lack of seaberths and a Vee berth that has been compromised as a ''pedestal queen'' vee with its head forward and no restraints to keep you in that bunk under way, galley space given over to a microwave, and so on that promotes comfort at the dock but not underway.
I also came to my own conclusion about beating into the short chop around Cape Ann looking at the hull form of the boat. Its high freeboard, blunt bow angle, large beam,and high wetted surface are less than desirable features for beating into a steep headsea.
As to your comments about the CE certifications, virtually all Hunters, Beneteaus and Catalina over 30-32 feet have achieved a Class A CE certification. As Jack has been researching and discovering that has little to do with whether the boats are actually intended for offshore use. Also with regards to Beneteau, Beneteau has produced a number of
lines of boats over the years. They still produce the Oceanis Serises but the latest cruiser
line is thier ''number'' series. That said, I don''t see what bearing that has on Catalinas.
Respectfully,
Jeff
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