C 38, is/can it be a good ocean crosser

[SimonV]

Would this model C38 1975-82 be sutible for ocean crossing if given greater water and fuel loads good prices for a loy of boat. Is the boat strong enough to handle the conditions.can it carry 100ft chain and anchor. thoughts required......

[camaraderie]

In short...no!

[SimonV]

why!!!!why

[SimonV]

it has capsize figs less than 2

[SimonV]

I entent to by something good and sail it home via,the islands at a lesurly pace.

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by SimonV

Would this model C38 1975-82 be sutible for ocean crossing if given greater water and fuel loads good prices for a loy of boat. Is the boat strong enough to handle the conditions.can it carry 100ft chain and anchor. thoughts required......

I assume you mean a Catalina 38. Cam's short reply simply reflects the fact Catalina doesn't attempt to design or build their otherwise nice boats for this use - simply not suitable. Take a look at the story http://equipped.com/0698rescue.htm to see an example of what it means for a Catalina to not be suitable.

[camaraderie]

sfool...that says it better than any advise we can give!
Simon...the boat is simply not built to stand up to oceans. Forget the idea and live!

[longwaterline]

Only if you are suicidal.

[Vasco]

Sailingfool,

I've read the link. Could you please point me to the part where it says that the Catalina was not up to it. Some equipment failed, the Harken, a jib lead, parts of the Monitor, a filler cap without an "O" ring. The steering gear which Catalina claims should have been upgraded. Many of these items are the same as those on "bluewater boats". Granted she took a lot of water in but there were no major leaks. I am surprised that the skipper was not aware of the leaks. A brisk sail in the right conditions would surely have made these leaks obvious. Much of the water seems to have come from a jib sheet getting caught under a hatch. Many of these problems should have/would have been corrected through proper maintenance and a good shakedown. The 14 year old boat survived the ordeal. It seems the major problem was a crewmember whose seasickness was so bad his esophagus got torn from all the vomiting.

[camaraderie]

Vasco...you can explain away all the failures as "not Catalinas fault" and "could have been found and dealt with earlier" but lets not forget that this stuff didn't happen in gale or storm conditions. Then we would have heard a lot more about things falling apart in a major way as the hull flex became more significant and the strain on the rig and the pounding began to take a larger toll. When they were rescued...the PREDICTION of 35 knot winds for later was a factor in the decision. It is no big deal to find a boat with no sails up and closed up to be afloat weeks later....kinda like a cork. The strain comes from trying to work the boat towards a destination.
You're right that the biggest issue was the medical one. I also admire the way the crew kept trying to find solutions to their problems and get in safely on their own before accepting help. Contrast this with the Barnes story of a few weeks ago! When all is said and done though, a Catalina 38 requires luck to make it across an ocean. Too much luck for my taste!