Looking for Catalina/Morgan 44 owners

CaptainRonFL · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007

Was told by the factory that there were 70 Morgan (then later) Morgan/Catalina manufactured. I've got Hull 35. Lets talk and together piece together their heritage and share stories.
I can be reached directly at captainron@rbdesigns.info
Captain Ron

twistedskipper · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007

Did you get any response to your Morgan 44 requests? I've become interested in the model and have been unable to find the usual slew of discussion, brochures, etc. on the web.

Do you have any brochures/specs/etc. you'd be able to share?

Are you living aboard? Cruising? Coastal/Offshore?

Thanks in advance for any info/experiences/etc.

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007

FYI...the original Catalina/Morgan was totally trashed in a review by Practical sailor. Lots of build quality issues...may have been fixed in later production but you should try to dig around on it a bit before you buy one so you know what to look for. It is very appealing in terms of layout and space...I was really interested in one at the time as I had always hoped Catalina would make a CC boat with typical Catalina quality/value. Definitely a coastal cruiser only.

twistedskipper · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

Thanks for the tip. Do you know which issue of Practical Sailor the review was in (or do you have a copy/link)? I searched their boat review list and couldn't find it.

Thanks, again!

dbpaul · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_Yachts

twistedskipper · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

I couldn't find any specific Morgan 44 information at the wikipedia link. Was there something there that you were specifically referring to, regarding the Morgan 44?

camaraderie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

I don't remember the issue or have a copy. I think it was around 1994-5 though. From the Wiki history that doesn't even mention the boat, my guess is they killed it pretty quickly which would jibe with Ron's 70 boats combined number from the first post.
All of the Morgan 44's on yachtworld are pre-catalina and I would emphasize that the review did NOT pertain to them. All of the Catalina Morgan 44's on line at present are recent vintage deck salon boats...quite different.

SailinJay · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

I checked the August 2007 issue of "Mainsheet," the Catalina owners magazine. The Catalina Morgan 440 seems to be the only model without an owners' association. You may want to check on www.catalinaowners.com to see if there is anything there.

twistedskipper · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

Just to be clear: we're talking about the Morgan 44 that was designed by Neslon-Marek and built in the late 1980's, not the Catalina Morgan 440, which is a current model. I don't know whether the Morgan 44 was ever officially referred to as the Catalina Morgan 44 or not. I've seen it identified both ways, e.g. on yachtworld.com.

SailinJay · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007

Sorry about that. As Emily Latella would say, "Never mind."