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Newbie Question

3K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  poopdeckpappy 
#1 ·
Hello All,
I’m seriously thinking about acquiring a Catalina 30, but after scouring post for a few days I see many different points of view. The worst being if you untie from the dock it will sink.
A bit about myself. I had a Catalina 25 for a few years in the 80's and have quite a bit of time sailing the Channel Islands out of Ventura, Ca. A good place to learn in my opnion considering the radical wind, current and swell changes. I also have several 2 to 3 week trips in the same area driving a commercial fishing boat, so I do know when to run and hide. San Miguel with the Santa Annas is not a pretty place. I also raced an outboard capsuled tunnel boat for a few years, so I do have some time on the water.
I plan on slipping this boat in San Diego for a get away from the Phoenix summers ( floating condo ) but would also like to do some occasional cruising. Is the Cat 30 capable of the Baja Ha Ha? Could I do a trip north for a few weeks?
The 1st time I seen the inside of the 30 was wow look at all of the room. I have a family with a 3 year old daughter and a son?? on the way. I am trading my 35' motorhome so I will be down sizing to the wife and need as much room as possible in my budget.

Thanks for any help and insight

Mike

PS I posted this in the Catalina and should have put it here originally, Sorry
 
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#2 · (Edited)
It would help if you said what your budget was.

that said, a Catalina 30 is not a boat I'd take on a Baja HaHa. While it is an okay coastal cruiser, I don't think it is up to the Baja Ha Ha's requirements.
 
#4 ·
Realize that:

1. SD - has no experience on the Baja as far as what I can tell, nor do I. If you follow the Catalina Owner forums - you'll find that 30's do it regularly - but you must watch weather patterns etc..Especially if sailing and not motoring it..

2. The Baja really isn't that much of a stretch from the location there in southern Cal. If you can do Catalina Island, you can handle going down the Baja... heck its probably less dangerous than driving it (which I have done)...

You only limitations will be Mexican insurance, your ability to stop at places along the route, weather patterns..

Truly - not that much in reality - your not cruising to Hawaii...its down the coast...

Hopefully others with actual experience will speak up - but again google Catalina Owners - they do one or two trips a year down there regularly...
 
#5 ·
I'm not saying that you couldn't do the Baja HaHa.

However, the Baja Ha Ha is a trip of 750 miles with most of it a good distance offshore. It isn't coastal cruising and the Catalina 30 is a coastal cruiser, not a bluewater boat.

Most people I know that have sailed a Catalina 30 probably would not pick it for a passage of that length or distance off-shore. The Baja Ha Ha only makes two stops in its 750 mile distance. Of the Baja Ha Ha's 2000-2008, I believe that only five Catalina 30s have made the trip, although six or seven were signed up.
 
#14 ·
MikeAZ,

Catalina 30s are as plentiful here on the east coast as out on the west coast. Most sailors that have been around the docks for a while are fairly familiar with them. I don't think an experienced sailor needs to have made the trip to Cabo to express an opinion about the boat's fitness for that purpose.:confused:

I have raced on them repeatedly. They represent very good value for what they offer. They are in some respects an almost ideal introductory package for family coastal sailing, without breaking the bank. I like to think of them as the Chevy or Honda Accord of boats -- great at what they do.

However, they are not a boat I'd want to be caught in far from port if a big blow were coming. Jack Horner, a respected surveyor and boat designer, agrees and had this to say about the Catalina 30:
"There are a number of construction and design features of the Catalina 30 that, in my mind, restrict recommended usage to coastal areas, lakes and bays, but then this is true of many production boats in this class."
(see Jack Horner Review )

Aside from construction details that leave it somewhat less robust than purpose-built bluewater boats, in my opinion the C30 is pretty short on water tankage for extended cruising with a family. I recall tankage in the 40 gallon range, which as a point of comparison is a little over half of what our "smaller" 31 footer carries.

But that doesn't mean the C30 wouldn't be a good choice for you. It just means you might want to give serious thought before taking your family to Cabo in it. Good luck to you.:)
 
#11 ·
MikeAZ,

I have had Namaste a Catalina 30 Tall Rig for 14 months. Most of my time has been spent off of Long Beach, Ca. (Alamitos Bay) up and down the coast and over to Catalina. I do plan some trips up to the Channel Islands soon. I'm not sure I would take her down to Baha. I really have not made the decision yet. Before I do, I will probably go on one of my sailing schools boats, just to see what it is like. Good luck with what ever boat you buy.
 
#16 ·
Hello All,

I plan on slipping this boat in San Diego for a get away from the Phoenix summers ( floating condo ) but would also like to do some occasional cruising.
Cool deal, try and stay North of the bridge, it's a looooong way out from the South bay area

Is the Cat 30 capable of the Baja Ha Ha?
Absolutely, plus you'll have the company of about 150 others, question is, when the time comes, will the Captain and crew be ready, I shooting for the 2010 run, provided I'm ready

Could I do a trip north for a few weeks?
If so equiped ???, again, absolutely, you could frog up to Mission bay, to Oceanside, to Dana Point, over the Cat Island, back to the mainland than over to the Northern C-Islands, it would be a nice little cruise, but hell, you'll figure all that out yourself
 
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