[nemier]

I have my eye on the new (2014) Catalina 275 sport. I think it's pretty cool.
I have not seen any threads on SN about it, which surprises me, so I thought I'd start one here. It's $80,000 price tag precludes it from being entered into the "Which sport boat to buy?" thread.

I'm interested to know what you think?

 

[Donna_F]

I love Catalinas but the 275 seems odd. Too expensive for a first boat to learn on. Catalinas aren't known for winning races as far as I know. If they had a plan, I can't figure it out.

And I dislike the hull color.

 

[jameswilson29]

Strange hybrid of a sporty-looking racer and modern family cruiser. Doubt it will be fast enough, based on numbers, to be competitive with the outright racers, or comfortable enough for weekend cruising with the family. It is relatively inexpensive for a new boat, looks cool, and is trailerable.

Will probably sell mucho units because Catalina seems to be well tuned into what the multitude will buy and its marketing is first rate. Catalina sells "sailing" better than any other company. Hey, they are now one of the remaining few surviving sailboat manufacturers left...

 

[Alex W]

It isn't really a sport boat compared to something like a Melges 32. It is more like an updated light cruiser/racer. Compare it to the J/80 which is about the same length but 60% of the weight and a much greater SA/D.

It gives Catalina something to sell to sailing clubs for teaching and basic racing. The Capri 22 seems somewhat successful there, but a larger boat is more comfortable with 5 onboard (1 teacher, 4 students).

It probably should have just been sold as a Capri 28.

 

[Sal Paradise]

I really like it - an advanced design with racer featers such as rectractable bowspirit and in a near pefect size 2 ton displacemnt with an inboard diesel. Looks like a long cockpit. I totally see where they are going with it.

 

[Faster]

Andy... ridiculous price tag for what you get, IMO. Looking at the literature there's not much difference below between it and a Mtn 242, which would likely sail circles around it and can be had for $10-12K locally.

For a fun, 'knock around the bay' boat in our area it's pretty hard to beat a 242. The newer 244 is perhaps another option (built in the OK) that I believe goes in the $50K range, and it may be possible to order a new 242 out of California.

Might be fun to 'turbo' an older 242 with a sprit!!

 

[Alex W]

It's not really fair to compare the new vs used prices. An Olson 30 can be bought for well under $10k and will run circles around it to, but it's also a 30 year old boat (and was probably raced hard).

$80k seems like a pretty aggressive price for a new 28 footer these days. The Hunter 27e is a much more expensive boat that is also going to be a lot slower. What does a brand new J/80 cost? Used ones are $20-$40k.

 

[Faster]

It's not really fair to compare the new vs used prices. An Olson 30 can be bought for well under $10k and will run circles around it to, but it's also a 30 year old boat (and was probably raced hard).

$80k seems like a pretty aggressive price for a new 28 footer these days. The Hunter 27e is a much more expensive boat that is also going to be a lot slower. What does a brand new J/80 cost? Used ones are $20-$40k.

Agree, Alex.. my point was for what I see you're getting in the C275 you can do as well (for casual daysail/RTB sailing) with what's out there for a LOT less outlay. The major diff I guess would be the inboard engine - and the 'new-ness'.

Also, a 242 would be a slightly better fit on davits across the transom of Nemier's Nordhaven

 

[nemier]

Also, a 242 would be a slightly better fit on davits across the transom of Nemier's Nordhaven

Now that was funny! Good to see that sense of humour again.

Anyway, don't know what to tell you guys,,,, I like it!
The score so far? 2 for ; 5 against.
I'm sure some back-up will be here shortly.

 

[blt2ski]

A J88 would be a better boat to compare the 275 to vs the 80 IMHO. The 88 would win over the 275 hands down!

Reason I would compare an 88 vs the 80, the 88 has in inboard, about the same wt, altho a foot longer vs a foot short for the 80 vs the 275.. the 88 and 275 ea has a built in head, cooking area, etc.

Not sure the Catalina folks could or were willing to go too far to that sport boat side of things. Looks more like a decent daysailor with a bit of speed. But not that much speed.

I could see where this might work for Neimer as an alternative to the Nordhaven.

Marty

 

[JimMcGee]

Re: Catalina 275 sport -- Hell Yeah !

It's not my style, but I think Catalina is on point with it and I think they're making a real effort to go after a younger buyer.

The 275 isn't an all out racing machine, it's a fun day boat with a racy look and lots of room in the cockpit to go out with friends. She should be fun to sail, easy for newbies with a self tacking jib, has a top down furling spinnaker on a retractable sprit, a big cooler for beer and is designed to carry a surfboard or paddle board down below.

Just enough galley for a quick meal and just enough room below to get cozy overnight with a "close friend".

The target buyer is probably a professional in their late 20's to mid-30's. It's not unusual for folks that age to be single and not have a mortgage these days.

And while the J/88 may be a bit faster that only matters if you're racing one head to head. A Ferrari is faster than a Mustang but Ford sells a LOT of Mustangs and a lot of people enjoy the hell out of 'em

And that analogy holds here, the C275 is about 60% cheaper than a J/88 and you can have a hell of a lot of fun with one.

I hope Gerry Douglas and Catalina are right and sell a enough of these that Beneteau and Hunter jump on the bandwagon and bring a whole lot of younger folks into sailing.

When I look at this boat I think back to pre-kids; take a four day weekend and a couple of bonehead friends, hook it to the back of the truck and drive straight through from Jersey to Florida. Sail, sleep, party and show up for work after an all night drive home

 

[lans0012]

I got on one at the St Petersburg Boat show last year and I thought it was an awesome design. The cockpit was huge and would be great for solo or with friends. Plenty of room to sprawl out, swim off the back, decent accommodations below, and it looked like a blast to sail. I'd trade my old Cal 27 for it any day if I had another 80k to kick around.

 

[emc_ret]

I am interested to see how the Catalina 275 Sport fares in the still very difficult new boat market. I am part owner in a Catalina 36 and I race onboard somebody else's J-92. I won't race on the C36 and I wouldn't try to cruise on the J-92. I could race and cruise the C275s, just not as fast as the J-92 or as comfy as the C36. Compromises....

Or I could take the price of a new C275s and buy a 10 year old J-105.

 

[nemier]

I'm a few years away from a purchase, but if now was 'that' time,,, I'd buy it. I'm that 'taken' with it. Really looking forward to see how they fare.

 

[kwaltersmi]

Here's what they (Catalina) were thinking:

"It reflects what many sailors have told us – they no longer need that big boat, but don’t want to give up racing or day sailing. They are spending fewer nights aboard, but still want the ability to overnight, even if it’s an occasional trip with kids or grandkids."

Not my cup of tea (yet), but I'm willing to believe there's a market for this. Seems like if Beneteau can sell the First 25.7/25 S for about the same money, Catalina ought to be able to sell the 275. Plus, it makes a nice flagship for the Catalina Sport Series.

I see that Sail Place here in the Great Lakes sold a 275 Sport recently, so there's a least one in the hands of a private owner so far.

 

[catguy]

well you vote with your dollars. I bought a C275 this spring. I am having a blast on it. I sailed/raced Hobie cats in the 80's and 90's. I had a Hunter 28.5 (that we used as a cabin until this winter) I really like the big cockpit. the A spin is a blast to fly. I am a weekend sailor and have about 350 miles on it so far. I still race (PHRF) occasionally. Not sure what rating this boat will get. any one know??? The blue hull is growing on me, not sure I liked it original, but my wife did. I sail on a 110,000 archer lake in Minnesota. So ask away!!! or come sail on it with me.

 

[Minnesail]

I sail on a 110,000 archer lake in Minnesota. So ask away!!! or come sail on it with me.

I'm guessing acre. That would be a lot of archers for one lake

Anyway, is that Leech Lake? How's the sailing there? I didn't know they raced up there.

 

[jameswilson29]

... So ask away!!!.

O.K., sure, how much did you pay for the boat, including all options?

Did you negotiate the price?

How much of a discount off the list price did you obtain?

Did you pay cash, use the seller's financing, or obtain financing from a third party? How much did you put down on the purchase and how much did you finance?

Was the boat in sail away condition? Sails? Trailer? Cushions? Safety equipment? What were the additional costs of the options?

How much have you had to spend to get the boat is sail away condition?

How was the workmanship - any issues that needed to be corrected/addressed by the builder?

How many boats have you owned previously, and what is your sailing experience?

 

[Minnesail]

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?

 

[Puddin'_Tain]

It may be a "sport boat" for a Catalina, but its specs don't seem to compare very well to most "real" sport boats. Looks like more of a basic family day-sailor/weekender to me. Strip down a 30-year-old 27-footer marketed (back in the day) as a racer/cruiser and you would have just about the same boat. Other than keeping the beam right at 8'6", making it street legal to trailer w/o any special permits, I don't see anything special.