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observations on the C34?

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reuben
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USA
202 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/22/2007 : 13:23:48

We're slowly and carefully considering moving up. There are lots of 34s on the market and apparently, as with most Catalinas, a good deal of owner loyalty. Never had the chance to sail one myself but am thinking it's a good candidate for the Great Lakes, coastal work & eventually the Carribean. Anyone here owned, crewed on, or chartered a 34?

Reuben
C-250 WK #499
Bayfield, WI

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 13:50:15

Reuben,
My brother Mike owns a C34 and could tell you more details on his experience. Email me and I will pass it along to him. Please include any particular questions you may have on it.

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 14:22:50

I have sailed many hours/days/ months on one in Florida, to and around the Carabian, and believe me it is my next boat. I would highly recommend a tall rig full keel for the Great Lakes, the shoal keel is a bit of a dog upwind and the 34 is very heavy by todays standards and the tall rig is faster and more responsive. You Can't go wrong with one. At 46K-57K its a good market.
Bill

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 14:56:38

I've sailed the C30 and C36 and loved the C36. I don't know much about the C34. The C36 has goobs of room below and felt VERY solid. If only someday.......

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2007 : 23:49:35

I, too, have been "looking" at larger boats until, of course, I get back on Classical Cat and go out on the Pacific.
"If" I were to move up, the C34 sure gets my vote but I have yet to actually sail on one. The C36 looks even bigger.
There is a 1989 C30 for sale down in San Diego right now. It looks just like my 1989 C25 so would make an excellent move up. My wife and I are currently putting our two through college (CalPoly SLO) and I spend at least what this C30 costs every year

Maybe when they graduate (2 years) we might think about all this again. Even so, I sure like this C30.

Check out the link below to the C30...click on New Listings.
http://www.yachtfindersbrokerage.com/

Edited by - gnorgan on 01/22/2007 23:50:58

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 07:39:59

That's one nice looking 30. I definitely think it's worth it to spend a few more bucks for a well maintained, well equipped boat.

I have been drooling over the C36 Mark II's, but then again I wonder about having a spade rudder if I'm going to sail in the Keys and Carribbean. An Island Packet has a keel hung rudder. I just know I'm gonna hit a reef someday. But those Island Packets sure are pricey.

It's fun to daydream, that's where realities start. That's how I came to buy a 25, and get rid of my 22

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 07:50:37

Hi Gary, I am in the same boat (every pun intended), I have three daughters in college and my wife and I are waiting to hear from our bank for a loan to buy a business in norther Michigan. So needless to say, we are totally straped. The fact is, that every time I sailed a bigger boat this past summer, it did not have the feeling of agility my C25 has. This new buisness (if we buy it) is facing a marina on Lake Huron so my boat will be 100 yards from my office. How cool is that. Here is a picture from my office. Cheers.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 07:50:48

Gloss - My sister inlaw and her husband have a 38' Island Packet Cutter and I know what you mean about expensive. They bought it new in 2001 and basic price for the boat was $201,000. However, I am pretty sure that is where they just started on the costs. They added things like; water maker, air conditioning, gps and auto-pilot, leather settees, water heater, furled main, bimini and connected dodger, radar, aft davits for the dinghy, are the major upgrades. A fellow sailor estimated all the adds for their boat probably pushed it up close to $350,000.

We had the opportunity to spend a week sailing with them in St. Martin a year and a half ago. When they were in the Caribbean for 18 months. They just got back to Florida in June of last year and keep the boat in Ft. Myers now. In case you are wondering, he is a Geophysicist and looks for oil... Based on the boat they now have, I think he found some.

Edited by - cat1951 on 01/23/2007 07:53:29

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 08:42:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gnorgan
 "If" I were to move up, the C34 sure gets my vote but I have yet to actually sail on one. The C36 looks even bigger.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 08:52:41

Which one is the original Morgan design?

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reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 14:22:01

Bill, the shoal-keel dogginess is a concern, but so are shallow depths throughout the Apostle Islands where I would most likely slip the boat. There's a well-kept 1990 with shoal keel and tall rig, which might be a good compromise; or maybe that's too much sail for the wing keel, a sea trial would tell. Gary, that C30 is a beauty. I'm with Gloss on buying as nicely-equipped as possible. As for the IPs, the one I like is the 31 -- a proven cruiser, big inside, but not outrageously priced.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 14:32:28

I believe Stu Jackson a one time C25/250 owner has moved up to a C 34. Once in a while he will still comment on a post, perhaps he will see your original post or you could try and contact him on the
C 34 forum.......

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 14:40:40

I know this is going to sound strange, but I have looked at a number of C34 on Yachtworld today and I don't think I could ever own one....because the dinette is on the wrong side. Don't laugh, that is the first thing I look at in a cabin...is the dinette on the Port or Starboard. Now I feel like Monk. Cheers.

Edited by - on

mhartong
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152 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 15:50:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djn
 Here is a picture from my office. Cheers.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Wow!

Edited by - on

Fantasy II
1st Mate

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USA
80 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 15:58:58

Too big for me! With the increase in size would come increases in slip fees, insurance and the rest. The Catalina 270 would make me a very happy camper though, probably for the remainder of my life (IF I could afford one)

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2007 : 18:03:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Fantasy II
 ...The Catalina 270 would make me a very happy camper though, probably for the remainder of my life (IF I could afford one)

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Go crazy and check out the C-28 Mk II. Just one more foot...

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 00:18:05

I was out singlehanded sailing Sunday off Mission Bay again. Wind about 15 knots, white caps, moderate chop, 110 jib and full main on the tall rig. Heeled over approximately 30 degrees for some of the time, taking water over the bow with really, really cold spray on a 50s kind of day.

You can bet I was enjoying every minute of the day out there. I had left after Sel took off on his boat and Jim Baumgart took off on his C25. I spent most of the afternoon heading off in one direction hoping to catch up with either on of them. I didn't see Sel until I came back at sunset (5:15ish). Sel had gone straight out, then north to La Jolla Bay and back. Jim had headed south to look for whales. Neither of them bothered to turn on their VHF radios so when I tried to make contact I got nothing back.
I finally crossed tacks with Jim just before sunset, he heading north blasting along close hauled, me heading mostly southeast, blasting along broadreaching. I furled my 110 so he could "try" to keep up (haha

). Inside the channel we met up with the new owner of a C25 on the dock, Dave and his new girlfriend...(forgot her name). Jim headed in and I rehoisted full sails and sailed for awhile behind Dave's boat. He was sailing just with his main because his new friend was new to sailing. I sailed on into Mission Bay and again was heeling over to 30 degrees and more, cruising along nicely at 5-7 knots. Back and forth I went across the bay and the wind kept on blowing and gusting. What a trip!!
I finally headed back in and upon reaching the slip, spent some time doing some dock talking with Sel, Jim, Dave, and passersby.
My point, you ask?

We have the best of both worlds in this C25: quick response, solid feel, a moderate amount of space below, cheaper slip rent and maintenance costs, the ability to trailer anytime we might get the urge to go to some far away sailing place....alot less deck area to clean and maintain. Outboards that cost a fraction of the cost of diesels....
And the biggest part to all this is IT'S PAID FOR ALREADY AND I CAN ENJOY IT NOW AND I CAN AFFORD TO SAIL ANYTIME. (hehehehehe) (My rant is over...and, yes, the C30 is really nice)
I think I'll go sailing Friday evening and all day Saturday. Anyone heading out to San Diego soon? You have a ride on the best C25.
Happy sailing all. I'm off to sleep. Gotta keep that money rolling in.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 00:19:30

....and Dennis. Really cool that you work so close to the boat place. Wish I did. I drive 1.5 hours to Mission Bay to sail

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 07:46:49

I attended the Minniapolis Boat show over the weekend - I make the 230 mile every year drive to check out the few sail offerings in the show. NestEgg Marine had an 06 Catalina 350, a 309, an 06 28 mk II, and a 250. All had wing keels. The 350, 309 and 28 had in-mast furling mains which seems to be in vogue lately in production boats. I'm not a real fan of it since I club race and they don't seem to be as eficient upwind - with a wing keel even less so. the boats were equipped with a canvas package, cusions, 150 radial genoa and furler, and a full line of electronics. The 309 show price was $116, 655 and the 28 was $87,965 with a $4500 trailer thrown in.

The 309 was nice but nothing new. It has the same hull design as the Catalina 310 - same molds in fact, so nothing new there. If I could afford a 309 I think I would stretch for the 350. Since I can't afford either one I didn't spend much time on them. Just enough to get my wife a little enthusiastic, which she wasn't.

The 28 would be for me. More weight and volume than the 25 for sailing on Lake Superior, but still easily handled by one. Comes with a trailer so I can still store it in my yard. Lots of head room. A very nice boat for a sailor on a budget. The wife liked it too, although she commented that "it's not much bigger inside than the C25". This from a women who is not big on sailing and loves her Bayliner.

Edited by - aeckhart on 01/24/2007 07:54:06

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 08:04:18

I've got to agree with Gary. Having the boat paid for is worth 2 or 3 feet right off the bat. Once you contract Bigboatitis it is a progressive disease that leads to deluisions of sea worthiness. But seriously, I have sailed on everything from 16 footers to a 187 foot tallship and I've dreamed about owning everything in between. But, eventhough I have been able to afford a larger boat for many years, I have stayed with my C-25 because of the realities of how and where I sail. The C-25 provides me with an easily maintainable, responsive boat that can accommodate two adults in reasonable comfort, for anywhere from, a few days to a week, and more importantly can provide both excitement and safety in the limited waters that I sail. So I guess I'm kind of a small boat snob who dosen't believe that we all sail C-25's because we can't afford a bigger boat. Like they say in racing circles the Big boats make the news but the small boats make the sailors. Can I get an Amen?

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 08:06:28

AMEN

At our marina, in the slip next to us, there is a C27 that is a beauty. Well sort of.. we bought our C25 in March of last year. Since then, not a single person has even come to the lake to look in on the boat. It is just sitting there and is starting to need some work. I would give anything to have a boat of that size and there it sets without any attention. What a shame. Still, if I was going to move up, it would probably be the C28 MKII. For a lake sailor (not the great lakes) it would be more than enough room to be comfortable for a few days or longer, and yet compact enough to sail on our lake. We are empty nesters now, so maybe some day we will have one... However, that said, I can get a 30 for about the same price as the C28 MKII. I still am not sure why the MKII is so expensive when compared to the other boats of the same size.

Edited by - cat1951 on 01/24/2007 08:08:35

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 08:15:17

For me smaller is better, it has to do with single handing it. Yes most of us can single hand 30 to 35 ft while sailing with the help of such items as autopilot, roller furling, jiffy reefing, lazy jacks and such but the problem is when it comes to docking. 12000 to 25000 lbs of boat approaching a dock under certain points of wind with only 1 person onboard is certain to cause difficulties. With my 32 docking single handed was very difficult unless the wind was very low, the Cat 27 was easier and the 250WK is a dream. And as I get older easier is better. Bob

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 08:47:06

Back in the fall, I stopped by the local Catalina Dealer, Redbud marina. I just wanted to step in and take a look around, but contacted the office first to make sure that I would be welcome. After a short call, I arrived at the office, the sales person took me down to the docks and I looked both at the Catalina 270 and the Hunter 28.

The first was the Catalina, the boat had a wheel steering and a nice cockpit, storage was under the seats, and both boats had a inboard motor. Down below is where I could see that the Hunter seemed to have more room. Both boats had wood soles, and nice wood work for the galley. I am 5'-9" and had no problem moving around both of the boats.

Both boats were topped out with Jib Furlers 130% cut forsails, but the Hunter had the in mast furling system. It was getting late, so I told the guy I was ready to head back up to the shop and get some flyer info about both boats. The asking price for the 270 - 2006 model was 59,995.00 but the guy said that they had a Hunter 33 coming in so he could give me a deal on it if I was interested (low 50's).

Both boats were really nice looking , had all of the bells and whistles that anyone could want in these sized boats, but I felt like there could have been more. Running rigging on both of these boats seemed very basic, the lines looked small for the loads. Wheel both of the boats had an enclosed head (a bathroom) and a nice rear birth (the Hunter had more crawling room) I just realized that I had it all in our Capri 25, just not as formal.

The main reason we bought our boat was that we both wanted more room in the cockpit when entertaining our friends at the lake. I have had the boat for 3 years now and I have never gotten the chance to slip away from the rush of life and enjoy a night on the boat with the wife. The boat was finished up late last fall when I finally installed the cushions back in the boat. For 1 month I got to take my wife, and 3 yr old up to the boat and go down below and relax on the births.

I am so looking forward to the cool Spring months when I can take the family up to the boat and camp out over the weekend. I think this year is going to be a little more relaxing as I am not going to be crewing on a keelboat and we will be racing the C-Scow. The Capri 25 is going to be our relaxing home away from home on race weekends, and I can't wait to wake up in the morning and scramble some eggs, and bacon.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 10:06:22

I totally agree with Larry and Gary. I google over all the big beauties I have to motor past to get out into the lake, buy my boat is paid for and a ball to sail. If I was going to retire onto a boat it would surely be a 51' Formosa, but that is many years off. The only thing I have a problem with on my boat is that I am big around and too tall for the cabin. If it only had two to three more inches of headroom below, it would be perfect. Cheers.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 11:12:06

That is why I like the ODay 272 so much, it is just as easy to sail as a 25 but has that couple extra inches everywhere.

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Paul
1st Mate

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57 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2007 : 11:20:31

Practical Sailor gave the 34 a solid review a few years ago, calling it a good value for coastal cruising but not right for extended off-shore sailing without a complete refit. Their reveiws tend to be overly critical, so I take "good" to be pretty high praise from them.

Regarding the economics of trading up, consider last season or keep track this season of: the number of nights you would have slept on board if your boat was bigger, the number of days when weather was too severe for your 25 that you would have gone out in a larger boat, and thhe number of times you had to turn down available friends because you were out of room. Add these days up.

Now, subtract the new boat price from the resale value of your 25, and divide that number by the total number of days you added up earlier.

The math might work for you. But for me, I find the bigger boat comes with a staggering cost per incremental use.

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