[C320-list] New C320 MarkII

[Allan Field]

Herb - No midship cleats.  While Gerry is still there, you may want to
mention that to him.  He is looking for feedback.- Allan

-----Original Message-----
From: hcreech at comcast.net [mailto:hcreech at comcast.net] 
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 2:05 AM
To: Allan.Field at comcast.net; C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New C320 MarkII

Allan,
Nice job on your description.
We are going to the show Sunday, should be better weather.  You did not
mention one of my pet peeves with the 320, does it have permanent midship
cleats?

Sincerely,
Herb Creech
Cloud Chaser #606



 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Allan Field" <Allan.Field at comcast.net>
> Linda and I visited the new C320 Mark II at the Annapolis boat show today.
> We were most fortunate that Gerry Douglas was able to join us midway
through
> our tour and explain things we did not pick up on.  Bottom line for us is
> that if we did not own a C320 already and saw this boat for the first
time,
> we would buy it in a heartbeat.  That said, there are differences that we
> observed - some good, some maybe marginal, and some we probably did not
> notice given the awful weather today.  But here goes with a list in no
> particular order of some of our observations.
> 
> The main cabin does not have a mid-hatch.  Rather, there is a hatch midway
> in size between the current mid-hatch size and the one in the head,
located
> above the galley sink.  Immediately forward of that hatch is another of
the
> same size.   Directly to starboard of the port hatch is another hatch.
This
> means 3 deck opening hatches in the main cabin but all smaller than the
> current mid-hatch on the centerline.  The hatch in the V-berth appears to
be
> the same as is current.
> 
> The fridge on hull 1198 (first one out of the box) is a front loading
> stainless steel refrigerator to starboard and an ice box to port with the
> same lid configuration as is current.  Upgrading this unit is an option.  
> 
> There is a microwave in the galley.  The sink has a very nicely done
plastic
> splashguard all the way across the front which protects the Nav station
from
> water splashes.  The fiddles on the shelves on the starboard and port hull
> are larger and higher than current.  Note To Self - see if you can get
this
> splashguard retrofitted to Sea Shadow.
> 
> Engine access from the aft cabin is interesting.  The cover appears to be
> wood or wood veneer but sits on a raised box maybe 12 inches high.  This
> makes for a smaller and apparently much easier to handle cover although I
> did not remove it to see how light it was or just how easily it handles.
> 
> This boat had air conditioner ducts already installed.  We saw one in the
> head, one in the main cabin and one in the aft cabin along with the
return.
> There probably is one in the V-berth but we neither looked for nor noticed
> it.
> 
> There is a small hanging locker in the main salon along the bulkhead
between
> the V-berth and main salon, port side.  The aft cabin locker seems to be
the
> same size as current.  The aft cabin still has the large escape/opening
> hatch into the cockpit.
> 
> The Lewmar-44 winches are recessed into the deck which, at first glance,
> made them seem smaller than what we currently have.
> 
> There are 3 chain plates coming into the cabin to port and starboard.
There
> is only one backstay.  Gerry and I discussed this as it seems to me to be
> forward of the current split backstay configuration and may be an obstacle
> when sitting to port.  It was so wet that I did not sit down but it does
> looks to be at a different angle and could be a nuisance until one gets
used
> to it.  On my old Ericson, I had a split backstay that came through the
> cockpit at about what seemed to be the same angle and I never got used to
> it, even after about 15 years.
> 
> The top drawer in the galley is still mostly useless.  There is a port
light
> over the microwave that I believe opens.
> 
> I have been told that the V-berth is 4 inches longer.  The local broker
told
> us that he thought that Gerry picked up a few inches going forward, maybe
> sacrificing some of the anchor well.  On Sea Shadow, we have 250 feet of
> rope and 100 feet of chain and don't believe that we would miss those 4
> inches.  The main cabin also may be an inch or so smaller but these
> observations are opinion only.  We did not ask Gerry about this. 
> 
> The windlass is mounted vertical and is above deck.  Surprisingly, the
life
> lines still have vinyl covers.  I thought that Catalina was moving away
from
> this, based on comments Gerry made at Rendezvous 3 years ago, but they
must
> have some left over.  And I forgot to ask Gerry about them today.
> 
> The rope clutches are Spinlock and seem to be smaller than our current
ones.
> However, a pet peeve of mine that seems to be satisfied at least on #1198
is
> that all lines seem to run fair through the traveler and rope clutches.
If
> I am right, raising the main should be easier.  Note that this boat had an
> in-mast furling main however.  The spar is not Charleston either.  Gerry
> told me the name and it slips my mind for now.
> 
> The port side stern seat has a mount for an outboard, something missing on
> Sea Shadow, #808.  The non-skid goes all the way back under the stern
seats,
> certainly a big improvement.  We actually lost a grandson over the
slippery
> transom under a stern seat last year but fortunately, he was tethered and
we
> were able to drag him back in!
> 
> The tracks on the cabin roof are gone.  As Gerry said, he knows of no one
> who used them ever.  I told him that we mounted an adjustable car with a
> loop on ours that we clip our halyards to.  But one does not need a couple
> hundred dollars worth of track just to attach a halyard to when not in
use!
> 
> The pedestal is Edson with all gauges in a sitting-down line of sight, a
big
> improvement.  We almost stand on our heads now to see the engine hours.
> Linda really liked the pedestal layout.  There even is a light and switch
> mounted on the forward part of the pedestal with the light lighting the
deck
> - a nice touch.
> 
> The air scoops on the transom are replaced with sculpted scoops that are
> most attractive.  The overflow for the diesel fuel also is sculpted and
> looks nice.
> 
> Measurements from the brochure:
> 
> Length overall - 34'3"
> Length of hull - 32'6"
> Length at waterline - 28'0''
> Beam - 11'9"
> Draft - Fin 6'3", wing 4'4"
> Approx weight - fin keel 11,300 lbs; wing 11,700 lbs.
> Ballast - fin and wig 4000 lbs
> I - 43'7"
> J - 12'4"
> P - 38'0"
> E - 13'3"
> 
> Tankage - forgot to ask.  Sorry...
> 
> Port list?  We didn't ask and there was too much rocking and rolling from
> the northeaster to tell.
> 
> As the weekend show goes on, I am sure that others will weigh in with
other
> observations but again, we would buy this boat.  In summary, I guess the
> only thing that gave me a little unease was the backstay however I did not
> really test to see if it would be a problem.  We believe that the Mark II
is
> an improvement over the original and that is the way it should be!  Nice
job
> Catalina.
> 
> Allan S. Field
> Sea Shadow - #808
> Columbia, MD
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of JPMESA at aol.com
> Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 3:50 PM
> To: c320-list at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] New C320 MarkII
> 
> I remember someone asking about if the MK II will still have the 3' degree

> list. I think he said something like (in good fun): we have to learn to
> deal 
> with it!  Which I take as no change. JOHN
> 
> 
>