[C320-list] New C320 MarkII (inboard Jib tracks)

[Jeffrey Hare]

Hi,

  After installing the line adjustable genoa cars, I moved the original
genoa cars to the upper tracks.  I run my boom gibe preventer line from the
aft cleat up through that genoa car and out to the end of the boom whenever
I need a preventer.   Keep it tight add some boom vang and it works really
great in light shifty air.

  It's pretty easy and I didn't need to buy any shackles or anything to rig
it.  With the MKII, I'd just have ot find a different place to attach the
preventer.  The bow cleat is too far forward, might spill my wine on the
journey to the bow.

-JeffH


-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Weiner [mailto:esquirecatering at rcn.com] 
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 11:31 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New C320 MarkII

My boat came with an 80% sail, which I must confess I haven't used since
the first season.  For 80% inboard tracks/sheeting work well.  With my
normal 100% the inboard sheets are in too close.

Adam

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Lachance,
Michael B (ISD, IT)
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 3:18 PM
To: Allan.Field at comcast.net; C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New C320 MarkII


Re: jib car tracks on cabin  top. Is it true no one has ever used them?
I was thinking that with a small sotrm jib she'd point well sheeted so
far inboard. I must admit I tried them with a partially fulled 110% but
couldn't get a good shape.

Nice writeup, you should consider a career with Cruising World!

Mike LaChance
Commodore C320IA
Seychelle, #141
Noank, CT 

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Allan Field
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 6:01 PM
To: 'C320-List'
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New C320 MarkII

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





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