[C320-list] Beneteau 343

[Monte B.]

Koen

Haven't seen the 343 Beneteau, but was a nats hair away from buying a 393
two years ago. I am 6'4" and loved the headroom. The payments scared me off
and I still love my paid for 320. The loose footed main controls and
responds very much like a boom footed sail and is commonly used on club
racers and  performance boats that don't go race in Australia. Control of
draft and camber are, as far as I can tell, the same. These are not the same
as inmast furler sails. 

Monte
Laima #620

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Koen
Bennebroek
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 6:44 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: [C320-list] Beneteau 343

We went to Strictly Sail in Oakland this weekend and stepped aboard a
Beneteau 343. I was amazed to find that it has 6'7 headroom (I'm 6'5)!
Didn't think I would find a boat with standing headroom below 38 feet...I
must say that this boat looked pretty tempting. Does anyone have any
thoughts about this boat, especially compared to our beloved 320? What I
found amazing though is that all base boards were screwed down. There didn't
seem to be any bilge access without removing screws!

Also, how does a loose-footed main compare in sailing characteristics? Never
tried one before.